You’ll never feel like just another tourist on Niue, the island nation a three hour flight from Auckland. That’s because, with just under 130 guest rooms, there are often more whales visiting in season than human visitors!
Niue is one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls and is home to around 1600 hospitable residents. There’s no such word as rush-hour on Niue, it’s one of the world’s safest destinations and you don’t need foreign exchange – Niue uses the Kiwi dollar. What many people don’t know is that Niue is far from tiny – it’s over four times the size of Rarotonga. A quarter of the island is clothed in pristine rainforest and almost the entire island is surrounded by 20 to 30 metre cliffs, and dramatic beautiful chasms and coves provide perfect swimming spots. Niue is also honeycombed with some of the South Pacific’s most spectacular and extensive caves. The island is encircled by a 64 kilometre coastal road so bikes are a great way to get around, although you can also hire a car. Diving and snorkelling around Niue’s coast is renowned for its water clarity and the richness of its marine life. Swimming with humpback whales (in season) is unforgettable and thanks to Niue’s deep surrounding waters, you can sip a cocktail and marvel at these awesome giants breaching just 50 metres from shore.
OUR FAVOURITE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE NIUE
Swim with whales in Niue
The first thing you need to know about humpback whales is not that they’re huge, but that they love to sing. Being up to 15 metres in length and weighing between 25 and 40 tons, they can certainly belt out a melody. Actually, it’s more like an anthem. On any whale diving excursion this is one way you’ll know if there’s a giant in the vicinity, because when a whale bursts into song, such is the magnitude of their voice, your lungs will rattle in your chest. In Niue, the whale season runs from July to October, with August and September offering the best opportunity to interact with one of the world’s largest mammals. With water visibility as clear as it is, swimming amongst these majestic behemoths offers a clarity you won’t find elsewhere. There are rules to ensure swimmers stay at least 200 metres away, but humpbacks are curious by nature, so if you get lucky and they approach of their own accord, revel in the experience and enjoy their titanic presence.
Explore Niue at your own pace
Exploring Niue has never been easier, with the choice of cycling or hiring a car, you can discover every inch of this beautiful island at your own pace. Once you have your vehicle or trusty bicycle, we highly recommend you go and check out these incredible, Instagram worthy, natural attractions: Limu Pools – a short walk to a popular snorkelling ocean pool (you’ll fill up your phone with pictures of this place), Avatele Beach – one of the few white sandy beaches on Niue – & Matapa Chasm – This is a fresh water bathing place of Niue’s past Kings and offers great sheltered snorkelling at any tide. If you’re into going on adventures, give these moderate to hard walking tracks a go: Talava Arches – roughly 2 hours, wear sturdy shoes and make sure you have room on your camera to take plenty of photos of the Arches, Togo Chasm – roughly 2 hours, wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to climb down a ladder to reach the sandy chasm – & Anapala Chasm – a fresh water chasm which includes 155 stairs to get there, walking down is easy, walking back up is the fun part.
Fishing in Niue
Fishing in Niue is legendary, as Niue’s deep waters are accessible almost immediately from launching. For many anglers, the key target species of Yellowfin Tuna, Mahimahi and Wahoo to name but a few, can guarantee a good turn on the rod and reel. At times though, it doesn’t have to be all about the fishing. Niue’s rugged but stunning coastline is dotted with crevices and each area has its own story. Come circumnavigate the island by sea with Fish Niue Charters, learn about Niue’s coastal history, explore key snorkeling sites and encounter some of Niue’s abundant marine life. Should you find yourself fortunate enough to land a fish, anglers are offered either a piece of their catch to take away with them or you can be invited to Falala Fa Cafe & Bar where your skipper, once in-house chef, will prepare a fish dish for you from your catch.
Explore under the sea
Love the Ocean? Love to snorkel. Niue is the perfect place to experience both! Niue is a large upraised coral atoll which means there are no rivers or lakes, and this ensures crystal clear waters year-round. Join Buccaneer Adventures for a coastal tour where you will learn about Niue and its history. Along the way you may even get to meet the resident Spinner dolphins and you can get in for a unique in-water interaction with these majestic creatures. After you are done making friends with the dolphins, you will be taken to the best outer reef site in Niue for a snorkel. Be prepared to see reef sharks, barracuda, Napoleon Wrasse and Katuali, also know as a sea snake. This tour is great for the whole family and is only 2.5 hours long.
