Arrived in Nuku’alofa Tonga!

 We arrived at. Uku’alofa at about 22:30 on May 14.  The entrance pass through the reef was easy with good charts and a full moon to assist.  We anchored off Big Mama’s resort at Pangmatu Island for the night.

A bright full moon for our entrance to the Nuku’alofa harbour

The next morning we were directed to a very derelict customs dock and another catamaran yacht was directed to raft up beside us.  We had every fender out to protect True North from the concrete dock.

The s
The sketchy customs dock

Our neighbour “Island Time” rafted to us

Customs processed both boats together.  The first person to visit was from Bio Securiy who had me fill out a long multi-page form and charged us to take our garbage.  The total was $26.00.  The next person was Customs/ Immigration.  I had to fill out another long form and we all completed personal arrival forms.  There was no charge.  The third person was Health who had me fill out yet another form and charged $100 for their services.  We were now checked into Tonga and free to leave the yacht.  I lowered our yellow quarantine flag and raised the Tongan courtesy flag instead.  After anchoring outside the harbour we returned to shore to have a brief exploration walk, get a phone SIM card and explore the central market.

The next day one crew member left the yacht.  Neil and I hired a taxi driver to give us a tour of the island before going shopping for provisions.  We had a great tour.
We visited Captain Cook’s Landing Site in the “Friendly Isles’

Tsunami Rock - a large rock moved inland from the sea by a Tsunami wave

The town of Et’ata - Their island was destroyed by a tsunami three years ago and Tonga reestablished the town here at Nuku’alofa

Captain Cook’s landing site

Neil at the blow holes

The Tongan burial sites are very colourful with flowers, signs and twinkling light displays at night.

This evening we will depart Nuku’alofa for Nomuka Island in the Ha’apai group of islands where we will arrive around sunset.

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