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Best Cruising Guides South Pacific


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With our trip planned to the South Pacific next year I'm on the hunt for the best knowledge out there and what people are using these days for cruising guides as we sold our last boat with all our old copies on board (mistake).  Can anyone tell me what the best guides are today for Tonga and Fiji?  Appreciate a pm from someone if they have a location of some pdf copies of the older usual guides also as I've lost mine.  Can pay with beer/rum etc.  

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Ive been using online guides like noonsite and cruisers forum plus Wikipedia

Read them prior to departure and then copy and paste to notes on my iPad so I've got it off line to check and reread on approach

Plus the user info on navionics is often useful as well, just don't rely on one source as info can be out of date but so are cruising guides once they are printed also, example below

 

 

Tonga - Formalities

Clearance

The Q flag must be flown. The captain should contact the Harbour Master or Customs on arrival (prior to docking/mooring), who will give instructions where to berth for clearing in and may or may not board the yacht. One must present the outward clearance from the last port.

You will be boarded by Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Health.

You must clear in and out of each island group if you plan to travel within Tonga – this is known as a domestic check in/check out and you will need a Local Movement Report (Small Craft) issued by customs for each island group. See each island group for details.

See the chosen Port of Entry for specific clearance information for that port.

In general in Tonga, clearance will take quite some time, so be patient and polite.

See Fees for clearance below.

Last updated September 2014.

Immigration

A free 30 day Visa is granted upon entry for the following nationalities, and a second visa for 6 months can be purchased for $69TOP per month.

Citizens from The EU, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Dominica, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia (New Caledonia, Tahiti, Wallis & Futuna), Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Slovakia, Slovenia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lusia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Tokelau, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu.

All other visitors require a visa in advance.

Applications for visa extensions can be made at the Immigration Departments in Neiafu, Ha’apai, Nuku'alofa, Niu’topatpu (tel:+676 26969 or +676 26970; fax: +676 26971; e-mail: visatonga@gmail.com).

Note: It is necessary to have a valid visa at all times, so ensure it does not expire when moving between island groups. A fine of $1150TOP will be charged for having an out of date visa.

Last updated September 2014.

Customs

Firearms must be declared on arrival and will be held in custody ashore until departure.

Fresh produce may be confiscated. Garbage must be disposed of officially on arrival.

Yachts may remain in Tonga for up to 12 months, provided the necessary arrangements have been made with Customs. A small daily fee is charged for boats left unattended.

Equipment sent to vessels in transit may be imported free of duty. Be aware goods will come into Nuku’alofu and then you have to pay courier fees to get it to your port of choice. The local airline will fly equipment up for $4.50 a kg. (it may be cheaper to pick it up).

Last updated September 2014.

Documents

Local Movement Report for cruising within Tonga

Day sailing within the island groups is not restricted, but a Local Movement Report (Small Craft) known locally as a ‘domestic check-in, check-out’ is required when moving between groups served by customs offices.

Any harbour dues should be paid prior to visiting customs, as the receipt needs to be shown to obtain the Local Movement Report.

On arrival at the next island group, one must contact customs on arrival.

When travelling between Nuku'alofa and Vava'u, or vice versa, one can request that the Local Movement Report includes Ha'apai if intending to stop in that island group.

Last updated September 2014.

Fees

Port fees for the Kingdom of Tonga (Port of refuge, Neiafu, Vava'u) 2014 (fees quoted in local Tongan dollars).

Customs

During working hours, free

Overtime $20 per hour

Quarantine

Clearance fee per boat $28.50

Rubbish 0,40 per kg

Overtime $20 per hour

Immigration

A free 30 day Visa is granted upon entry and a second visa for 6 months can be purchased for $69 per month.

Health

$100

Overtime $20 per hour

Port Control

On departure harbour dues must be paid - Vava'u charge 0.45c per gross tonne per month, Nuku’alofa charges $2.40 per gross tonne per month, Ha'apai no charges.

Overtime $20 per hour

Last updated September 2014.

Restrictions

Social Customs:

Anyone appearing in public without a shirt (and ladies covered from shoulder to below the knee) will risk being fined.

Dress code is very strict, as is Sunday observance, when no work (even on your own boat), sporting or other strenuous activities are allowed. Neither should laundry be hung out to dry.

Hats should never be worn either in church, or in the presence of a person in authority or someone to whom you wish to show respect.

Displaying anger or frustration is considered very bad form in Tonga.

Note: Swimming with whales is ILLEGAL from a private yacht!

Any swimming with whales is illegal UNLESS with a licenced operator. Fines are becoming larger and your Visa may be cancelled or your vessel could be detained. This has happened and visas have been cancelled with a yacht having to leave immediately. Rather go with a professional who knows how to approach whales. Don’t let yachties get a bad reputation.

Don’t harass whales: a collision at sea WILL ruin your entire day!

Marine Reserves: There are some underwater sites of particular beauty and these have been designated as marine reserves. These reserves are for viewing only, collection of shells or marine life is prohibited and anchoring is not permitted near or in the giant clam reserves.

There are seven marine and coastal reserves around Tongatapu: Hakaumamato Reef, Pangaimotu Reef, Malinoa Island and Reef, Ha'atafu Beach, Monuafe Island and Reef, Mounu Reef Giant Clam Reserve (northwest of the yacht harbour) and Muihopohoponga Coastal Reserve on Niutoua.

Three reserves are proposed for Vava'u: the wreck of Clan McWilliam in Neiafu harbour, the coral gardens between Nuapapu and Vaketeitu, the Giant Clam Reserves in Hunga Lagoon, Neiafu Harbour and off Ano Beach. Giant clams are an endangered species and those tagged with a number printed on the shell or an aluminium tag should not be disturbed even outside of the reserves. Visitors are requested to show restraint in collecting other shells, by taking dead shells or buying them and limiting the number taken to one or two of each species. Over-collection of Triton shells has led to an increase in crown of thorns starfish which in abundance can destroy the reef; and visitors are urged not to buy or collect tritons.

Waste Disposal: Throwing rubbish into the harbour or waters of Tonga is forbidden. As there are no refuse containers on the out islands, visitors are expected to carry all rubbish with them on board and dispose of it in one of the refuse containers in Faua harbour, on the wharf at Neiafu, or at the Moorings Base.

Last updated September 2014.

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