WHERE TIME BEGINS
Nudging the international dateline, in a time zone of its own, the Kingdom of Tonga is the first land to see the dawn of each new day. Tonga is unique. It's an independent constitutional monarchy and the only South Pacific country never to have been colonised. Because of this independence, the way of life has remained largely unchanged and culturally intact. The people are carefree, funloving and renowned for their sincere goodwill. Tonga
still remains far away from it all, still different, still alone, and
to the joy of those who find their way to the Kingdom - essentially
unspoilt.
The Kingdom of Tonga is made up of some 170 small islands. The administrative and shopping centre is the major town of Nuku'alofa on the largest island - Tongatapu. The atmosphere is often langourous, heady with the perfume of tropical flowers. Here you can still experience the freedom, the magic of being the only soul, idling along a creamy beach and enjoying the natural beauty of an unpolluted environment. The sights are many and varied, natural and historical. To absorb the ambience of Nuku'alofa a walking tour is a must.
