So I'm going to Tonga on Nai'a in August to see the humpbacks, yay!!! Because of the way the flights are, I have three days after the trip before my "Travel home" day. There seem to be two good choices of what to do those three days:
1. Go to the surf resort out at the end of the main island (Ha'atafu Beach Resort) and chill. I like chilling, although I don't surf. The beach looks kinda pretty but not mind-blowing. But it's all inclusive, gonna be relaxing, rated #1 on Trip Advisor.
or
2. Stay in town (Nuku'alofa) on the main island, and to stuff like (a) cultural tours, (b) shop, (c) take day trips on the ferry to nearby beach islands, (d) rent a car or bike and explore.
Because of the ferry schedule and my flight time, staying on one of the other nearby beach-y islands doesn't really work. I am aware that Tongatapu isn't known for its beaches.
Here's my main question for y'all:
Question: Is the island scenery (white beaches with blue water) up in the Ha'apai Group, where the 12 day liveaboard is going, a lot lot lot better than the surfing beach resort out at the west end of the main (Tongatapu) island? If the little island beaches out in the Ha'apai Group are really a whole lot better than the beach at that surf resort, then I'm probably going to be disappointed or let down, and should do the "town" type stuff instead. However if it's equivalent, the relaxation thing might be better. I'm not super huge on cultural tours; I've got a very short attention span for dances, singing, ruins, churches, museums, that sort of thing. I am also going to have one full day in town before the trip, but it's a Sunday, so I think I won't be able to get much shopping or anything in (I hear everything closes on Sunday there?).
So which should I do?
Thanks!
1. Go to the surf resort out at the end of the main island (Ha'atafu Beach Resort) and chill. I like chilling, although I don't surf. The beach looks kinda pretty but not mind-blowing. But it's all inclusive, gonna be relaxing, rated #1 on Trip Advisor.
or
2. Stay in town (Nuku'alofa) on the main island, and to stuff like (a) cultural tours, (b) shop, (c) take day trips on the ferry to nearby beach islands, (d) rent a car or bike and explore.
Because of the ferry schedule and my flight time, staying on one of the other nearby beach-y islands doesn't really work. I am aware that Tongatapu isn't known for its beaches.
Here's my main question for y'all:
Question: Is the island scenery (white beaches with blue water) up in the Ha'apai Group, where the 12 day liveaboard is going, a lot lot lot better than the surfing beach resort out at the west end of the main (Tongatapu) island? If the little island beaches out in the Ha'apai Group are really a whole lot better than the beach at that surf resort, then I'm probably going to be disappointed or let down, and should do the "town" type stuff instead. However if it's equivalent, the relaxation thing might be better. I'm not super huge on cultural tours; I've got a very short attention span for dances, singing, ruins, churches, museums, that sort of thing. I am also going to have one full day in town before the trip, but it's a Sunday, so I think I won't be able to get much shopping or anything in (I hear everything closes on Sunday there?).
So which should I do?
Thanks!