Blue Water Retreat — Hotel in 'Eua

To book with the Blue Water Retreat, it is a Tongan experience, and with that in mind, you will be looked after.

Bear in mind it is a retreat and not a resort - that is not the business model. The business model is to give visitors a great whale watching experience as its priority, whilst the accommodation and site is to provide the essential base for whale watchers.

Rob has brought together a great team, ranging from their cooks, to their coxswains and crew, and the expertise of a marine biologist.

Rooms are adequate and clean with hot water available (rooms have an ensuite); and Starlink internet connectivity (for free), but no bar fridge or other amenities, excepting a small table and chairs, with comfortable beds and linen. Coffee, tea & hot chocolate is available 24/7 from the main meals area. Breakfast and Lunch is included in the cost of the accommodation, and it is recommended to pay for the buffet dinner, as other options on 'Eua, are extremely limited. The food was more than adequate and tasty, and you won't go hungry if you only eat the 3 meals during the day.

Meal times were special, as it was a chance to mingle and chat with fellow travellers (many of whom have come from across the globe) including the staff who share the time with you and eat alongside you.

The retreat caters for a comfortable no. of guests, and I would describe the vibe as relaxing and having an instant family, who support everyone.

Travel to 'Eua is via the Ferry from Nuku'alofa or via a short 8-10 min flight from Tongatapu Airport. You can book the car ferry to bring a vehicle across, or Blue Water Retreat will transport you to & from the wharf or airport, upon request.

The resort is ideally positioned right on the beach, and you will see many, whales throughout the day, close in-shore & directly out the front. You will see whales when you're having Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner ! The great thing about Blue Water Retreat's position, is the fact that many whales and their calves swim in the protected waters between 'Eua and Tongatapu, so you won't need to travel too far out to sea when out on the water. Unlike Vava'u and Ha'apai, there are far less operators on 'Eua and Rob has 4 boats in his fleet. It's a bonus to not be competing with other boats, and there were many whales out and about (we visited in mid October 2024 toward the end of the season).

Book quick for July to November for the whale season, as most whale watching operators in Tonga already have advanced bookings for next season (2025), which is the norm ie: already booked a year in advance.

Thoroughly recommended. Well done Rob and Team. My wife and I enjoyed our peaceful time at the resort, the conversations with staff who were very engaging and friendly, and your welcoming advice. You and your staff are a credit to the...

I have recently returned from a group trip to Tonga on the island of EUA to swim with humpback whales. I can probably say it was one of the most life changing and fulfilling trips I have been on and a big part of this trip was the incredible organisation and hospitality of Blue Water Retreat. The staff went above and beyond to make our time in EUA the best it could be and they truely made us feel so welcome. Blue Water Retreat is such a magical place.

Swimming with some of the most beautiful sea animals and getting to witness their beauty and connection as they look you in the eye when they swim by, and seeing the calves cheeky nature as they dance around you in the water to try to draw you in was truly breathtaking and I can honestly say lots of tears were shed. The boat staff went out of their way to make sure our interactions with the whales were the best they could be, the whale talks were so informative and really helped us to identify different behaviours that we were seeing. And to top off our days the beautiful kitchen staff kept us fed and nourished with the most incredible buffet breakfasts and dinners. The whole team were truly amazing.

Even getting to immerse ourselves in the culture by attending church (voluntarily) on the Sunday and seeing some of the staff at the retreat and taking a trip to the school to donate school supplies that our group had organised and getting to play with the children was so incredible rewarding. The staff also organised a Kava night with song, poems and dance which was so cool.

I honestly feel so incredibly grateful to the retreat for allowing our group to have such an...

I just returned from a week at this absolute gem of a retreat. Everything from the staff to the location was 10/10. Every member of the staff genuinely cared so much about everyone onsite, and they were so fun to be around! They arranged a beautiful cava ceremony, visits to local stores, churches, and schools (on a voluntary basis). Also, for how remote this place is, the kitchen staff does a great job with delicious meals and catering to dietary restrictions. All the other staff were equally as amazing. They wanted the best for you and they made the whole experience even better.

The location is prime. You are right on a beautiful beach with whales just off shore breaching, slapping their fins, doing heat runs, and hanging out. And the marine staff did very informative whale talks in between ensuring we all had safe and engaging experiences in the water with these majestic animals. Goodness, it was an incredible experience being so close and witnessing so many special moments with the whales.

The accommodations were also better than I expected. The beds were comfortable and the windows had screens so we could open them up for a cool breeze and the sound of the ocean while avoiding the bugs. (Though, I was surprised that mosquitos were not more prevalent here! I got bit up pretty badly in Fiji before this but I didn’t really receive any other bites at the retreat.) The showers also had hot water and good pressure, which was perfect after the cold winds on the boats.

I genuinely hope to return to Blue Water Retreat ASAP. I’d...