In 2024, I’ll be heading back for my 13th season, with a keen sense of anticipation to see whether the apparent baby whale boom and interactions continues. We have been seeing a number of mother’s return with new calves over the years, where they seem to be returning to the same reef locations.
My groups are small, a maximum of 8 people at a time, with the objective of maximising the quantity and quality of your time with the humpback whales. I also place an emphasis on extended observation of whale behaviour, which means we’ll be looking for quality encounters and recording their behaviours and sightings. Looking forward to sharing the memorable experience with you. Refer to the testimonials page for the ‘Tonga Humpback Whale Swim Trip’.
Accommodation
Ha’apai is quite remote with lots of character, this is where we will be doing the whale swims, the people are great, although don’t expect too much as the island is quite basic and simple. We will be going with Matafonua Lodge and Sandy Beach Resort.
Sandy Beach Resort: the fales are situated in a beachfront tropical garden setting. The comfortably furnished rooms have tiled floors and each fale has a private terrace with a view of the crystal clear Pacific Ocean. Fales may be configured with two twin beds or one king-sized bed and each has it’s own table and chairs, fan, wardrobe and tea and coffee making facilities. Spacious ensuite bathrooms have a large washbasin, WC and a large, fully tiled shower. There is plenty of solar-powered hot water with good water pressure. The main building incorporates the reception, office, restaurant and bar.
Matafonua Lodge: the Pacific style fales are absolute beachfront. Step off the covered terrace onto the sandy beach or meander through our lush tropical gardens to the main house, which contains the reception, restaurant and bar. Double Fales have a king size bed or 2 singles. Family Fales have two rooms and can be made up as a king bed and 2 singles or 4 singles. Bathrooms are centrally located in the resort are clean and luxurious with a solar hot water system. Each fale is equipped with electric lights and power points to charge personal electronic devices. Voltage is 220V, outlets are the same as Australia and New Zealand.
How to secure your booking
A $600 AUD deposit for accommodation and whale swims are required initially. We will be in touch via email for your payment and provide individual invoices with the details below. To check on available spaces to secure your spot, email: amanda@amandadelaforce.com.
Group 1 – Sandy Beach Resort cost: $4700.00 AUD per person
Date: Thurs 29 Aug – Thurs 05 Sept 2024
Package inclusions:
- 7 nights beachfront accommodation at Sandy Beach Resort (bungalow style/shared bathrooms)
- 5 days of guided whale swims (AM only) including morning tea
- Continental breakfast
- Dinner meals: 3 courses – amazing chefs and great for food lovers
- Transfers to/from the airport
- Kayaking, stand-up-paddle boarding or snorkeling
- Cultural night – dinner and local dance
- Photography advice and presentation on the humpback whales by a marine biologist/ecologist
- Snorkelling gear – mask, fins & wetsuits (or take your own)
- Return internal island transfers
Package exclusions:
- Beverages/Alcohol
- International flights
- Lunches
- Accommodation in Tongatapu (if needed)
Internal Flights:
Depart – TBU-HPA 11:20 am Thurs 29 Aug 2024
Return – HPA-TBU 12:35 pm Thurs 05 Sept 2024
ONLY snorkelling/swimming experience is required for the whale swims.
Group 2 – Matafonua Lodge cost: $4200.00 AUD per person
Date: Thurs 05-Thurs 12 Sept 2024
Package inclusions:
- 7 nights beachfront accommodation at Matafonua Lodge (bungalow style/shared bathrooms)
- 5 days of guided whale swims (AM only) including morning tea
- Continental breakfast only
- Transfers to/from the airport
- Kayaking, stand-up-paddle boarding or snorkeling
- Cultural night – dinner and local dance
- Photography advice and presentation on the humpback whales by a marine biologist/ecologist
- Snorkelling gear – mask, fins & wetsuits (or take your own)
- Return internal island transfers
Package exclusions:
- Beverages/Alcohol
- International flights
- Lunches
- Evening meals
- Accommodation in Tongatapu (if needed)
Internal Flights:
Depart – TBU-HPA 11:20 am Thurs 05 Sept 2024
Return – HPA-TBU 12:35 pm Thurs 12 Sept 2024
ONLY snorkelling/swimming experience is required for the whale swims.
