Nudging the international dateline, in a timezone of its own, the Kingdom of Tonga is the first land to see the dawn of each day.

The Kingdom of Tonga consists mainly of four island groups: Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Vava'u and the Niuas.

Tonga is unique. It's an independent constitutional monarchy and the only South Pacific country never to have been colonized.

Because of this independence, the way of life has remained largely unchanged and culturally intact. The people are carefree, funloving and renowned for their sincere goodwill

Archaeologists claim that Tonga has been inhabited since the 5th Century B.C. Tonga was first discovered by the Europeans in 1616 when two Dutch navigators Schouten and Lemaire arrived. They were followed by Tasman, Wallis, Cook and Blight (the mutiny on the Bounty occurred in Tongan waters).

Spread over 700,000 sq kms of the shimmering turquoise South Seas, these remarkable diverse islands reflect the natural beauty of ancient Polynesia. Truly deserving of the romantic description of being the land "where time begins".

Visit sites about Tonga at:
tonic.to
tongaonline.com
tongatapu.net.to