Editing Nukuʻalofa (section)

==Transport==

[[File:Fua'amoto International Airport Entrance.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Fuaʻamotu International Airport, near Nukuʻalofa]]
[[File:Nukualofa Tonga 5.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Gas station in Nuku'alofa]]

Nuku{{fakau'a}}alofa is the central hub for transport in Tonga.
Buses arrive and depart from the central bus station along Vuna Road close to the centre of town. Bus services are privately operated, and their drivers are free to set their own schedules. Fares are fixed by the government, with reduced rates for school children. The buses are usually filled to capacity. In addition, some schools and large hotels provide their own buses.

There are numerous taxis, also privately owned. Many people who own a car earn extra money by providing taxi services in their spare time. Taxi fares are also set by the government. Most families have their own car; few residents ride bicycles. There are no operational railways or trams in Tonga, although there was once a narrow-gauge railway from the lagoon to the wharf, which gave its name to Railway Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.industrialdean.co.uk/world/apacificgallery.htm|access-date=2010-11-04|title=Transport and Industry – The Leftovers :: The Photo Galleries|website=Industrialdean.co.uk|archive-date=2012-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324210352/http://www.industrialdean.co.uk/world/apacificgallery.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Nuku{{fakau'a}}alofa harbour is the only deep-water harbour of the island, which determined its selection as the site for the capital. For many years Vuna Wharf was the international harbour until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1977. A new, much larger wharf was built towards Ma{{fakau'a}}ufanga, named after Queen Sālote. Between these two wharves is the wharf numbered '42', used by fishermen and inter-island ferries. It is the central hub for boats to the outer islands. There are usually two boats to [[ʻEua]] each day and two to [[Haʻapai]] and [[Vavaʻu]] each week. In addition to these regular services by shipping companies, private boat owners provide less regular services to smaller islands such as [[Nomuka]] and ʻEueiki.

Air transport is provided by [[Fuaʻamotu International Airport|Fua{{fakau'a}}amotu International Airport]] on the south side of Tongatapu, 34–37&nbsp;km from Nuku'alofa {{fakau'a}}.