We started our excursion with a drive through town and then heading towards the western region of the island of Tongatapu to admire the imposing blowholes, where Pacific waves pass through natural eroded vents and spurt skywards reaching 30 metre.

We next stoped at Kolovai, where we saw flying foxes, the only terrestrial mammal native to Tonga with a wingspan of around one metre. Also known as fruit bats, these peculiar creatures are completely harmless and are found hanging from the Cauarina trees along the main road of the village of Kolovai.

We then went to Ancient Tonga to savour the traditional life of the island thanks to craft demonstrations and learned more about the weaving of traditional tapa fabric and carpets. We were treated to roasted bread fruit and tropical fruits and melons

We then discovered Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga where we admired the Royal Palace, an extraordinary building whose components were shipped from New Zealand and assembled in Nuku’alofa in 1867, and the Royal Tombs, resting place of King George Tupou I and his descendants.