Niue
28 July 2010 | Niue
Alison
Destination Niue achieved.
The island of Niue came into view just after sunrise on Allan's watch, and we were stunned to note that it's a giant flat pancake slapped on the surface of a choppy ocean. For some reason we all had visions of something more, oh, Moorea-like, perhaps. But Niue is a mesa of sorts, a straight-topped, lush green slab of coral. As we came along the southeastern shore, the waves were huge; crashing into the sheer coral cliffs and into caves, creating massive blowholes that spewed hundreds of feet into the air. The mist that remained from each explosion wafted along, making it all look very prehistoric.
So far we don't have a lot else to report. Tomorrow we'll know much more, like whether the pod of 8 whales that are being tracked and are on their way from Rarotonga arrive soon. And whether we can go diving with them. Niue is one of 3 places in the world where you can legally dive with whales, and this is the very beginning of the season. Since it's not a big place, and not many tourists (mostly cruisers, and not many of us) the whales won't be inundated by a bunch of idiotic flailing humans. Mostly whale researchers and curious, eager sailors.
Our friend Brian on Further has been keeping track of the whales, and has arranged for all of us to go out with the dive masters here on the island the minute they arrive, which could be tomorrow. If not, we have plans to go on a cave dive with Brian, who has been here a few days already and wastes no time getting the lay of the land and sea anywhere he is. He's definitely the guy to send ahead, an ambitious and enthusiastic scout.
There is not much here, otherwise. Many of the 22,000 Niueans have left for New Zealand, leaving hundreds of family homes empty all over the island. And since it's not a tourist destination, although they have tried hard to make it one, it's quite special, in a very small, private way. We met Keith, the Commodore of the Niue Yacht Club today, and he's packed full of information on what to do, where to go, what not to do, and who to meet. They say everyone in Niue knows everyone else. Soon enough, I assume we'd know them all, too. And between Keith and Brian, we have our week made.