Around the World in Analogue: Niue Island

Des Brough, a.k.a. lomodesbro visits the under-the-radar tourist heaven in the South Pacific Ocean, Niue Island. Niue Island is somewhere northeast of New Zealand and is nicknamed as "The Rock" due to being one of the world's largest coral islands. A coral reef surrounds the island, with a limestone cliff along the coast. It's surrounded by majestic limestone caves.

Find out what our Lomographer has to say about this island in this series of Around the World in Analogue, through his own words and pictures taken with his Olympus Stylus Epic with the Ektar 100.

Affectionately called "The Rock" Niue is not really an island but is a large coral atoll with crystal clear water, amazing swimming, snorkeling caves, chasms and rock pools like you have never seen before.. Not a sandy beach to be seen. Located in the Pacific Ocean in a triangle between Samoa, Cook Islands & Tonga, Niue is served by two flights per week from Auckland by Air New Zealand. Uncrowded with only one major resort, there is a variety of accommodation available. Whale watching season runs from July to September. As I visited in May I have a good excuse for a return visit.

Once you pick up your rental car from the airport you quickly learn to return friendly waves from other motorists. A very welcome change from the single finger. With a population of under 2000 residents, Niue is unspoiled, friendly and relaxed. The clarity of the water is amazing. As you swim you can see below to a considerable depth like you would not believe. Fish, rock, coral, every shade of blue and green and even an occasional sea snake.

Caves and chasms are easily accessed with incredible rock formations. There are numerous churches with a strict Sunday observance on Niue and the hymn singing is always outstanding. From 1100 on Sundays visitors hang out at the Washaway Cafe which is DIY. You enter your name in the bar & food book. Hop behind the bar, grab your drink and your food order follows.

Finally, you pay cash into the till and everything is ka pai. The DIY theme continues at the Sculpture Park where visitors are invited to add a piece of junk to the free form sculpture. Free range chickens roam the island so eggs are plentiful as are fresh fish, There is a choice of cafe to suit many tastes. Roads are rugged and potholes abound with speed limits of 80 or 60 kph. Safety and honesty are valued highly. so as they say in Niue, "fakalofa lahi atu". Love and greetings to you.

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2019-06-28 #places #around-the-world #new-zealand #around-the-world-in-analogue #niue-island