gowhereandwhen.comGo in the dry season, May to October: mild, breezy and the driest weather of the year. From July to October humpback whales fill the islands, and Tonga is one of the few places on Earth where you can swim with them.
A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Nukualofa. Higher is better. Some booking links earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The steadiest weather, peaking around Jul.
Other months to compare; prices and crowds depend on your destination and dates.
Cyclone season.
The year at a glance
Tonga is the Pacific's last kingdom, 170 islands where humpback whales come to calve in clear, warm water. It sits far enough south that the dry season, May to October, is genuinely mild: July and August days top out around 24 degrees with nights dipping to 18. We rate on Nuku'alofa, the capital.
The wet season, November to April, is hot and humid with the year's heaviest rain around February, and it carries the cyclone risk. The whale season, July to October, lands neatly inside the best weather, which makes August and September the classic months to come.
Tonga month by month
Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Nukualofa.
JanuaryHot and wet, storm season.Fair 32
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 175 mm
Hot and wet, storm season.
FebruaryHot and very wet, storm season.Avoid 26
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 220 mm
Hot and very wet, storm season.
MarchHot and wet, storm season.Fair 29
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 200 mm
Hot and wet, storm season.
AprilWarm and wet, storm season.Fair 34
- Daytime high
- 28°C / 82°F
- Overnight low
- 22°C / 72°F
- Rainfall
- 170 mm
Warm and wet, storm season.
MayWarm with a little rainIdeal 74
- Daytime high
- 26°C / 79°F
- Overnight low
- 20°C / 68°F
- Rainfall
- 110 mm
Warm with a little rain.
JuneWarm with a little rainIdeal 78
- Daytime high
- 25°C / 77°F
- Overnight low
- 19°C / 66°F
- Rainfall
- 100 mm
Warm with a little rain.
JulyWarm with a little rainIdeal 80
- Daytime high
- 24°C / 75°F
- Overnight low
- 18°C / 64°F
- Rainfall
- 95 mm
Warm with a little rain.
AugustWarm with a little rain.Ideal 74
- Daytime high
- 24°C / 75°F
- Overnight low
- 18°C / 64°F
- Rainfall
- 110 mm
Warm with a little rain.
SeptemberWarm with a little rain.Ideal 74
- Daytime high
- 25°C / 77°F
- Overnight low
- 19°C / 66°F
- Rainfall
- 110 mm
Warm with a little rain.
OctoberWarm and wet.Great 70
- Daytime high
- 26°C / 79°F
- Overnight low
- 20°C / 68°F
- Rainfall
- 120 mm
Warm and wet.
NovemberWarm with a little rain, storm season.Good 52
- Daytime high
- 27°C / 81°F
- Overnight low
- 21°C / 70°F
- Rainfall
- 110 mm
Warm with a little rain, storm season.
DecemberWarm and wet, storm season.Fair 35
- Daytime high
- 28°C / 82°F
- Overnight low
- 22°C / 72°F
- Rainfall
- 160 mm
Warm and wet, storm season.
Where you go changes when you go
Tongatapu
The capital, royal tombs, blowholes and flying foxes. Driest and mildest May to October.
Vava'u
The whale-swim and sailing capital: a sheltered maze of islands at its best July to October.
Ha'apai
Low, quiet atolls between the two: empty beaches, kiteboarding winds mid-year, whales in season.
Best time to visit Tonga for
Swimming with whales
July to October, with licensed operators out of Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongatapu. Book months ahead.
Sailing and kayaking
The dry season, for steady trade winds and settled anchorages around Vava'u.
Beaches and reefs
May to October. The water is coolest in August, so whale swimmers often wear a spring suit.
Best value
November to April, outside whale season, when rates drop and the islands go quiet.
What is on, and when
Whale season, Jul to Oct
Humpbacks calve in the sheltered waters, with mothers and calves resting near the surface.
Heilala Festival, early Jul
Tonga's national festival: parades, dance and feasting around the king's birthday.
Watch out
Cyclone season
Nov to Apr.
Rainy season
Dec to Apr.
Where to stay in Tonga
Compare places to stay around Nuku'alofa. Choose your dates on the booking site.
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Before you choose a stay
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- Compare the full price, including taxes and fees.
- Read cancellation terms before you book.
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Good to know
What is the best time to visit Tonga?
When can you swim with whales in Tonga?
Does Tonga get cold?
Where else, and when
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