Fast Facts

Vava'u is a small place where nearly everyone knows everything.

Currency Exchange -- ANZ Bank and Westpac Bank of Tonga are both on the main street in Neiafu and have ATMs. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, with Westpac also open Saturday 8 to 11am.

Drugstores -- Vava'u Pharmacy (tel. 70-212), on the main street opposite the Tonga Visitors Bureau, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30am to 4pm and Saturday 8:30 to 11am.

Emergencies & Police -- The telephone number for the police is 70-234.

Healthcare -- The government has a small hospital in Neiafu (tel. 70-201).

Information -- The Tonga Visitors Bureau (tel. 70-115; fax 70-666; www.vavau.to) has an office on the main road in Neiafu. Check there for lists of local activities while you're in town. The staff can also help arrange road tours of the island and boat tours of the lagoon. The office is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. The address is P.O. Box 18, Neiafu, Vava'u.

Internet Access -- Cafe Tropicana, on the main street in Neiafu (tel. 71-322), has Internet access at T$3 (US$1.50/75p) for 15 minutes and T$9 (US$4.50/£2.25) per hour. Down by the harbor, Aquarium Cafe (tel. 70-493) has access for T$8 (US$4/£2) an hour. It's open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8:30pm. Both have wired and wireless access.

Mail -- The post office opposite the wharf is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm.

Telephone -- Tonga Communications Corporation next to the post office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for domestic and long-distance calls. It also has a card phone (there's one next to Westpac Bank of Tonga, too).

Water -- Don't drink the tap water.