A whale emerges from the sea off Tonga. [Photo/Official WeChat Account of Voice of Diplomacy]

6. Kingdom of Tonga

The Kingdom of Tonga sits 650 kilometers west of Fiji and 1,770 kilometers southwest of New Zealand. It's an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean comprising 172 islands. Tonga is ahead of the rest of the world, in one unique regard: It's the first country worldwide to start a new day. Tonga is the oldest kingdom in the Pacific island countries, and is home to many rare tropical animals, plants and atolls .

Language: English and Tongan

What you need to do: Visit the Victorian-style Royal Palace of Tonga