14-22 August 2026

Leader: Peter Davis

Day 1. Friday
We left Wellington out of the fog on Friday night on Air New Zealand to Auckland. It just happened to be a happy hour flight and luckily for us it was the only flight out that evening.

Day 2. Saturday
We met our guides Andrea and Steve at the Ibis Budget Hotel. After a night in a sardine can and an electronic bus ticket challenge, we were soon in the air, flying toward the coral island of Niue. About a 3½ hour flight across the International Date Line took us from Saturday back to Friday.

Looking from above the island's 63 km circumference, it appeared as a contrast of deep blue ocean and brilliant white surf grinding over the shallow band of coral before crashing into the near-vertical cliffs of the island, immediately giving way to lush green coconut palms and rainforest with the occasional rusty corrugated roof spotted. Disembarking the aircraft via steps, we walked across the tarmac in sunshine and warmth, then through to the most relaxed immigration I've ever been through. We spent the day familiarising ourselves around the capital, Alofi.

The total island population is 1800-ish - not that we saw many of them. However, it's heavily populated with chickens and roosters. We picked up the van and hire bikes and checked out our self-catering apartments. This was to be our residence for the week. We were lucky to have the four front units perched on the edge of the coral cliff, with a sliding door opening onto the deck overlooking the vast ocean and the sea-covered coral below. On high tide, the ocean crashing and rumbling in and on low tide, small blue pools to wallow in.

Day 3. (Saturday +1)
We went just down the road to the local village of Tamakautoga, which was having its annual show day, a local market, mostly food and people showing their weaving and crafts for judging. Once the food was gone, so were the people. We then cycled along the island's only sealed road (20 km kindly done by China) to Matapa Chasm for a swim, packed picnic lunch and a walk to Tavala Arches, then returned the same way - stopping for a well-earned ice cream at the Alofi service station. A big day riding. That night we ate at the posh Matavai Resort, partaking in the most expensive entrée size meals. However, the cocktails had us singing 'Happy Birthday' with the local musicians, to Kate, one of our newfound friends that made up our group of 11.

Day 4. Sunday
Not much happened. Out on our bikes, we stopped near a church to listen to some beautiful singing - a pleasant change from the rooster crows. We had a bit of an explore, then returned to our base for lunch. In the afternoon, we headed inland on bike trails, then on to Avatele Beach where we snorkelled, being careful not to be sucked out to the ocean with the current and swells. As evening drew closer, we muscled in for the best sunset photo spot after dinner at the Washaway Café, a great spot, and then had a night cycle ride home.

Day 5. Monday
Our planned snorkel boat trip was cancelled due to high swells. Instead, we cycled to the interior of the Island on coral gravel tracks, looking for local vegetable allotments. The few that we found were mostly planted with taro in the shallow fertile soil. We dined at the High Kai Restaurant, Japanese style. The local craft beers were strong. We were soon living up to the restaurant's name.

Day 6. Tuesday
Whale watch morning. Six of our group went out on a small Zodiac. Getting on and off at the wharf took a bit of negotiation. Out we went, zig-zagging the big blue ocean, bumping across the waves in search of some whales. After a couple of hours, we were lucky enough to spot a pair (mum and a juvenile) and to get close enough for the brave ones to get into the choppy water to snorkel with them. They breached nearby with an almighty Manu as they twisted and re-entered the water. On the way back we stopped in some calmer sheltered waters for some fantastic snorkelling - such beautiful, coloured fish and clean clear blue water.

Later that afternoon we went in the van to a sculpture park. The local school children had used all sorts of solid rubbish to create some quite impressive artworks. Onward to Toga Chasm. It is like a fortress of impenetrable sharp coral pinnacle spires. Then a short distance away we walked down 150 odd steps to a freshwater aquifer, Anapala Chasm, deep and cave-like with almost vertical sides. We had a refreshing swim to finish the day. We all went to an Indian restaurant for dinner. Pistol and I did not want chicken because it had bones, so we ordered a lamb curry instead, but it turned out it was just one big bone knuckle with curry sauce and the garlic roti was garlic salt on a roti. Lol.

Day 7. Wednesday
We cycled north to Avaiki Cave, another great calm place for snorkelling. This was where the ancestral kings used to bathe and they think the first canoes arrived here at the island. On the way we were stopped by a couple of farmers who were collecting coconuts for their pigs. They had found a large uga (a native coconut crab) to show us. Nearby, we had lunch at the Hio Café which had excellent food, service and atmosphere. One of the best local produce meals we had. Looking out to the distance, whale spouts were spotted. I would happily have eaten here every day. We cycled to Limu Pools for yet another swim and snorkel. Each time we swam we saw new types of tropical fish. We also stopped in at a park where traditional canoes were being handcrafted (by the farmer we had met that morning!). He was teaching school kids to make them so they could then go out and learn to fish.

Day 8. Thursday
We went on an Ebony Forest tour. We saw amazing tall trees with roots like kahikatea, although not aerial, and a tree like a rata. The vines went up the tree first then turned into a trunk and sent roots down and across the forest floor in search of another podocarp-type tree host, to climb up and restart the cycle. The larger trees had big buttress roots for stability, as the roots are vey shallow on the sparse topsoil. The locals use only the naturally fallen ones for carving. Then our last snorkel to finish the day.

Before the trip we had been asked to submit our favourite song, and over the course of the week we had to guess everyone else’s song. That night at our usual happy hour (or two), we had the song guessing awards which Jeremy won. Again, we went to the posh Matavai Resort. A “lucky if your meal or drink came” type of place. We happened to be there to enjoy a local dance/singing group. A few of us got dragged up onto the dance floor - thank God for cocktails!

Day 9. Friday
We packed up and headed to the airport to check in our luggage, then have a coffee at a good busy café (run by a couple that had returned from NZ). Waiting in the departure lounge, our plane arrived. Through the big glass windows we watched the next batch of travellers arriving, queuing at immigration full of smiles and wondering what adventures lay ahead of them.

Day 9. Friday/Saturday
Back across the International Date Line to Auckland and into tomorrow. We farewelled our new friends with a beer celebrating a fantastic trip, then flew south to a bumpy landing in Wellington and then home.

Those on the trip were:

Paul Michl, Paula Richardson, Peter Davis, Yingjun Shelton, Andrew & Steve (our guides/hosts, Wildside Travel), Jeremy & Kate (Nelson), Murray & Sharon (Taupo) , Matt (Wellington)

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.