Niuafo'ou

Niuafo'ou is a ring of volcanic land in the far north of Tonga enclosing a large crater lake with islands in it, and it has no harbour: for decades mail was sealed in biscuit tins and swum out to passing ships, which earned it the name Tin Can Island. The volcano has erupted repeatedly and the population was evacuated for years in the mid-twentieth century before returning.

Background

The name Niuafo'ou means many new coconuts. It is the northernmost island of Tonga, lying 574 km north of the Tongatapu group and 337 km northwest of Vava'u. The island covers 15 square kilometres and had 431 residents in 2021. The volcano rises from a submarine ridge 190 km west of the chain that holds Tonga's other volcanoes. It has erupted at regular intervals since 1814, and the last major eruption came in 1985. The island rises to 250 metres at Mokotu. Vai Lahi, the larger of two lakes inside the ring, measures 4 kilometres across and 84 metres deep. Islanders evacuated after the 1946 eruption were resettled on 'Eua in 1948, and about half returned in 1958.

Source: Wikipedia, "Niuafoʻou"

What you'll find

• The crater lake - the large water filling the middle of the island.
• The islands in the lake - land within the water within the ring.
• The Tin Can mail - the sealed-tin post that gave the island its name.
• The volcanic rim - the ring of land around the crater.

When to go

May to October is the drier season. Flights are small and irregular and cancellations are normal. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Things to know

There is no harbour and no reliable transport; getting stranded for weeks is normal. Accommodation is with families. Volcanic activity is monitored and can restrict access.

Nearby

Niuatoputapu is east, and Vava'u is far south.

Key facts