Niue

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.