What Services are Available in Nuku’alofa?
Just about all of Tonga’s main shops, services and information centres are located in its capital, Nuku’alofa. Nuku’alofa is a good place to stock up on supplies before hitting the outer islands or to even base yourself should you prefer proximity to all of the city’s conveniences. So that you have an understanding of the essential shops and services in Nuku’alofa, we’ve put together this quick guide to what’s available.
If you need something as you’re travelling around the greater island of Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu, first note Nuku’alofa is likely the best place for it. Second, you might want to check out the Information, Shops & Services on Tongatapu.
Useful Services for Tourists
- Tourist Information Centre – Vuna Road (not far from Vuna Wharf)
- Car Rentals – See The Best Car Rentals in Tongatapu for listings
- Taxis – See The Guide to Taxis in Tonga for more information
- Buses – See How to Travel Around Tonga by Bus for more information
- Ferries – Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Wharf, Vuna Road (see The Guide to Ferry Travel in Tonga)
- Restaurants – See the The Food Guide to Nuku’alofa for recommendations
- Ports Authority – Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Wharf, Vuna Road
- Immigration – Vuna Road (government offices opposite Vuna Wharf)
- Police Station – Cnr of Salote and Lelue Roads.
(c) tongapocketguide.comFood and Groceries in Nuku’alofa
You’ll hardly struggle for food and groceries in Nuku’alofa, which has a wide range of supermarkets, fale koloa (convenience stores), as well as a market and roadside full of fruit and vegetable stalls.
Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
Several supermarkets can be found in Nuku’alofa city, including:
- Molisi City Supermarket, Salote Road
- FoodWorld Supermarket, cnr of Alaivahamama’o Bypass and Taufa’ahau Road
- Zhuzhu Trading, Vuna Road opposite Faua Wharf
- Fakapale Hua Long Shopping Center, Vuna Road opposite Faua Wharf
- Sin Fu Company, cnr of Tu’i and Wellington Roads
- MEIDECC, Cnr of Taufa’ahau and Wellington Roads
- Luna’eva Supermarket, Taufa’ahau Road
- Yung Cheng Trading, Taufa’ahau Road
- Sunshine Supermarket, cnr of Taufa’ahau and Vaha’akolo Roads.
There are also numerous convenience stores, and you can usually safely assume that you’re within walking distance of one.
Supermarkets and convenience stores stock imports from New Zealand, Australia and China, as well as Tongan products. As for opening hours, stores are usually open from around 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. Some Chinese stores will stay open well into the evening until around 10/11 pm.
For more information on what sort of food to expect in convenience stores, see A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Tonga.
Fale Koloa
Particularly in the suburbs, basic food essentials can be purchased from fale koloa, which are small convenience stores with meshed windows at the front of the building, where you make exchanges with the store clerk. Learn more about how these work in The Guide to Food Shopping in Tonga.
Market and Roadside Stalls
Fresh produce is available from Talamahu Market (Salote Road, city centre), which is open throughout the day from Monday to Saturday – see the 5 Best Markets in Tonga for more details.
You can also purchase fruit and vegetables from roadside stalls found in many convenient locations in and around Nuku’alofa but especially along Vuna Road on the way to Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Wharf.
Restaurants
Unsurprisingly, there are tens of cafes, restaurants and takeaways across Nuku’alofa to make for an easy meal. We have listed some of our favourite eateries in The 20 Best Restaurants in Nuku’alofa and the 10 Best Cafes in Nuku’alofa & Tongatapu.
© TongaPocketGuide.comMedication, Toiletries and Pharmaceuticals
Although it is always recommended to bring all the medication you need during your stay in Tonga, as well as pack a first aid kit, which we advise on in What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Tonga, you’ll still be able to medical supplies and various health and baby products in Nuku’alofa.
Medication at Supermarkets and Convenience Stores
Supermarkets and fale koloa sell basic light medications (such as painkillers), as well as essential health products, like feminine hygiene, baby products, beauty products, first aid supplies, etc. Sunscreen and insect repellent are a little harder to find at these establishments, so it’s best to buy these types of products from pharmacies. See the “Food and Groceries in Nuku’alofa” section above for more information.
Pharmacies
There are several pharmacies in Nuku’alofa where you’ll be able to find more specialised medication and health products, which include:
- Neeru’s Pharmacy, Wellington Road
- Seini’s Pharmacy & Clinic, Longoteme Road
- Village Mission Pharmacy, Unga Road
- Fasi Pharmacy, Salote Road, Fasi
- Universal Pharmacy & Clinic, Taufa’ahau Road, Fanga ‘ Pilolevu
- Tukia’s Pharmacy, Sipu Road, Kolomotu’a.
Pharmacies are typically open from 9 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday and around 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday – closed Sunday.
Clinics and Hospital
Nuku’alofa and Tonga’s main hospital is Vaiola Hospital (Tofoa) which offers specialist services, surgery and outpatient clinics. The hospital is open 24/7. There are also outlying medical centres around Nuku’alofa offering basic services and facilities. Independent medical centres/clinics are usually open from 7 am to 7/ pm Monday to Saturday.
For health care and obtaining prescriptions, there are several clinics and a hospital in Nuku’alofa:
- Dr. Ana Akauola’s Clinic, Siu’ilikutapu, Longolongo
- Friendly Islands Dental Clinic, Salote Road
- Universal Pharmacy & Clinic, Taufa’ahau Road, Fanga ‘ Pilolevu
- Seini’s Pharmacy & Clinic, Longoteme Road
- Chen’s Clinic, Taufa’ahau Road (near Cafe Escape)
- Vaiola Hospital, Taufa’ahau Road, Tofoa.
