4th November, 2012 Niue Island

Sorry this one late as wi-fi was on a go slow all day yesterday and this morning.

Left hotel this morning just after nine to go down the south end of the island and half way up the east coast.

After a few minutes came across a lovely small beach which you don't often come across. Drove down to have a look around, saw that there was a cafe there and a nice place to have a swim. Thought then that we would return there after our trip up the coast and have a late lunch and a swim, which we did very pleasant. Pictures below.

Cafe,Bar where we had lunch
 

Continued along the coast to Anapala chasm on the east coast to explore which was a fifteen minute walk from the road. Climbed right down these very steep stairs to the bottom at sea level. As you looked up through the high rock you could see a little daylight coming through. Only down there for a few minutes then had to climb all the way back up again.

ANAPALA CHASM

Looking down into the chasm as we walked down the steps with the rope railing.

 

Looking up from the bottom to daylight above.

 

 

Right at the bottom of the chasm at sea level.

 

 

 

As we climbed out of the chasm walked to the edge of the cliff to see the coaston the eastern side. Although it doesn't look it here it is the prevailing wind side and was quite rough and exposed.



Its great the way theses places are set up for the tourist. Concrete or coral steps carved out to make it a little easier. They have rope hand rails which help going down but also good to pull yourself up again out of the chasm as the steps are really steep.

On to the next chasm called Togo. Still on the east coast.This one was really good hard work and a challenge in this heat but we did it. Very interesting. Takes about one and half hours there and back from where you leave your car. Walked through a forest to get to the top of the cliffs . As you come out of the forest you are up high looking out over the ocean. Then the big descent down steps carved over the coral with the rope hand rails down to this great chasm. Before you reach sea level you climb down this huge ladder down to a sandy area with palms growing with the high rock all around. Very hot as not a lot of air. Had a good walk around then climbed the ladder and pulled ourselves up the rope railings over all the coral back through the forest to the car.

 

We had just come out from walking through the forest from the car now standing at the cliff top about to descend to the chasm

 

 

 

Walking down over the coral. You can see what a great track they have made over the coral with the rope hand rails. It is steeper than it looks. 

That small white strip in the middle of the photo is the sand at the bottom of the chasm where we were heading.You can just see the tops of the palm trees that are growing in the sand at the bottom.

 

TOGO CHASM

We have now reached the top of the ladder that you have to climb down to the bottom.

Nearly at the bottom of the ladder.

Made it, now at sea level in this great sandy area surrounded by high chasm walls made of coral. You can't see out and feel very hemmed in and very hot.

 

Looking up from the bottom

 

 

 

The ladder we climbed down to get into the deepest part. Now have to climb up to get out.

 



Climbing back up the ladder. A long way down from where we started at the top of the cliff. Took an hour and a half to get down there and back up to the car.

Very hot but very interesting. Well worth the long climb down. Drank lots of water on this trip. The whole island is coral very grey on this east coast where the prevailing winds come in and rough seas. Where as we are staying on the west coast calm (opposite to home.) The coral all around the hotel is this lovely bright white, would make good white chip for your garden Jen. Shall we bring a truck load back........

Drove back around the coast back to the hotel via, as I said earlier the swimming beach which was great to cool us down. Had a burger and chips for lunch before returning back to the hotel and a quiet rest of the day.

Just been for dinner and had a nice seafood basket, yum....

 

3rd November, 2012 Niue Island

 



As photos were so slow to down load yesterday, if you haven't seen them I did them this morning early, if you go back to yesterdays blog . So maybe that is what I might have to do wait and post the whole blog the next morning.

This morning we got away about 9.00am to start our exploring around the Island. Probably covered a quarter of the island north from our hotel up the west coast.

First of all stopped at the tourist information centre in Alofi and redeemed our vouchers for various meals and trips which we purchased in NZ before we left.

Then first stop still heading north up the west coast was Vailoa (below)  where we walked down to the water but as the tide was too high couldn't do any reef walks this morning. The way the tides are we will have to do them in the afternoon.Still very nice at high tide with the waves lashing on the cliff edge into the caves.

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VAILOA CAVES

Next stop Avaiki cave. (below). Very interesting walking through this great cave to come out at the waters edge but again no good for the reef walks.

AVAIKA CAVE

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third stop today another walk through the caves called Palaha. Again down to the waters edge.

PALAHA CAVES

 

Fourth stop was at the Limu pools. We could drive down to these as it is a launching ramp for the guys to launch their one man dug outs to go out to the deep waters to fish. There was a fishing contest on for the dug outs and they were just coming back in to get to the wharf for the weigh in. Also there was a local women fishing in the pools with her two children . There was a reef shark swimming around in the pool where we were told was a good place to swim.  As the weigh in was due at the wharf we rushed back on our way back to our hotel to see the weigh in but not a lot going on except we got there just in time to pose with a yellow fin tuna which was caught from one of these one man dug outs. Amazing.

