Pitch A Tent

‘Eua Island is something of a Tongan hub for rock climbing; experts can scale the steep limestone cliffs at Fangatave on the east coast (10 minutes’ drive), or explore the complex of caves bedded into the cliffside. Less adventurous souls may prefer to lounge happily on Fangatave Beach (15 minutes), or lazily swim over the coral reef to see which tropical fish they can spot. The island is also renowned for the annual migration of humpback whales between June and November; you can book small-group tours locally that go whale-watching and give you the chance to swim with these mighty mammals of the sea in carefully controlled and safe surroundings. Venturing to the south of ‘Eua, take guided walks through pristine rainforest to tumbling waterfalls in ʻEua National Park (20 minutes), all the while listening out for the indigenous red-breasted musk parrot. The bizarre Rock Garden Coral Formations (25 minutes) carved by the power of the sea over millennia; if you’re lucky you might also get to see the island’s wild horses grazing nearby.