Adventure Magazine #242

Image by Jonathan Irish
"Niue has to be one of the most interesting, friendly and
beautiful destinations I have ever visited.”
Once you have your bearings you can
explore the unique Niuean experiences;
1. Diving – Most dive sites are incredibly
close (5 minutes boat ride from the wharf).
There are an abundance of caves, swim
through’s, coral, fish life and around 80
metres of visibility.
It’s the perfect place to extend your
skills and experience tropical diving on
an oceanic drop off. For non-divers, the
snorkeling is also off the chart!
2. Uga (coconut crab) Tour – Tony runs
the famous Uga (coconut crab) tour, and
he has a huge knowledge of the island and
of the amazing Uga crab. If you’re thinking
the Uga is just a crab just wait until you
meet one!
3. Keep track of the tides, this is
important. Many of the amazing sea
tracks are accessible on certain tides.
Some of the best tracks I found were
Avaiki cave (low tide) where kings used to
bath, Limu swimming spot with incredible
snorkeling in a mix of fresh and salt water
(any tide) and Matapa Chasm a long
protected chasm opening out to the sea
(any tide). If you’re after more adventurous
walks you could explore the Talava arches
or the Aanapala Chasm which has 155
steps down to a freshwater chasm / cave.
This one is truly epic!
4. Game fishing. If you’ve never caught
a Mahi Mahi or any other large tropical
deep sea fish Niue offers some of the best
game fishing in the world. The professional
fishing skippers on the island are a highly
experienced select group who have
excellent boats and equipment and know
their craft intimately. The 5am start is a
great way to see the sunrise, and it’s all
over by 11am so this gives you plenty of
time to spend the afternoon relaxing by
the pool.
5. Whale experiences – One of the
few places where you can swim with
whales. Between late June and October
Humpback whales nurse their young in
Niue’s warm clear waters. During this
period whales can be seen as close as
20 metres from shore. There are two
operators on island who run tours and
numbers are strictly limited.
6. Local food, arts and crafts. Niue has
amazing food! Seafood, ceviche (raw
fish), pizza, local craft beer, steak, there is
even an awesome Japanese restaurant in
Alofi. Another thing not to be missed is the
Niuean Honey. Coconut bread smeared
with butter and local honey is just the best
breakfast ever!
Locals insider tips for Niue
Hire a car. This gives you the freedom
to explore at will and discover the local
restaurants, swimming holes, sea tracks
and villages around the island.
Pick the style of accommodation
which will suit you. Niue has one major
hotel (The Scenic Matavai resort) with a
range of room types, but there are a huge
range of accommodation options from
village halls or large houses to home stay
bed and breakfasts. Let our experienced
consultants at Mad about Travel know
what you’re after and we will find you the
best possible accommodation for you.
Talk to the locals. They know the best
restaurants, walks, caves, swimming
beaches, and they love to share their
island with you.
Have a lie in on Sunday and/or attend
a church service. It’s a peaceful day
on Niue. Once it’s lunch time, then you
head to Avatele for a snorkel in the bay,
followed by a burger at the Washaway
café where the bar is an honesty bar.
Take home the Gin (it’s cheaper duty
free on the island than in NZ), the vanilla
and the honey. Niuean honey is the
ONLY honey you can bring into New
Zealand because it’s so pure!
If you’re travelling in whale season
late June – October, its best to prebook
as much as you can to avoid
disappointment.
Mad about Travel packages flights accommodation, rental car, whale watching and diving, so you don’t have to worry
about anything. Discover one of the last unspoilt paradise islands in the world, but don’t tell everyone about it!
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