Welcome to one of the coolest spots in Tonga! You’re literally standing on an ancient coral reef that’s been lifted out of the ocean by the slow movement of the Earth’s crust. Tongatapu sits right along a major plate boundary, and over thousands of years the land here has been pushed upward, bringing old reef flats onto dry ground.
Take a look at the pale rock and beach sand around you. That rock is coral limestone, built from the skeletons of corals and other sea creatures that once lived right here. Since being exposed to the air, the surface has been shaped by rain, waves, and weather, leaving behind pits, holes, and rough textures. Storms sometimes toss fresh coral rubble on top of the old reef, while a living fringing reef continues growing just offshore.
The beach itself is mostly coral sand, made over time by the constant action of the waves. The sand is almost entirely biogenic—made by living (and once-living) marine organisms rather than eroded continental rock.
This spot gives you a rare chance to compare a modern reef with its fossilized ancestor — all within a few steps.
Use what you see around you to explore how uplift, reef growth, and weathering have shaped this coastline.
Logging Tasks
Please answer the following based on what you observe at the coordinates:
1. Describe the limestone surface.
What does the rock look and feel like — smooth, pitted, sharp, porous, something else?
How do you think weathering (rain, waves, wind) has changed its appearance?
2. Look for signs of the ancient reef.
Do you notice coral fossils or coral-like shapes in the rock or rubble?
Describe one feature that tells you this rock used to be part of a living reef.
3. Compare old reef vs. new reef.
Look out toward the modern reef flat offshore.
Describe one difference between the ancient uplifted reef under your feet and the modern reef you can see today.
4. Look at the beach
Why do you think it is so popular?