We drive 30 minutes out of town until we arrive at the landing site of British Explorer Captain James Cook. A plaque is in the place where a banyan tree once stood to commemorate the occasion that took place in 1777, as well as when Queen Elizabeth II visited the landmark in 1970 Captain Cook dubbed Tonga the "Friendly Islands" because of the warm welcome he received from the locals, however he did not know they actually had a plot to kill him! This is a just quick photo stop and is an easy walk from the Van.

Just a short 10-minute drive to our next stop. Tonga's ancient stonework monuments are unique in the Pacific, and the largest of them the Lapaha's Paepae 'o Tele'a tombs or Terraced Tombs will be our next stop. 1000 years ago, the ancient Tongan's constructed this enormous tomb in a similar way that the Egyptians built the Pyramids. With little evidence of any mechanical tools being available at the time, the corners of the hard-coral slabs used to construct the tombs have been neatly joined, like pieces of timber! Tentatively listed with UNESCO as a World Heritage site, this is one of the most important historical sites in Polynesia. You will be able to walk right up to the sight and touch the ancient coral slabs. Please don’t walk on the top of the tomb. Your guide will get into more details about the history of the tombs and Kings buried there.

On our way to the next ancient mystery, keep an eye out for the strangest attraction in Tonga, the famous fishing pigs. It's such a sight to see pigs wading around in the ocean with their snouts underwater hunting for a meal. The fishing pigs are favourites with the locals for their naturally salty flavour. The guide will pull over so you can jump out and take some great photos, don’t get too close though you will just scare them off. We cannot guarantee you will see the pigs fishing; it all depends on the timing of low tide and how hungry the pigs are feeling.

Our next ancient mystery is the Ha’amonga ‘a Maui which is made up of 3 huge 40-ton coral limestone slabs. It has been suggested that the trilithon was also a seasonal calendar, a sort of Polynesian Stonehenge, telling the position of the sunrise at solstices & equinoxes. Ha'amonga means 'a burden as carried by two men' (or 'The Burden of the God Maui'). The massive rocky archway located near the village of Niutoua is commonly believed to have been the entrance gate to the royal compound of the ancient Tongan capital. It is said the structure was constructed about 1200 AD by Tonga ruler, King Tu'itatui. You will be able to walk right up the Ha’amonga, touch it and get a photo underneath it. Please don’t climb the Ha’amonga but make sure you walk down to the back with the guide and learn about the blind King who used to strike people in the knee. You will find a toilet block here & a couple of tables with locals selling locals crafts.

Next, we will drive 40minutes to the famous 3 headed coconut tree. In case you didn't know, coconut trees are only meant to have 1 head and this freak of nature is one of the rarest coconut trees in the world. It's just a quick stop for a funny photo. The tree is located on the side of the road, standing alone, and has survived all the past cyclones! Your guide will park next to the tree, and you can jump out for a quick photo. Your guide will be happy to help you get a photo under the tree!

Just a short drive away we will find the Mapu 'A Vaea Blowholes which is a highlight of any trip to Tonga, and you can sit for hours watching Mother Nature show off in all her glory. You'll find not one blowhole, but hundreds of them along a 5km stretch of windswept coastline. This is a great spot to enjoy your tasty, packed lunch which is included and get some amazing photos. Your guide will park right out front of the viewing platform, and you can watch the blowholes from there and enjoy your lunch. There is a toilet block here and you will find some stalls selling handicrafts

After lunch we drive for 30minutes to the tip of the island as see Ha’atafu Beach. On 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano erupted, triggering a devastating tsunami and blanketing many of Tonga’s islands in a thick layer of volcanic ash. Tragically, three lives were lost because of the tsunami, including two Tongan nationals and a British national. Ha’atafu beach shows the devastation of the Tsunami to the beach resorts. The guide can tell you first-hand stories of the events that took place. You can see the devastated beach resorts and take some photos.

Your guide will drop you directly across the road from Friends Café which is a 4-minute walk back to the cruise ship. We ensure to get all guest back 1hour prior to the cruise ship departure time. Tour duration is approx. 6hours