In December 2009, New Zealand’s North and South Magazine ran a Tonga Holiday Competition. The winner received an all expenses paid, seven night trip for two to Tongatapu and Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The Tonga Visitors Bureau is excited to announce the winners, Kerryn and Jamie Stephens, will arrive in the Kingdom of Tonga on Saturday 6 March via an Air New Zealand flight.

City Travel & Tours will greet Kerryn and Jamie and transfer the couple to their first night’s accommodation at Loumaile Lodge, in downtown Nuku’alofa. On their first Sunday in Tonga, the competition winners will get to hear a heavenly church choir, before travelling offshore for their second night of total peace and relaxation at the Fafa Island Beach Resort.

On Monday, Ezi World Travel & Tours will ensure Kerryn and Jamie make their Chathams Pacific flight to Vava’u, Tonga’s adventure playground. The couple will spend four nights in Vava’u, beginning at Lucky’s Beach Resort. Kerryn and Jamie have an action packed itinerary with a dive trip with Dive Vava’u, a Kart Safari, a snorkelling trip to Nuku with Endangered Encounters, a kayaking with Friendly Islands Kayak Company, a tour of ‘Ene’io Botanical Garden and a sailing/snorkeling trip with Sterling Breeze all on the cards. Kerryn and Jamie won’t waste away in the Vava’u (if that’s even possible in Tonga anyway) because the Balcony Restaurant and Mala Island Resort will serve the winners fresh, local food on Wednesday and Thursday night. After dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, Kerryn and Jamie will head back to Hakula Lodge, which is famous for its angling and whale watching.

On Friday, Kerryn and Jamie will catch a Chathams Pacific flight back to Tongatapu just in time for a traditional Tongan dinner and cultural show at Liku’alofa Beach Resort. The Tonga Visitors Bureau hopes Kerryn and Jamie fill up on roast puaka (pig) and have a good sleep at Liku’alofa Beach Resort on Friday, as there will be a great kayaking trip with Fatai Kayaks ahead of them on Saturday.

Before their kayaking trip, Kerryn and Jamie will check in for a day room at Tali’eva Inn. After kayaking, they will get some free time to stroll around Nuku’alofa, do some last minute shopping and eat at one of the great cafes in town. Rising Sun Tours & Travel will make sure Kerryn and Jamie catch their Air New Zealand flight home, but hopefully not before the Tonga Visitors Bureau gets to see the couple’s Tonga Holiday happy snaps. Stay tuned!

North & South, published by ACP, is a monthly magazine with articles, opinion columns on a wide range of topics.