Having been to Tonga three times now, I am totally in love with this island nation.
The Ha’Apai group is quieter and more remote than other places in Tonga I have visited, and I loved the simplicity of island life when I went this year.
Walking barefoot for a week, having fresh coconuts for breakfast and being able to disconnect meant that I came home feeling relaxed and grounded.
The experience of swimming with the humpback whales was profound and we will take a couple of trips out to see if there are any whales who want to share their world with us, if only for a short time.
This will be a not for profit adventure, all nett profits will go to SEA SHEPHERD, an organisation whose sole mission is to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife.
Confirmed dates for this once in a lifetime experience are:
30th July to 8th August 2025
31st July – 7th August will be the core retreat at the amazing, remote Sea Change Eco Retreat in Uoleva Island.
To see just how remote it is, click here:
GoogleMaps
It is an an off-the-grid eco retreat providing unique beachfront accommodation with the lightest possible footprint in the outer islands of Ha’apai, Tonga.
To get there you fly to the main island of Tongatapu then a short flight to Ha’apai, and a boat ride. Sea Change is completely off the grid, with solar for power and treated rainwater for drinking.
Check it out here:
https://www.seachangetonga.com/
What to expect on this retreat
Yoga (of course!)
Meditation
Snorkelling & Swimming off a beautiful beach
Paddleboarding
Whale watching and snorkelling with them if appropriate (2 trips)
Lots of time to relax and enjoy your surroundings
What’s included:
Return flights to Tongatapu from Auckland on AirNZ
Two nights on Tongatapu island (one at the start and one at the end of the island experience) – this avoids the risk of the domestic airline being unreliable (it does happen!)
Return domestic flights to the Ha’Apai group
Airport and boat transfers in Tonga
Shared accommodation on Tongatapu and on Uoleva Island - see https://www.seachangetonga.com/accommodation for info on what is available
All meals at Sea Change Eco Resort, Uoleva including a Tonga Feast Night
What’s not included:
Travel to/from Auckland International Airport
Travel insurance – you will need to get this prior to leaving
Wifi, drinks, bar purchases any additional excursions/massages from Sea Change Eco Resort
Drinks and food on Tongatapu Island for two nights.
2 whale watching (and hopefully swimming) trips of 5 hrs duration each – will let you decide if you want to do these ( or you may want to do more!).
Check out the Sea Change additional activities here:
https://www.seachangetonga.com/whales-other-activities
Investment:
Tonga is a remote Island Nation with limited infrastructure, making things a tad pricier than you might expect. It’s also a one-of-a-kind experience, there are very few places in the world you can spend time with the whales in this way.
This is a non-profit adventure, so I have tried to minimise costs by having shared accommodation and can lock in the best pricing once people book.
Space is limited to 8 people including me to get the most out of this experience.
Cost including flights $5700 (shared glamping tent) - $5900 (shared wooden fale)
A deposit of $1500 will secure your spot and allow me to book the flights.
If you want to book your own flights from NZ to perhaps extend your holiday, let me know and I can adjust the pricing.
Terms and Conditions can be found here:
https://www.theflowcompany.com/terms-conditions-global
Booking form is here:
https://www.theflowcompany.com/booking-global
Terms and Conditions can be found here.