Fua'amotu International Airport is 35 km south of the city on the other side of Tongatapu. There are direct flights from Auckland, Sydney, Nadi (Fiji), and Apia (Samoa); Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways run the most reliable services. From the airport, hotel transfers or local taxis are the only practical way in — around 40 minutes by road and TOP$40 by taxi.
Inter-island ferries from the Vava'u and Ha'apai groups dock at Queen Salote Wharf, at the eastern end of the waterfront. The trip from Vava'u is overnight, basic, and intermittent — weather and the boat's maintenance schedule both intervene — but cheap and a real Pacific experience.