Four-star Foa Island, Ha’apai, Ha’apai
Sandy Beach Resort
Twelve fales set back from the long beach at the northern tip of Foa, with whales offshore from July to October and a restaurant that cooks the day's fish and lobster.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.
- Fales
- 12, each on the beach
- Whales
- Humpbacks, July to October
- From the airport
- About 10 minutes by road from Ha'apai airport
The hotel
At the top of Foa.
Sandy Beach sits on the northern tip of Foa Island in the Ha'apai group, on a beach the owners, Nina and Darren, call theirs to look after. There are only twelve fales, set about twenty metres back from the sand among tropical gardens. Each has high ceilings, a king bed, a writing desk and a covered veranda facing the sea. Matafonua, the sister resort, is about 400 metres along the shore.
Ha'apai is the island group in the middle of Tonga, between Tongatapu and Vava'u. The water runs at about 28 °C, often clear for thirty metres. Divers go to the Arch of Ofalanga and the Hot Spring Cave. From July to October humpback whales come in to calve, and the resort runs trips to swim with them. There is nowhere else to eat nearby, so the restaurant serves house guests.
- Diving from the beach Dives, outer reef snorkelling and kayaks are run from the resort, with the Arch of Ofalanga among the regular sites.
- Swimming with whales Humpbacks arrive from July to October, and in-water trips leave from the resort in season.
- Fish and lobster A licensed restaurant and bar for house guests, cooking what comes in from the reef.
Good to know
Before you go.
- Children Sources differ. Older listings give a minimum age of sixteen; the resort's current booking page says all ages, with paid babysitting. We confirm the rule with the resort before booking.
- Season The resort is open all year. Whale trips run from July to October.
- Meals Breakfast is included. There are no other restaurants nearby, so plan on dining at the resort.
Getting there
Flying to Ha’apai.
Scheduled flights reach Tonga at Fua'amotu on Tongatapu, where Lulutai Airlines connects to Ha'apai airport near Pangai. The resort is about ten minutes away by road and arranges the transfer. A private jet clears customs and refuels at Fua'amotu, and a smaller aircraft flies the last leg to the short Ha'apai runway.
- Vava’u 45 min
- Fiji 1 h 30
- Samoa 1 h 30
- Auckland 3 h 00
- Brisbane 4 h 40
Questions
What guests ask first.
- When can we swim with whales at Sandy Beach Resort?
- From July to October, when humpback whales are in Ha'apai waters. The resort runs the trips itself.
- Can children stay at Sandy Beach Resort?
- Sources disagree, with older listings giving a minimum age of sixteen and the current booking page accepting all ages. We check with the resort before booking.
- How do we reach Foa Island?
- Fly to Fua'amotu on Tongatapu, then take the domestic flight to Ha'apai. The resort is about ten minutes from the airstrip by road.
- Can SkyCourtage arrange the flight to Ha'apai?
- Yes. We arrange Business and First Class seats on scheduled airlines and private jet charter to Ha'apai, with one final price, our margin included. The hotel is booked with the hotel or through our booking partner.
Staying at Sandy Beach Resort?
Book the room, then the flight.
Rates and availability come from the hotel itself. For the journey to Ha’apai, a Business or First Class seat or an aircraft of your own: tell us the date and we come back with one final price, our margin included.
Opens the hotel's own website. We have no arrangement with the hotel.