11 Adult-Only Activities in Ha'apai

Ha’apai is home to uncrowded and unspoiled hard coral bommies, soft coral gardens and awesome underwater tunnels all with a magnificent array of tropical marine species.

With children having to be at least over 10 years old to take part in scuba diving in Tonga, rest assured you’ll only have this experience with your group or other like-minded travellers. Even so, once you’re in the water, you feel like you’re in a world of your own among the ever-intriguing underwater world.

PADI scuba diving courses and day trips are available with operators like Matafonua Lodge and those listed in The Best Snorkel & Scuba Dive Tours in Ha'apai.

Location: All over Ha'apai. See the link above for operators and their locations.

Admittedly, the kitesurfing in Ha’apai is suitable for most ages. However, almost everyone out on the water (which doesn’t tend to be many) is an adult. Resorts like Fanifo Lofa offer instruction to up your game. If you want a more exclusive kiteboarding experience, they offer day trips to a “secret spot”.

Other resorts near fantastic kitesurfing waters include the Sea Change Eco Retreat and Matafonua Lodge - the latter also offering week-long instruction should you want to learn from scratch.

Location: Northern tip of Foa Island and Uoleva Island. Learn more about kitesurfing in The Guide to Kitesurfing in Tonga.

An alternative to kitesurfing, surfing is also pretty epic in Ha’apai where waves are blissfully uncrowded. Some of the best places to surf from include the beaches of the Serenity Beaches Resort and Matafonua Lodge.

You will need to bring your own gear as there is no surfboard hire on the island.

Location: Houmale’eia Beach, Foa Island and the southwestern shores of Uoleva Island. Find out more about surfing in The Complete Guide to Surfing in Tonga.

Ready to discover what it truly means to survive like a Tongan islander? The "Island Survivor" hosted by Diana Beach Resort experience is perfect for adventurous adults looking to immerse themselves in traditional Tongan culture whilst testing their resourcefulness over four unforgettable days.

Your journey begins at the resort with essential survival training, learning to make fire the ancient way, master traditional weaving techniques for shelter, harpoon fish and climb coconut trees.

On day two, you'll be transported by boat to a remote island where the real challenge begins. Don't worry though, an experienced local guide accompanies you throughout, sharing generations of Tongan wisdom (plus there's an emergency boat nearby for peace of mind).

Once on your island, you'll catch dinner using traditional techniques, weave palm fronds into a proper fale and prepare meals using only natural resources.

After three days of pure island survival, you'll return to civilisation on day four with incredible stories and newfound respect for how our ancestors lived in harmony with nature.

Location: Meet-up at Diana Beach Resort, Uoleva Island.

Considering you need real strength to reel in wahoo, mahimahi, giant trevally and tuna, almost all fishing charters in Ha’apai just have adult clientele (or, families tend to hire the whole boat to themselves).

Experience fishing the Tongan way on the half-day "Fishing Tours" by Diana Beach Resort. Whether you're an experienced angler or trying it for the first time, your local hosts will teach you traditional fishing techniques passed down through generations. Back on shore, you'll learn how to prepare your catch the traditional way.

A fishing charter is an epic way to get out on the water, see the islands and engage in an exciting sport! Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced angler, Sea Change Eco Retreat has the expertise and the equipment for an epic morning out on the water with specialised fishing packages available in the months leading up to the whale season (May and June).

Location: Fishing charters depart from Diana Beach Resort and Sea Change Eco Retreat, Uoleva Island. Learn more about fishing with them in the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Tonga.

Engage in the local culture by joining a kava circle, locally known as faikava. In the Tongan culture, typically men sit in a circle around a kava bowl and socialise (just like going down to the local pub).

Nevertheless, both men and women can sample this experience, as locals are usually very welcoming and proud to share this aspect of their culture.

Accommodations like Serenity Beaches Resort, Diana Beach Resort and Lindsay Guesthouse are the best ones to go to help organise this experience for you. And just so you know what you’re drinking, kava is a slightly narcotic drink made from the ground-up root of a pepper plant grown across the South Pacific.

If you're joining a faikava in a village, such as Pangai for example, it's customary to bring some cash (TOP$50) or kava to contribute. Learn more about aspects of the Tongan culture in The Guide to the Tongan Culture and Traditions.

Location: All over Ha'apai!

Ok, so there isn’t really the same nightlife scene in Ha’apai as you would find in Tongatapu or Vava’u. Nevertheless, there are almost always beers, ciders, wine and other alcoholic drinks to enjoy from most resorts on the islands.

For instance, Sandy Beach Resort offers a spectacular upmarket restaurant and bar exclusively for their guests, pouring a range of beers, wine, soft drinks, coconut water and cocktails. Be sure to try their signature cocktail, Juergi’s Coconut Cocktail!

Guests at Sea Change Eco Retreat, Ha'apai Beach Resort, Serenity Beaches Resort and Matafonua Lodge also have access to excellent bars.

We also like the honesty bar set-up at Fanifo Lofa.

Location: Resorts on Lifuka, Foa and Uoleva Islands. Check out the 10 Best Resorts in Ha'apai for examples.

A surefire way to enjoy an adults-only experience in Ha’apai is by enjoying a spa treatment. Resorts, such as Serenity Beaches Resort and Sea Change Eco Retreat offer soothing island massages, from head to full-body to shoulder treatments.

Learn more about their massage fales in Where to Get a Massage in Tonga.

Location: Serenity Beaches Resort and Sea Change Eco Retreat, Uoleva Island.

Aside from relaxation through massages, Serenity Beaches Resort and Sea Change Eco Retreat also offer regular yoga retreats in their exercise pavilions.

If your visit doesn't coincide with a retreat, guests are welcome to use the yoga mats available at these resorts and guide their own yoga and meditation, rejuvenating the mind, body and soul in a stunning location nestled in the forest.

Learn more about retreats in The Wellness & Yoga Retreats Guide to Tonga, while more information on the yoga aspects of these resorts can be found in the 5 Best Yoga Resorts in Tonga.

Location: Serenity Beaches Resort and Sea Change Eco Retreat, Uoleva Island.

The ultimate adults-only experience in Ha’apai is spending time with whoever you choose on your own private island for the day.

Sea Change Eco Retreat offers private island day trips where you and your loved one will be whisked away to an uninhabited island to enjoy a day snorkelling in the fringing reefs, relaxing on the beach with the provided beach towels and indulging in a packed picnic lunch.

See more experiences like this in our 10 Romantic Things to Do in Ha’apai.

Location: Sea Change Eco Retreat, Uoleva Island.

Ensure an adults-only experience by exploring the islands of Lifuka and Foa independently by hiring a bicycle.

Resorts, such as Sandy Beach Resort, Matafonua Lodge and Ha’apai Beach Resort offer complimentary bike hire to allow guests to easily explore the islands and get into Pangai from the resort’s remote locations.

See what attractions are worth hitting by bike in the Top 10 Sights in Ha'apai or follow our cycling itinerary in The Best Bike Trails in Tonga.

Location: Sandy Beach Resort and Matafonua Lodge, Foa Island. Ha’apai Beach Resort, Lifuka Island.