The Sacred Island
Niuatoputapu is a flat coral island situated furthest north within the Kingdom of Tonga. Located between Vava’u and Samoa, this ‘sacred island’ is mostly remote and underdeveloped with a noticeably warmer temperature than the other parts of the Kingdom, especially in the southern end.
Commonly referred to as the NIUAS (including the islands of Tafahi & Niuafo’ou), the island is situated near Tonga’s border with Samoa. It is also known as Keppler Island or the Traitors Island, and was referred to this by Dutch explorers; Willie Schouten & Jacob Le Maire, who discovered the island and placed it on the European map during their voyages in the Pacific in 1616.
Niuatoputao consists of three main villages, Hihifo (which means ‘west’ in Tonga), Vaipoa and Falehau. Beautiful beaches and traditional communities surround, with many of its inhabits speaking the Niuatoputapu language. With a volcanic peak (which erupted 3000 years ago) reaching 157 metres high, this island is a great place to explore.
Its remote location benefits the island, making it a truly rare find. It is the one place that still showcases the Tongan traditional communities, ways of living and natural untouched beauty.