Nous revenons d’un séjour de 2 semaines aux iles Tonga, dans le Pacifique, et j’ai envie de poster mon feedback, étant donné le peu d’info sur ce pays.
Pour ma part, beaucoup de négatif et de déceptions en ressort.
Tongatapu – 2 nuits au Keleti Resort, à Nuku’Alafa (85 TOP/nuit). Superbe endroit, surplombant une chaine de rochers qui longe le bord de mer… Magnifique endroit mais isolé. Possibilité de manger sur place (qualité et diversité plutôt moyenne).
Tour en ville en un après-midi, rien de bien excitant (maison du rois, marcher des locaux…)
Vol pour Vava’u, avec Air Pacific (A/R env. 480 TOP pp)
Neiafu – 10 nuits à PortWine Guesthouse (120 TOP/nuit) que je ne recommande pas.
Cependant, vu le peu de concurrence à Tonga, et vu le niveau de service en général, je doute que ce soit forcement mieux ailleurs…
Activité : Nager avec les baleines à bosses, la seule bonne raison pour nous d’être venu à Tonga. Une expérience unique et inoubliable... De juin à octobre. Pas besoin de résa. Compagnie recommandée : Dolphin Pacific, sur l’avenue principale. Demandez Claudia, elle est géniale et très pro !
Il y a des plages aux alentours, 15 min en taxi. Kayak possible.
Ma déception est que les locaux ne sont pas des plus sympas ; les activités manquent ; la culture n’est pas frappante ; le logement est trop chère pour la qualité que l’on obtient ; les paysages sont beaux quand on navigue en voilier, mais pour ce qui est de rester sur les îles, ne venez pas à Tonga pour les plages, vous serez deçus!
On ne va jamais aussi loin, que lorsqu'on ne sait pas ou l'on va
Bonjour,
Je devais passer une semaine a Tonga, je suis parti au bout de deux jours tellement j ai trouve l atmosphère ignoble....je te trouve patiente...
Je ne sais pluq quel grand guide de voyage lp ou autre a écrit ce que souhaite les Tongais c est que tu déposes ton argent dans une boite a ton arrivée a l aeroport et que tu repartes...cela se sent a chaque instant c était ma rubrique pub pour Tonga
Etonnant ce retour de voyage !
On ne connait pas les îles Tonga mais plutôt bien les archipels voisins, îles Cook ou la Polynésie Française en particulier, et ton ressenti est aux antipodes du notre en particulier pour l'accueil et la culture polynésienne très présente.
Cela dit on a entendu pas mal de retours négatifs sur les Fidji également, à te lire les Tonga seraient donc dans le même style...
Activité : Nager avec les baleines à bosses, la seule bonne raison pour nous d’être venu à Tonga. Une expérience unique et inoubliable... De juin à octobre.
Pourtant à cette période les baleines (et le whale watching) sont partout dans le Pacifique Sud, de la Polynésie à la Nouvelle-Calédonie, pas seulement aux Tonga... et sur les côtes australiennes également.
Bonjour,
Je sais que ce post date de presque 1 an, mais je pense aux personnes cherchant des infos sur ces archipels méconnus... et j'ai envie de donner mon ressenti sur Tonga.
J'y suis restée 10 jours avec une amie en octobre 2011, et nous avons toutes deux adoré !
Certes, il faut savoir dans quoi on se lance : un pays pauvre, où les infrastructures font défaut et où malheureusement les beautés naturelles et les particularités culturelles ne sont pas toujours bien mises en avant, ni préservées. Ce qui m'a le plus choquée, c'est l'absence de collecte des déchets ! Le tourisme est peu développé, les hébergements ne sont pas hyper confortables et il n'y a pas des masses de concurrence. Donc habitués du luxe et du confort, s'abstenir !
Je suis aussi d'accord pour dire que l'on ne trouve pas beaucoup de plages. De plus, les habitants n'ont pas la même notion de la pudeur : on ne se baigne pas en maillot, mais en T-shirt + short. Il ne faut pas y venir pour parfaire le bronzage ;-)
Mais pour les âmes un peu plus aventurières, Tonga recèle des joyaux de beauté ! Nous avons vite quitté Tongatapu et pris le ferry pour Vava'u au nord, où nous sommes restées 8 jours, et il y avait de quoi faire : balades à pied et en bateau, plages, rencontres avec les habitants et de la culture tongienne.
Nous avons eu une excellente expérience avec les tongiens : avenants, sympas, prêts à rendre service, curieux...
Dès la sortie de l'aéroport à Nuku'alofa, nous avons fait de l'auto-stop pour aller partout sans aucun problème (la première voiture s'arrêtait toujours - parfois sans même qu'on aie besoin de lever le pouce !), on nous a invité à des soirées, emmenées sur les plus jolies plages de Vava'u, etc. et sans jamais qu'on nous demande une quelconque contrepartie financière !
Nous avons eu l'immense chance de rencontrer une famille tongienne qui nous a guidées dans Vava'u, accueillies, hébergées et nourries (que du traditionnel fait maison, absolument délicieux) durant 8 jours. Ils se sont aussi arrangé pour que des membres de leur famille nous accueillent lors de notre retour à Nuku'alofa et nous déposent à l'aéroport pour prendre l'avion du retour. Nous avons simplement partagé des frais d'essence... 80 TOP pour tout notre séjour, soit 40 TOP chacune seulement !!! Cette famille était très modeste mais son accueil a été extrêmement généreux. Sincèrement, je pense qu'ils nous ont fait payer cette petite somme plus par égard pour nous, qui nous sentions gênées d'autant de générosité venant de personnes aussi modestes.
Alors oui, comme je l'ai vu dans tant de pays, les tongiens qui vivent du tourisme sont un peu des requins (hôteliers, chauffeurs de taxis, etc.)... mais rien ne vous empêche de sortir un peu des sentiers battus, et d'aller à la rencontre de tous ces gens si gentils et souriants ! Ils sont agréables et honnêtes, je dirais même un peu protecteurs. Je porte toujours avec moi une médaille en or sur une chaîne en or, et jamais je n'ai eu aucune crainte de vol. Nous sommes sorties seules jusqu'à tard à plusieurs reprises (c'était durant la coupe du monde de rugby et nous voulions notamment voir les demi-finales dans un bar de Neiafu) sans jamais avoir aucun problème.
Le seul bémol : les tongiens sont très dragueurs ! (Enfin, heureusement, ils n'insistent pas lourdement face à un refus).
Bref, j'ai adoré Tonga, mais je pense qu'il faut savoir ce que l'on attend de son voyage, tout simplement :-)
J'espère que ce post pourra aider de futurs voyageurs à décider de si Tonga est fait pour eux. Et je suis disponble pour répondre à toute question, alors n'hésitez pas !
(Je raconte aussi un petit peu mon séjour en texte et en images son mon blog Tonga : 10 jours dans les friendly islands.)
Récits et photos de mes voyages sur mon blog Camino Nomada | Pages Facebook et Google+
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
