What are the Most Romantic Experiences on ‘Eua?
For the adventurous couple wanting to be in touch with nature, ‘Eua is the ideal destination. The 40 million-year-old island is the oldest in Tonga, home to dramatic landscapes and ancient rainforest. Its lands attract tropical birds, while its water plays host to migrating whales every winter. It’s a place to escape from the modern world and reconnect with the simple things in life and each other. So for couples on a honeymoon or a romantic getaway, these are the activities to amp up the romance in this list of romantic things to do in ‘Eua for couples!
While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to ‘Eua.
1. Explore ‘Eua’s Beaches
‘Eua is blessed with some glorious beaches, which most of the time, are completely empty. It might sound cliché, but ‘Eua is perfect for “long walks on the beach” where it’s even likely to see whales on the horizon between July and October. The beaches are backed by lush vegetation and fringed by tidal pools, some even big enough to snorkel in like a human-sized aquarium!
Check out Ha’aluma Beach on the south coast for its long white sandy beach and ancient Tongan stone cuts. Tufuvai Beach is also quite picturesque and easily accessible from Blue Water Retreat. ‘Ufilei Beach is just north of Ohonua and is a better beach for swimming. Otherwise, guided hikes to Fangatave Beach and Lokupo Beach on the east side of the island are amazing rewards after trekking through caves and the rainforest.
Location: All over ‘Eua! See the 5 Best Beaches on ‘Eua for each beach location.
© TongaPocketGuide.com2. Tackle a Glorious Hike Together
Accomplishing a hike together can be a rewarding experience, especially with such amazing things to see along the way. While there are some fantastic guided hikes that we fully recommend, there are other hikes that be done by just the two of you. For instance, the southern Lakufa’anga Cliff Hike features incredible Rock Gardens, the Li’angahuo ‘a Maui Archway and the breathtaking Ha’aluma Beach. Alternatively, the Forest Plantation Hike has incredible tracts of planted forest, as well as giant banyan trees and astonishing lookouts over the ‘Eua National Park. Transfers to and from the trails and maps/information are provided by the island’s accommodations.
Location: All over ‘Eua! Check out what hikes are available in the 5 Best Hikes in ‘Eua.
© TongaPocketGuide.com3. Share a Life-Changing Experience Swimming with Whales
Tonga is one of the very few places in the world where you can swim with whales in their natural environment. Between July and October, humpback whales frequent the waters surrounding ‘Eua to breed and calve, giving travellers on ‘Eua the unique opportunity to see whales in their element. Snorkel with these gentle giants on one of the small-boat tours mentioned in The Best Whale Tours in ‘Eua.
Location: All over ‘Eua! See the link above for specific operators.
(c) tongapocketguide.com4. Do Some Bird Watching
Join the love birds of ‘Eua! The birdlife on the island is incredible, especially with the protected area of the ‘Eua National Park keeping wildlife habitats in check. The star of the ‘Eua show is the red shining parrot or the “koki”, only found on this island. You can spot the koki in the forests, especially in the ‘Eua National Park and in the south of the island. Other birds in the forest include the Pacific pigeon, swiftlets and noddies, while there are plenty of seabirds seen around the Lakufa’anga Cliffs area, such as brown booby, white terns, white-tailed birds and frigate birds. No wonder ‘Eua features in our 5 Best Places for Bird Watching in Tonga!
Location: ‘Eua National Park, central east coast of ‘Eua. Lakufa’anga Cliffs, south coast of ‘Eua.
© TongaPocketGuide.com5. Experience Glamping
Up the romance with a unique accommodation experience like glamping on ‘Eua. Blue Water Retreat offers a gorgeous luxury camping set-up with a large canvas tent on a raised deck complete with sumptuous bedding, cute furniture and beach views. Learn more about the accommodation and more in the 5 Best Resorts in ‘Eua.
Location: Tufuvai Beach, central west coast of ‘Eua.
© TongaPocketGuide.com6. Watch the Sunrise and Sunset
There’s no time more romantic than golden hour! ‘Eua beholds magnificent locations to experience the sunset, from golden-sand beaches, such as Tufuvai, ‘Ufilei and Ha’aluma, to the sunrise from the dramatic clifftop lookout of Matamahina Hopo. See how these compare to the 10 Most Beautiful Sunrise & Sunset Spots in Tonga.
Location: See beach locations in the 5 Best Beaches on ‘Eua. Matamahina Hopo Lookout is located along a 1.5 km (0.9 mi) rough dirt road starting from the graveyard at the northern end of Houma village. Continue past the Fangatave Beach sign to a lookout platform. The journey from the main road takes approximately 35-45 minutes on foot one way.
© TongaPocketGuide.com7. Stargaze Among Some of the Darkest Skies
Isolated in the vast South Pacific, ‘Eua certainly doesn’t suffer from too much light pollution and therefore offers a breathtaking location for stargazing. Looking up from anywhere on the island on a dark and clear night is bound to mesmerise with the view of the universe, but getting away from the village lights to any one of the beaches is sure to enhance the experience.
Location: Anywhere on ‘Eua! Check out the 5 Best Places for Stargazing in Tonga for specific locations.
© TongaPocketGuide.com8. Be Each Other’s Buddy in a Scuba Diving Trip
Update: ‘Eua no longer has scuba diving operators available. Inquire about freediving excursions with operators such as Blue Water Retreat and Kiko’s Whale Watching.
Experienced divers have some of the best dive sites in Tonga at their doorstep in ‘Eua. Buddy up and tackle the renowned Cathedral Cave together, the South Pacific’s largest underwater cave at 100 m (330 ft) long, 50 m (165 ft) wide and 30 m (100 ft) deep. The main cavern has beams of light shining through the ceiling, giving you incredible visibility for the cave’s dwellers, including sharks, groupers and large schools of fish. Scuba diving at Cathedral Cave is available from both ‘Eua and Tongatapu.
(c) tongapocketguide.comMore Romantic Things to Do in ‘Eua for Couples
That’s it for the most romantic things to do on ‘Eua for couples. Of course, every couple has different tastes and interests so if there’s anything missing from this list of the most romantic things to do on ‘Eua for couples, it will probably be in the following articles:
- 20 Best Things to Do in ‘Eua
- The Adults-Only Travel Guide to ‘Eua
- 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in ‘Eua
You might also like to check out The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Tonga and 10 Romantic Things to Do in Tonga for Couples for more honeymooning tips.
