What's on in Nuku'alofa, Tonga through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Rule

  Sunday is closed by law

  1 Jan – 31 DecClosures

  Sabbath observance is written into the constitution: no trading on Sunday without the police minister's approval. Shops, markets and most transport stop, hotels feed their own guests, and the singing is the thing to do. Source ↗

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — King Tupou VI Day, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  King Tupou VI Day

  1–8 Jul · usuallyNational holidayClosures

  The king's birthday on 4 July anchors a week of parades, brass bands, church choirs and a flower festival through Nuku'alofa. It is the fullest the capital gets all year. Source ↗

• Nature

  Humpback season

  1 Jul – 31 Oct · usuallyWhale seasonBook early

  Tonga is one of a handful of countries that licenses swimming with humpbacks, and the mothers and calves are here through the southern winter. Most of the boats work out of Vava'u rather than Tongatapu.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Humpback season (1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Humpback season (1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Humpback season (1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Constitution Day

• Hazard

  Cyclone season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr

  November to April is the South Pacific storm season and Tongatapu is a low, flat island with the capital at sea level. Ferries to the outer groups stop first and stay stopped longest. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Constitution Day

  4 NovNational holidayClosures

  4 November marks the 1875 constitution that kept Tonga the only Pacific kingdom never formally colonised. Offices and shops close; it is usually moved to the nearest Monday. Source ↗

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Sunday is closed by law (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)