Another place I stumbled upon in looking up less common places to visit is the island of Niue. This little island is located northeast of the popular travel destination New Zealand, but is much lesser known and gets much less visitors.
Niue doesn’t have big sandy beaches, but I was nonetheless reeled in by the sunny climate and clear blue waters (I suspect that the cold, windy weather of State College might be playing a part in drawing me to these tropical climates). One of the things about Niue that really piqued my interest, however, is that humpback whales frequent the island from June to October. They stay close to the island, too- as close as 150 feet off shore. Visitors can even swim with the whales. When I read this, I realized I had another thing to add to my bucket list.
The island is peppered with coral reeves, making it a perfect candidate for snorkeling. In fact, it contains the largest raised coral atoll (fancy word, I know- it basically means a coral ring that encircles a lagoon). There is also a fair share of coves and underwater caves to explore. One of these that caught my eye was Avaiki cave, where the light blue water feeds into a secluded little hideaway.
The food on this island consists of all the tropical flavors you might imagine- like various types of seafood, bananas, taro, coconut, breadfruit, and papaya. Some of the island’s dishes that interested me were Uga (coconut crab native to the island), Takihi (made with coconut, taro, and pawpaw) and coconut bread. Sure sounds better than grilled chicken thigh halal, that’s for sure!
An added bonus to travelling to Niue is that it is not a common destination, meaning it is not usually swamped with tourists like some other tropical vacation areas. It is also a safe place to travel- there is one jail on the island, and it’s often close to empty. Additionally, it is a relatively cheap destination, so it’s a good place to keep in mind if you want a tropical getaway on a budget.
Bonus story: when I was researching Niue, I came across a story I just had to share. The island has one singular duck- named Trevor. Nobody knows how he got to the island, but he garnered some pretty serious attention from the inhabitants of Niue. And, when his water hole dried up one day, they sent in the Niue National Fire Service to refill it.
Hi Peyton! I enjoyed reading your passion blog today. As someone who loves animals and nature, this place seems extremely intriguing. I would love to explore the wildlife that live in the area (the crab photo was especially interesting). Also, the water looks so clear and beautiful. It would be a nice change from the endless drag of online schoolwork.