E66E Team will be active from Niue Island, IOTA OC - 040.
Team - 2 members of the Rebels DX Group.
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Niue
The name of the island Niue literally translates as “Look! Coconut!” In 1774, an expedition led by James Cook arrived here, and the natives did not welcome them warmly. Because of this, the island was officially renamed Savage, which literally means “wild” or “savage.” Niue was only able to shake off this stigma in 1974, when it gained independence from New Zealand and voluntarily joined it as an independent island state.
Niue Island. Author - Harold Moses.
A tropical island ruled by a European monarch
Niue is located east of the Kingdom of Tonga, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and is a dormant volcano in terms of its geological origin. It has an area of only 261 km² and a population of less than 1,600. Along with the indigenous people, there are many migrants from Asia and Europe living here. However, there are 15 times more indigenous Niueans living in New Zealand than on the island itself. Niue is sometimes confused with Niua, which is the name of a group of two islands that are part of the Kingdom of Tonga.
The capital is called Alofi, but it is more of a village than a city. Alofi is located on the western part of Niue and consists of only one street. Not far from this street is the island's only international airport. Alofi is also home to Opahi Landing, where James Cook attempted to land but was greeted with a spear instead of a welcome. There are no cities as such on Niue, but there are 14 rural settlements. The total length of roads does not exceed 230 km, and the only highway goes around the perimeter of the island.
English and Niuean are recognized as official languages. The Niuean script is based on the Latin alphabet, but uses only 17 letters from it. The formal head of state is Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, but in reality, the prime minister runs the country. There are so many political activists here that they have formed a political party, and the parliament consists of three members. Niue has its own soccer team but no army. The economy is underdeveloped, with New Zealand subsidies remaining the primary source of income. At the same time, Niue conducts its foreign policy independently of New Zealand.
Trade on the island is conducted using the New Zealand dollar, and Australian or US dollars can also be used to pay at resorts. Alongside these, there are collectible Niue dollars, which are of great interest to numismatists (they feature coral islands). It is better to exchange cash in advance at banks in New Zealand, but this is not necessary, as traveler's checks and bank cards are widely accepted on the island.
Due to the absence of mountains, the weather and climate conditions here are quite uniform: an average of +28°C throughout the year. From January to March, it rains in Niue, and the most favorable period for tourist visits is from March to November. The time difference with the Moscow time zone is 15 hours.
Niue Island. Author - Nick.
An island without beaches
In 2005, Niue was hit by such a powerful cyclone that its infrastructure has not yet been restored. However, to the delight of tourists, free Wi-Fi is available throughout the island.
There are practically no beaches here: the shores are rocky and steep, making access to the water difficult. The best beach is considered to be Palaha, where you can admire the stalactites. For snorkeling, head to the Snake Gully underwater ocean hollow, and for a beach vacation, go to the Avatele resort, where you can go fishing in the sea. The best places for diving are Limoo Pools, where there is a coral reef with caves hidden underwater, Lakepa, where you can swim through underwater cave tunnels, and the underwater cave complexes of Talava and Matapa Chasm.
In Mutalau, annual golf tournaments are held in June. Visitors will also be interested in admiring the local culture festivals held in each village.
All tourists in Niue should definitely go to the “tapu” forests for a walk and to the Anono Marine Reserve. In the Hualu land reserve, you can admire a beautifully preserved corner of ancient tropical forest. The Tauga-Peka protected area boasts a variety of amazingly picturesque fauna. Incredible stalactites await photographers in the Awaiki cave.
The main man-made attractions of the island include the Juanaki Cultural Center and Museum (tourists can buy souvenirs from local artisans in the shop at the Women's Club), the elegant Ekalesi Church, the burial place of missionary Nukai Peniamina (it was thanks to him that Christianity began to spread on the island), and the Experimental Farm, where new crop and livestock technologies are tested. The village of Tamakautoga is home to a memorial created in honor of soldiers who fought in World War I. The deserted village-museum of Fatiau-Tua'i was once inhabited, but its residents fell victim to an epidemic of an unknown eye disease and moved to other places.
Niue Island. Author - Colin Cock.
Fern delicacies and ecotourism for the wealthy
Vegans and vegetarians will definitely enjoy the island: meat is not eaten here at all, and pork-based dishes are only included in the menu on holidays. Interestingly, the full name of the island sounds like “Niue-fekai,” which translates roughly as “Cannibal's Coconut Tree.” Historians have no evidence that the natives of Niue ever practiced cannibalism. In ancient times, Niue was also called “Lonely Island” or “Nuku-tu-taha.”
Today, the local cuisine consists mainly of vegetables, greens, breadfruit, bananas, papaya, sweet potatoes, peppers, yams, coconuts, fish, and seafood. Those with a sweet tooth should definitely try the local dessert made from the root of the “ti” plant, and connoisseurs of exotic cuisine should try boiled or baked “luku” fern. The main local delicacy is considered to be ‘uga’ coconut crabs, also known as “unga.”
The inhabitants of Niue have high hopes for the near future: they plan to develop premium eco-tourism here. Their belief in success is bolstered by the fact that a quarter of the island is still covered by virgin tropical forests, and the part of the Pacific Ocean where Niue is located is recognized as a protected area.
