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Whale Watching Tonga
By Mark Milburn Roan Lavery on 23 September 2008
A little bit of a departure for Travel-Dive here, in that it doesn’t involve getting seriously kitted up, but having been whale watching in Tonga for the last few weeks I just had to share.
Whale Watching Mounu Island Tonga
Tonga, it’s safe to say, probably isn’t at top of many peoples lists of places to visit. In fact, most people I’ve mentioned it too have replied with a blank expression and “where’s that?” It’s partly down to Tonga being so far away (for us in the Uk anyway) and also the fact that it’s still relatively untouched by major commercial tourism.
As you might expect, getting there is no small task, but I didn’t appreciate fully quite how out of the way it really is. While my journey there: from Edinburgh to London to Singapore to Sydney to Auckland to Tonga was broken up by a series of short stops, I did the trip back in one go, and it took me 4 days! Of solid traveling! I get jetlagged even thinking about it
The whales journey to Tonga
While my journey seemed epic enough, you’ve got to admire the humpback whales as well, who manage just about as far, and do the whole thing under their own steam. The humpback whales have an incredible journey; spending the summer feeding in Antarctica, only to travel thousands of miles to mate and calve in the Vava’u group of islands in Tonga.
The whale watching season in Tonga runs from roughly June til October when the whales are swimming, mating and giving birth to their calves in the crystal clear waters surrounding the islands in Vava’u. This is obviously the time which attracts most visitors to the country, with scores of tourists taking boat trips out to whale spot and even get the chance to swim with these magnificent creatures.
Staying in Paradise: Mounu Island
Tonga is an archipelago set in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand, and near Fiji and Samoa. People say it’s the most untouched and unspoilt of these pacific nations, and judging from my experiences I’m not going to argue.
It’s a collection of 176 islands split up into 3 main groups, and with the northern most group of Vava’u being of most interest to whale spotters.
I was staying on the stunning Mounu Island Resort: a more picture postcard island I don’t think exists. Mounu island is found at the southern end of the Vava’u group of Tonga, and it it really is what you imagine when you hear the words “tropical paradise”. 6 acres of pristine tropical island surrounded by golden beaches and reefs, Mounu is simply stunning, and probably the most beautiful of all the Tongan islands I saw. I was staying on it too!! Mounu is a prime location for whale activity as well, which meant in the mornings you’d often get whales breaching just off the reef at the front of the island.
It’s an incredible experience to be woken up at 7 in the morning by whales jumping out of the water a few hundred yards from your bed I can tell you!
Swimming with the whales
If whales had been spotted, bizarrely enough by an old grey dog, we’d jump in the boat, and head out, guided by the team of crack whale spotters in search of the humpbacks.
At this time of the year, you are almost guaranteed whale encounters on a daily basis, and we were never disappointed.
Although Scuba diving is not allowed with the whales, it is possible to snorkel with them, and curious calves will often investigate swimmers leading to some unforgetable encounters. Although these trips are strictly monitored so as to never upset the whales in any way, and this was stressed as the main priority to us at all times.
Getting in the water with the whales is nothing short of amazing, and it’s easy to see why some people consider it a life changing experience. It’s fascinating how an animal so huge and powerful can seem so graceful and playful in its own habitat. My encounters with the whales will be memories I’ll cherish forever.
And to be honest I can’t wait til next year, when I’m already planning to go back for more.
Useful links
Internation flights arrive in the capital Nuku’alofa, usually from New Zealand, and a domestic flight must then be taken on to Vava’u. The only airline running domestic flights within Tonga is Royal Tongan Airlines.
Service can be sporadic at best, and having a ticket is no guarantee of a seat, as planes are often overbooked, and it’s a bit of a lottery who gets on the plane. Always confirm your ticket prior to travelling.
Royal Tongan Airlines
Accommodation on Mounu island in Tonga, where i was staying, can be booked through:
Mounu Island Resort
Tel: +676 70 747
Email: mounu@tonfon.to
Web: www.mounuisland.com
I heartily recommend Mounu, to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in Tonga. The hosts are great, and the chef is pretty hot too.
Contact
Author: Mark Milburn
Roan Lavery
Email: info@travel-dive.com
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