For more health and safety advice while visiting Nuku’alofa, check out Tonga Safety Tips: Is it Safe to Travel to Tonga?
(c) tongapocketguide.comFuel Stations in Nuku’alofa
Need to fuel up? Fuel stations in Nuku’alofa tend to be open from 8 am to 6 pm except Sundays. Note that fuel stations are fully serviced and an attendant will fill your vehicle for you; tell the attendant how much you want to fill up.
Fuel Stations in Nuku’alofa
All of Nuku’alofa’s fuel stations can be found in or on the outskirts of the city, including:
- Total Petrol Station, cnr of Hihifo Road and Albert Street
- Maui Gas Station, Hihifo Road, Hofoa
- Total Petrol Station, Wellington Road, city centre
- Total Petrol Station, Fatafehi Road, Kolofo’ou
- Konifelenisi Gas Station, Taufa’ahau Road
- Pacific Petrol Station, cnr of Salote and Lelea’afafine Roads
- Total Petrol Station, Taufa’ahau Road, Touliki.
For more tips for driving around Nuku’alofa, take a look at How to Drive in Tonga + 10 Road Rules You Need to Know, as well as Nuku’alofa Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Nuku’alofa.
© TongaPocketGuide.comCommunication Services in Nuku’alofa
When it comes to staying connected, Tonga’s phone networks provide the most reliable and convenient option, as you can pick up SIM cards at the phone network offices, as well as many convenience stores in town. Otherwise, expect to pay for an internet connection in accommodations and internet cafes. There is also a post office in Nuku’alofa.
Phone Networks
There are two network providers in Tonga, Digicel and UCall (TCC), which have branches in the following locations:
- Digicel Tonga, Fatafehi Road, Kolofo’ou
- TCC, Salote Road, Fongoloa
- TCC, Taufa’ahau Road (Tonga Post Building).
These stores are typically open from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. Otherwise, most convenience stores sell SIM cards for at least one of Tonga’s phone networks. Learn more about the network, prices and coverage in The Best SIM Card in Tonga for Travellers.
Post Office
For mail, Tonga Post is the national post office, found in Nuku’alofa CBS (Vuna Road). Services include postage stamps, domestic and international mail, printing and Money Gram transfers. Opening hours are typically from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday and 9 am to 12 pm Saturday.
Other courier services in Nuku’alofa include FedEx (Taufa’ahau Road) at the Jetsave Office, and DHL (cnr Vuna Road and Alaivahamama’o Bypass), which have similar opening hours.
Internet and WiFi
Free access to internet and WiFi is certainly limited in Nuku’alofa. Public access to paid internet is mostly offered by hotels and internet cafes for a fee that’s certainly not cost-effective if you’re planning on using the internet often. For this reason, we recommend getting a local SIM card and using a data plan as the best way to access the internet. Otherwise, other options include:
- Dataline Internet Cafe, cnr of Wellington and Taufa’ahau Roads
- Tau’olunga Computers, Salote Road, Fasi.
Alternatively, see a list of accommodations with WiFi in our guide, Where to Get WiFi in Tonga.
© TongaPocketGuide.comBanks and ATMs in Nuku’alofa
Should you want to exchange currency or withdraw some cash, there are certainly a few options in Nuku’alofa.
Banks
Banks in Nuku’alofa offer services like foreign exchange, which you can learn more about in The Best Place to Exchange Money in Tonga LINK#TT002. Note that banks tend to be open from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
- BSP, Vuna Road, city centre
- Tonga Development Bank, Fatafehi Road
- ANZ, Taufa’ahau Road, city centre
- ANZ, cnr Vuna Road and Alaivahamama’o Bypass.
Note that the above branches also have ATMs accepting foreign cards – see Can You Use Your Credit Card in Tonga?
ATMs
Other than at the bank branches mentioned above, BSP ATMs offer a way to withdraw cash in Nuku’alofa. The list includes:
- BSP Ports Authority ATM, Vuna Road, Ma’ufanga
- BSP Vaiola Hospital ATM, Tofoa
- BSP Cowleys Bread Bin ATM, Pule’oto Building, Fasi
- BSP Tanoa Hotel ATM, Taufa’ahau Road, Tofoa.
Learn more about paying your way through Tonga in What is the Best Way to Pay in Tonga?
Currency Exchange Bureaus
There are also several currency exchange bureaus in Nuku’alofa city centre, such as Western Union/No1 Currency in the following locations:
- Fexco Federal Pacific House, Taufa’ahau Road
- Fexco Tatakamotonga, Fetu Hall, Tatakamotonga
- Fexco Talamahu Market, Salote Road.
Again, more on currency exchange bureaus can be found in The Best Place to Exchange Money in Tonga LINK#TT002.
More About Information, Shops and Services in Nuku’alofa
Now that you know about the Nuku’alofa shops and services available, here’s more advice to help you plan a smooth trip to the island:
- Information, Shops & Services in Tongatapu
- The Complete Guide to Nuku’alofa
- The Food Guide to Nuku’alofa: Places to Eat & Food Tours
Finally, plan your whole trip to Tonga using The Best Tonga Travel Guide. Plus, find more helpful tips in the 30 Tips for Travelling in Tonga.
