Mount Talau

Mount Talau National Park is a small park above Neiafu, the main town of Vava'u, Tonga, named for a flat-topped mountain rising 131 m behind the Port of Refuge^[1]. It was established in 1995 to preserve the local tropical rainforest^[1].

The park is listed as habitat for the Lau banded iguana, the Tongan whistler and the insular flying fox^[1].

The park preserves the local tropical rainforest on the mountain's slopes^[1], and visitors climb through lush forest to the summit^[2].

Mount Talau is a flat-topped mountain that stands 131 m above the Port of Refuge at Neiafu^[1].

Vava'u lies in the northern part of Tonga's islands, in a tropical climate where the forest on Talau stays green. The steep climb to the summit is best done in the cooler part of the day.

The mountain rises directly behind Neiafu and its harbour, the Port of Refuge, and the descent from the summit passes through local villages^[2].

Mount Talau National Park was established in 1995^[1] and is one of Tonga's four national parks, administered by the Forest Division of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change^[1].

A steep 10 to 20 minute climb through forest leads to the summit, where two viewing decks overlook Neiafu and the Port of Refuge^[2].

The trailhead is about 2 km from Neiafu on Tapueluefu Road, a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride. Entry is free, and the walk is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays^[2].

The park exists to preserve a patch of native rainforest and the iguana, bird and flying fox populations that live in it, close to the town of Neiafu^[1].