When to Visit Tonga
The question is: when is there are a “bad” time to visit Tonga? We all have different perceptions of when is a good time to visit a place. It could be the weather, what activities are available, when it’s the cheapest time to fly, or when there are fewer tourists. There are amazing things to experience all year round in Tonga. However, it’s important to note the two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season. These seasons have an influence on quite a few factors concerning travel experiences in Tonga, which we’ll go into detail in this guide to the best time to visit Tonga!
4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Time to Visit Tonga
1. The Weather
Let’s be honest, you’re not planning a tropical getaway to be cold and miserable. Luckily, Tonga happens to be warm all year round, but there are seasons with higher rainfall and humidity. Therefore, the season for your desired weather might be worth thinking about before you book your flight.
2. How Busy it is
Tonga never really feels too “crowded”, especially as most accommodation across the islands are boutique and tours are in small groups. While that’s definitely one of the charms of Tonga, it also means that accommodations and tours can book up quickly! Check out the guide below to see when the tourist high and low seasons are.
3. The Cost
Airlines and even some accommodation providers know when most tourists want to visit Tonga, and they are not afraid to take advantage of this with their prices. If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider visiting Tonga in its low season.
4. The Activities
While many activities can be done year-round in Tonga, there are times of the year that are better than others for a selected few. For instance, whale watching and swimming tours only operate from July to October when Humpback Whales are in Tonga’s waters. This is one of the main reasons many travellers go to Tonga, which means that some other tours and accommodations close down outside of the whale season when there are very few tourists – especially in Vava’u and Ha’apai.
(c) PixabayThe Wet Season (Summer)
Months: December, January, February, March and April
Tourist Season: Low season
Weather in the Wet Season
Temperature: 23-31°C (74-88°F)
Rainfall per month: 210mm (8.3″)
Find out more about the weather for each month in:
- Tonga Weather in December
- Tonga Weather in January
- Tonga Weather in February
- Tonga Weather in March
- Tonga Weather in April
About The Wet Season in Tonga
The “Wet Season” can’t help but conjure up damp and dreary images ruining your tropical getaway, but it sounds worse than it actually is. Although Tonga’s summer season is the wettest and most humid time of the year, there’s always sunshine in between the heavy bursts of rain. The wet season is the quietest time to visit Tonga, resulting in very few tourists, lower airfares and often unmissable accommodation deals. International and domestic flights, however, do become busy and expensive around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays so either book in advance or avoid this short period.
The Best Places to Visit in the Wet Season
While just about everywhere in Tonga is great to visit in the wet season, often feeling like you have the whole place to yourself, staying around Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu, is advised if you have limited time in Tonga, as travel schedules to the outer islands and unpredictable in rainy weather. Learn more about our recommended places to visit in Tonga in the wet season in the list of island groups (and the links to their guides) in the following list:
For more great places to visit, check out our Travelling Tonga: Month-by-Month Guide.
(c) PexelsThe Dry Season (Winter)
Months: May, June, July, August, September, October and November
Tourist Season: Shoulder and high season
Weather in the Dry Season
Temperature: 19-29°C (66-84°F)
Rainfall per month: 110mm (3.9″)
Find out more about the weather for each month in:
- Tonga Weather in May
- Tonga Weather in June
- Tonga Weather in July
- Tonga Weather in August
- Tonga Weather in September
- Tonga Weather in October
- Tonga Weather in November
About the Dry Season in Tonga
The dry season is the most appealing time for many travellers to come to Tonga, due to this season typically having the least amount of rainfall, comfortable temperatures, and having some seasonal activities available. However, that’s not to say that it doesn’t rain at all in the dry season, so it’s best to set expectations right to avoid your spirits being “dampened”. Because it is the most popular time to visit Tonga, airfares and accommodation rates tend to be at their highest, especially from July to September when the whale season is in full swing. Earlier and later in the dry season (i.e. the shoulder season) is when you will start to see airfares decreasing and the tourist numbers dwindling.
The Best Places to Visit in the Dry Season
Honestly, all of the island groups are good to visit in Tonga during the dry season, especially as it never feels too crowded in the islands. But in contrast to the wet season, flights are less likely to be cancelled to the outer islands and ferry journies are more comfortable. So with that in mind, it is a good idea to explore some of Tonga’s middle and northern islands. Learn more about these islands in the list and links to their guides below:
For more great places to visit, check out our Travelling Tonga: Month-by-Month Guide.
More About the Best Time to Visit Tonga
- How to Prepare for a Cyclone in Tonga
- What are the Seasons in Tonga?
- What is the Weather like in Tonga?
That’s it for the best time to visit Tonga. For itineraries to inspire you on where to visit, take a look at the following compilations: The Best Tonga Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Tonga Itineraries for a Weekend.
