The South Pacific island Kingdom of Tonga is located in Western Polynesia. Its nearest neighbor is Fiji to the west and the Samoas to the north. Western Polynesia includes the islands of Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Tuvala and Tokelau.

Tonga is one of the world's few remaining constitutional monarchies. It is the only South Pacific country never to have been colonized by a foreign power. Tonga is ruled by His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. The country preserves its ancient traditions alongside modern policies designed to stimulate economic development.

Where is Tonga?

Tonga on a South Pacific map is just west of the international dateline were it meets the Tropic of Cancer. From the Island of Niuafo'ou in the north Tonga stretches nearly 1000 kilometers to the Minerva Reef in the south. Tonga consists of 171 islands, spreading over 700,000 square kilometers of the South Pacific. The countries total land area is 290 square miles (750 square kilometers) located between latitude 15 to 23 S. & longitude 173 to 177 W.

Only 45 of its islands of the 171 islands are inhabited. The countries population is about 100,000; and about two thirds of its inhabitants live on the island of Tongatapu.

Tonga lies about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. The largest island, Tongatapu, is approximately 1,245 miles (2,000 kilometers) northeast of Auckland, N.Z .

Island Groups

Tonga's inhabited islands form four groups. Each group provides a distinctly different experiences to the visitor. From the hub of the capital Nuku'alofa on Tongatapu in the south; to volcanic and coral islands of the Ha'apai group; to the picturesque waterways of the Vava'u archipelago. and to the remote volcanic Niuas in the far north