Flights
International: if you are travelling from Australia, you can take direct flights from Sydney (SYD) to Nuku’alofa-Tongatapu (TBU) with Virgin Australia or Qantas. The flight time is approximately 6 hours. Alternatively, you can consider Air New Zealand or Fiji Airways for flight/stopover options.
For travellers originating from the United States, the flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Nuku’alofa-Tongatapu (TBU) takes approximately 13 hours with the fastest route being from Honolulu to Nuku’alofa. Two airlines operate flights to Tonga: Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways.
Domestic: the internal flights are included in the package price.
Charter/Vessel
Whale swims include snorkel hire and refreshments
Days on the water are usually around 4 hours.
Should whales prove difficult to engage or people would prefer a second option, other in-water activities are possible.
Many other species of cetacean frequent the area and swimming with these species is also possible. Other cetacean species sighted on past trips include; Short-finned pilot whales, False killer whales, Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin and Pygmy sperm whale.
Marine Biologist Guide
The package includes guiding by a marine biologist to provide the best experience with the local operators, photos of the whale swims (very memorable) and marine education/knowledge. Photography tips and tricks of to get your best shots!
Bookings, Payment, Cancellation Policy and Force Majeure in relation to the Tour
- Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd highly recommends you purchase travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming your travel plans. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. Dive Assure offers a Dive and Travel Insurance annual and short-term (per trip). You can purchase it here: https://app.diveassure.com/#/registration/main/process/0/int/0/18669/en-intl
- Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
- Bookings made more than 100 days out from the start of a trip require a deposit of $600.00 AUD per passenger.
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- Bookings made less than 100 days out from tour commencement require payment in full to secure your booking.
- Payment in full is required 100 days out from the start of the trip. We will email you a final payment reminders. No refunds will be given within 100 days of the start of any trip, under any circumstances.
- If you cancel your spot more than 100 days before the start of a trip, and we/you are able to resell/fill the spot, a trip credit for your remaining balance (minus a $300 AUD service fee deducted) will be issued for use on another Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd trip within 2 years of the cancellation.
- If you cancel your spot less than 99 days prior to the start of a trip, no refund or credit will be issued for deposits that have been paid.
- If our In-Country Providers cancel or if aForce Majeure Event occurs, meaning any act of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood or any other extreme weather conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, slow-downs or other strike activities, riots or civil disturbances, acts of government, semi government or other authorities, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors, suppliers or other third parties (including telecommunications carriers), material shortages or other disruption to the trip beyond our control, Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd shall not be held responsible for matters outside of our control or any failure to deliver the trip.
- The affiliated and established company such as Sandy Beach Resort or Matafonua Lodge, holds the relevant insurances and maintains responsibility for the dive and snorkel insurance policies and procedures. As such when in the water diving, snorkeling or swimming you are diving under the affiliated company’s policies and procedures and must adhere to either the Captain, Dive Instructor or Divemaster’s instructions.
- Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury arising from any shortfall, error or omission in the information passed to the customer during the course of the sale or subsequent delivery of the product. The company takes no responsibility nor can be held liable for loss, damage, or injury that occurs on a supplier’s or service provider’s premises or transport, or between two such premises.
- Participation in any of the Activities involves certain risks which may result in injury or death. This warning does not purport to describe or disclose all risks associated with participation of the Activities. There are a wide range of inherent risks when engaging in sports and particularly underwater sports; for example, with diving there is the risk of decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric injury can occur that requires treatment in a recompression chamber. Open water scuba diving trips may be conducted at sites that are remote, either by time or distance, from emergency services or recompression facilities. Scuba diving, snorkeling and tours will involve uncontrolled encounters with wild animals which bears the risk of stings, bites, and at the extreme end, more serious injury and death. Participants should be responsible and aware of animal behaviors and their own interactions and engage in these activities entirely at their own risk.
- We will not be liable to you in respect of any personal injury (including without limitation serious injury or death) that you may suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of attending the trip or participation in the Activities. Nor will we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result of any such personal injury (including without limitation loss of profit or earnings or other consequential losses). We will not be liable to you in respect of any of your personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged before, during or after a trip.
- Please ensure you understand our cancellation policy prior to providing any deposits and agree to the booking and trip. By placing a booking with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd, this implies that you accept these booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy.
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