Niue

About the Country

The Country Niue is affectionately known as 'the rock' and is reputedly the largest upraised coral atoll in the world. A single land mass in the center of a triangle of Polynesian islands, made up of Tonga, Western Samoa and the Cook Islands, Niue is located 2400 km north-east of New Zealand, on the eastern side of the International dateline and is 11 hours behind Greenwich meantime.

The island isolation and coral makeup create an exciting rugged coastline and reef which provides intimate swimming coves as opposed to the typical long stretches of sandy beaches so predominant elsewhere in Polynesia. The landmass of Niue is 259 sq. km, and 13 villages are found along Niue's 67-km circle island road.

The whole island is two tiered but is dotted with a myriad of caves that have yet to be discovered. Shaped like a saucer and rising only 65 meters above sea level, Niue is without streams or rivers, and therefore after rain the water filters through the porous coral out into the ocean completely devoid of any silt run-off. This allows the surrounding sea to be crystal clear with dive visibility often up to 70 meters.

The flora and fauna are spectacular with butterflies everywhere, and an abundance of bougainvillea, frangipani, hibiscus and orchids. A variety of ferns and profusion of "crows nest" grow amongst wild rhododendron and poinsettia.  There is a rich bird life with weka, swamp kens, parakeets and white tailed terns.

People of Niue
Niueans are warm and friendly and treat all visitors like guests, not tourists. They are bilingual and speak Niuean and English.

History of Niue

The ancient name for Niue is Nukututaha which means 'Island Standing Alone' and that is probably what Captain Cook thought when he first saw it in 1774. Niue was made independent in free association with New Zealand in 1974, which means the people are self governing but hold New Zealand citizenship like the Cook Islanders.

Nature

The island has a unique rugged coastline and reef with soaring archways, deep chasms and cool rock caves. There are trees, jungle plants, birds and insects which are called fou and gigie, veka and lulu by the locals. Also wild yam grows, from which is made hoi and mulberry bark for tapa cloth.

Sights

It takes only four hours to cycle around the whole island and motor cycles and mini vans can be hired to take in sights such as the Togo Chasm, Huvalu rainforest, the Matapa Chasm and the various limestone caves.

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