Royal Tombs
Royal Tombs
3.5
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3.5
133 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
28
Average
67
Poor
19
Terrible
3
Richard F
Louisville, KY7,369 contributions
Nov 2019
This place is only worth seeing if you are visiting another attraction nearby. Located well behind an iron fence it is very hard to see anything unless you have a telephoto lens camera. We had a quick look as we were nearby.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is Sacred in our Culture so by showing respect people are allowed to go near the Sacred Tombs .
Written 22 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cathrine J
Odense, Denmark16 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
There is not much to see here. The grounds are not open for commoners.
Though I must recommend visiting the ancient tombs! We had booked a tour at our hotel (Heilala Holiday Lodge) and the driver took us there (so i would not be able to say where exactly on Tongatapu it is located (ask someone)).
The driver also told us very interesting histories about the way of burial on Tonga. One layer being a commoner, two a noble and three a royal. The small hills on the graves is to keep them cool; in ancient times several people would be buried alive with the royals, to protect them in the afterlife, would be horrible if they had to sweat why the slowly died of starvation and thirst!
Though I must recommend visiting the ancient tombs! We had booked a tour at our hotel (Heilala Holiday Lodge) and the driver took us there (so i would not be able to say where exactly on Tongatapu it is located (ask someone)).
The driver also told us very interesting histories about the way of burial on Tonga. One layer being a commoner, two a noble and three a royal. The small hills on the graves is to keep them cool; in ancient times several people would be buried alive with the royals, to protect them in the afterlife, would be horrible if they had to sweat why the slowly died of starvation and thirst!
Written 10 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
P. T. R
Marsing, ID31 contributions
Feb 2020
In a small country where people live meagerly, it is an ugly display of opulance. According to Forbes, Tonga is the 6th most corrupt country in the world.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter3152
Auckland, New Zealand353 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
There is a walking trail which is definitely a really good way to see all the main features of the town/city/capital notably the Royal Tombs, which unfortunately visitors cannot really approach closely.
Walkers should allow 2 hours for the whole trip including reasonable stops to admire the features of the exteriors of some of the main sights. but should definitely not miss out the tombs as the most revered and historic section.
There is a good information map available from the I-site on Cruise port quay. On your journey you will see also the Royal Parade field, the Royal Palace / Residence, and the impressive Tombs of the King George Tupou 1-V, Tonga now being in the reign of George VI.
A feature of the walk, just beyond the tombs, that also impressed us, was the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, with its cone shaped roof, the building being consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
The trail to the field of the Royal Tombs is a scenic flat walking trail easily followed - well worth doing independently, but with the support of the excellent and informative map.
Walkers should allow 2 hours for the whole trip including reasonable stops to admire the features of the exteriors of some of the main sights. but should definitely not miss out the tombs as the most revered and historic section.
There is a good information map available from the I-site on Cruise port quay. On your journey you will see also the Royal Parade field, the Royal Palace / Residence, and the impressive Tombs of the King George Tupou 1-V, Tonga now being in the reign of George VI.
A feature of the walk, just beyond the tombs, that also impressed us, was the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, with its cone shaped roof, the building being consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
The trail to the field of the Royal Tombs is a scenic flat walking trail easily followed - well worth doing independently, but with the support of the excellent and informative map.
Written 24 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suli and Toa L
Sunnybank Hills, Australia164 contributions
July 2015 • Friends
An amazing sight where the modern day rulers of the Kingdom are buried. Additional signasge around historical sights in the Kingdom adds more context to the site and certainly worth a visit, albeit from the distant fence line. Well worth visiting Tonga during a Royal Funeral to see the culture in full swing on a national level.
Written 25 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CharmaineCregan
Sydney, Australia202 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
You can only view the Tombs from the external fence line and their are no plaques to explain what you are looking at.
Written 24 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard T
Burnley, UK1,228 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
You just have to visit this place but we’re disappointed not to be able to get closer than 50 metres or so. The signage explains the tombs is very good, but you are just too far away.
Written 31 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan B
Auckland Central, New Zealand304 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
It would be great to get a close up view of these tombs. A useful diagram on the fence explains which tomb is who's. The park surrounding them is litter free which is unusual for Tonga.
Written 27 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mccorquinn
Gold Coast, Australia952 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
We unexpectedly diverted from cyclonic Fiji to Tonga on our cruise to Hawaii so calling in to Nuku'alofa was a real plus for us. Tonga itself was barely recovering after its own devastating cyclone a month earlier but tourism is easily the island nation's best chance to recover. So it was disappointing to come to these tombs, a 10-minute leisurely stroll from the wharf, on Vuna Street and find no information whatsoever on what we were looking at. A comparable site of such significance in England would have had detailed histories of the many royals entombed in this enclosure, a parklike surround entrance to which is forbidden. The tombs are side by side and remind one of the Buddhist stupas/dagobas in Sri Lanka in their size and squat solidity, with statues of their occupants standing as if at guard looking over their final resting place. They certainly make for interesting photos but it would require little expenditure of effort or money to put explanatory notes along the perimeter of the park for the benefit of tourists and local schoolchildren alike.
Written 24 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David_fr84
France39 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
The tombs are impressive and seem well looked-after from afar. But you cannot get close. To see if you have time to kill
Written 29 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
a paper guide that tells you which royal is in which tomb is available from the tourist office which is situated on the sea front, by the royal docks. You can walk around the edge of the field that the tombs are in. There is no access to get close to tombs. To be honest you wont need a guide to show you, the locals will point you in the right direction to find them - about 5 minute walk from the town centre. Hope this helps
Written 9 April 2015
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