Captain Cook Landing Site
The Tongatapu shore where Cook came ashore, marked by a stone and an old banyan.
Updated 4 September 2026
James Cook came ashore on the northern coast of Tongatapu in 1777 during his third voyage and stayed several weeks, and the reception he was given led him to call these the Friendly Islands, a name that stuck. A stone marker and a large old banyan stand at the landing place near Holonga, on a quiet stretch of the Fanga'uta lagoon shore and nothing much built around it. Cook visited Tonga three times in all, and this stay was by far the longest of them.
The main sights
- The marker stone - the monument at the landing place.
- The banyan - the old tree standing at the site.
- The lagoon shore - the quiet stretch of coast Cook came ashore on.
- The Friendly Islands name - the description that came out of this visit.
When to go
Year round; the site is open ground. Mornings are cooler. The lagoon is at its fullest at high tide.
Before you go
There is very little to see beyond a marker and a tree, and interpretation is minimal. The site is easy to drive past. It takes minutes rather than an hour.
Nearby
Nuku'alofa is south, and Kolovai is west.
What to pack for Captain Cook Landing Site
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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