This is one of the main towns in the Kingdom of Tonga, with a population of approximately 21,383. The royal palace, situated at the waterside, which was built during the Victorian era, is particularly worth seeing. The royal tombs (Malaekula) can be found in the southern part of the business area. The picturesque covered market and the Tongan National Centre, where visitors can learn various handicrafts, are not to be missed. The bird park around 2 km off the main road, where staff endeavour to conserve the native birdlife - particularly red shining parrots - through a breeding programme, is also extremely interesting.