 

Boys had just lifted their one man dug outs and put them on the side of the ramp and rushed off to the wharf with their catch for the fishing competion. They put palm tree brances over the boats to protect them from the sun.

 



Local lady fishing in the pool at the end of the ramp in above picture.

 

 



 

 

Womens children sitting under rock to get shade while mum is fishing..

 

 

 

This is the reef shark at the bottom of the ramp. They tried to tell me they won't bit. The pool looked lovely for swimming in but I wasn't going to give it a chance.

 



 

 

Pete posing with the catch of the day. (caught from the one man dug out) Yellow fin tuna. We found out today that there was generally no fish on the island until todays catch. I found that hard to believe as we thought that there would be heaps of fish around the island. Apparently the Asian fishing boats that fish around the outer seas of the island have drained the supplies. The locals tell us that they can't do anything about it as they don't have the resources to patrol them. Looks like they need NZ's help.

 



Got back to the hotel about one. We were so hot we spent a bit of time in our room to cool down in the air conditioning. Pete stayed in while I went down to the pool for a swim.

The hotel is a lovely spot built up on the cliff edge so different to most pacific islands no beach although it is quite nice sitting around the pool or eating dinner or breakfast on the cliff top looking down over the ocean instead of looking through a beach.

The people are just lovely, such a lovely looking race. Always have big smiles for you and so friendly.

Tonight we had an Island buffet dinner where the kids performed a concert before we ate. Very enjoyable although during our dinner one of the guests collapsed. Poor guy We think that he was travelling on his own and after some time being attented by two doctors who were hotel guests, the hospital crew arrived and took him to the hospital which fortuately isn't too far along the road.After dinner came back to write blog but it is so slow down loading the photos. O.K. for internet from our room, hence the delay to post this morning 4th. Might have to do this every morning as the computor seems faster in the mornings. I will see how we go this afternoon.

Our rental Nissan, not too bad automatic and good airconditioning which is so important. The locals tell us this is the hottest week they have had.

 

 

Enjoying a cocktail at the concert evening last night where the local children performed their concert before dinner.

2nd November 2012 Niue Island

 

NIUE ISLAND.

 

 

Niue Island is a country in the South Pacific Ocean 2,400km northwest of New Zealand and within the triangle of Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands.

The land area is 260 square km and its population predominantly polynesian  is around 1400.

They commonly refer to the Island as the Rock. All Niueans are New Zealand citizens. 90-95% of Niuean people live in New Zealand.

The general formation of the island takes the shape of two terraces, the lower terrace being 28m above sea level and the upper terrace is about 69m above sea level.
The islands isolation and coral makeup creates an exciting rugged coastline and reef which provides swimming coves as opposed to the typical long stretches of sandy beaches so predominant elsewhere in polynesia. The island is dotted with caves and sheltered rocky coves.

The island has 14 villages which we will slowly explore over the week.
The residents enjoy dual citizenship, as a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. We have already picked up that the locals are very respectful and friendly to the visitors.

Getting back to when we left NZ this morning, we got up at 5.30am , picked up at 6.45am to catch our flight NZ 784 at 9.25am.

We were sitting in the plane 10 mins early for take off to get the anouncement from the captain that a passenger hadn't turned up who checked in early this morning. We then had to wait while they took the bags off the plane making us 20 minutes late for take off. The captain made up time and we did the trip in 3 hours and five minutes. I think that it can take 3 hours 20 normally.It was 30 degrees when we landed.

We have gone back one day and having Friday all over again. We are exactly 24hours behind NZ.

The hotel is good but haven't really had a good look around yet. Very nice new room with airconditioning and a fan. Going down shortly for their fish and chip buffet tonight. Just come in from sitting on our deck having a drink. Very pleasant, we are in the new delux superior wing all on one level and our own balcony' looking over the ocean. We are several metres up from sea leval on  a cliff edge.

As we landed it was overcast which we were expecting as we has seen the weather before we left NZ that there was going to be thunderstorms this afternoon. We only got a few spits on the windscreen of the car and by the time we were sitting on our deck at 5.00pm having a drink it was a beautiful evening. Sun out but partly cloudy. But staff here told us that the island is quite different around the different villages as it can be raining in one part and never get rain in another.

We picked up our car at the airport a Nissan something and will take a photo tomorrow. Never seen one like it previously. Is actually automatic with air conditioning which isn't costing us anything as part of our special package that had a car thrown in.

Just going down for fish and chip dinner. Will continue later.

Later:   Back from dinner. No fish on the island so I had Chicken and Pete had beef. Funnily enough no fish available today!!! and it is a great fishinging island. Strange,  and also they only have one cow on the island!!!! we were told.
We will learn more as we travel around.

 

Matavai hotel, our room

 

These coconuts were given to us on arrival at the hotel complete with straws to try the coconut milk.  O.K. but couldn't drink it all.

 

 

 

View looking out from our room over our balcony

 

First evening, first drink. Sitting on our balcony