Kolomotu'a

It was opened in 1998 and closed in the early 21st century due to lack of funding. The museum was reopened by the Queen in 2020. Its collection comprises of historic artefacts and replicas, many of which have been returned to Tonga from private collection around the world. The most famous item in the collection is the preserved body and shell of Tu'i Malila, a radiated tortoise that is said to have been gifted to the royal family by Captain James Cook himself. The tortoise lived its life in the gardens of the royal palace, and was even shown to British Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Tonga in 1953. The tortoise passed away in 1966, at the age of 189 years old.

A small history museum that houses many historic artefacts donated to it by the Tongan royal family. It also documents the history of education in Polynesia.

This archaeological site is a trilithon made out of coral, limestone rock. The name means ‘Maui’s burden’, referring to the Polynesian God Maui, who according to legend formed the Kingdom of Tonga by fishing the islands from the depths of the sea. The Ha’amonga ‘a Maui is thought to have been built around 1200 AD. There are several theories regarding its purpose. One is that the King, fearing his two sons would quarrel on his death, erected it as a symbol of brotherhood. Each son was represented by a stone pillar, and united by the lintel. A more likely explanation is that it was the gateway to the King’s palace at his new capital. This capital did not last long, hence the present-day isolation of the trilithon.

A historical landmark where Captain Cook reached land in Tonga.

The first landing of Europeans in Tonga. It preceded Captain Cook's landing by more than 100 years.

This town, on the eastern edge of the lagoon, was the home of the Tu’i Tonga line of kings and was for centuries the capital of the island. It is notable for many tombs of the kings that can still be seen. When a Tuʻi Tonga king died he was buried in a langi, a big, artificial hill surrounded by huge slabs of coral rock, usually in three or more layers. This rock was quarried from along the coast of Tongatapu or from nearby islands. The accuracy by which the slabs were cut so that they fit each other with little space between is considered remarkable.