Nieu
Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Mon 3 Oct 2011 10:09
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Landfall in Nieu after a slow and windless 5 days
from Rarotonga.
Nieu is a very small, flat, island, 1100 km
west of Rarotonga and 500 km east of Vavau, Tonga. About 2,500
people
live on the island, though in the past it had a
population of up to 10,000. Nieu is independent in free assocation
with
NZ and the islanders have residency rights
there.
 The island is surround by jagged limestone cliffs
with caves and blowholes everywhere.
No coral, no lagoon, but very clear water as
thereis no runoff from rains or sediment from
reefs.
50 to 60 metres of underwater visibility is the
norm.
  The main town, Alofi.
 Anchoring is impossible as it is all rock with lots
of anchor swallowing holes in the rock. However,
the Nieu Yacht Club has made moorings
availble. The bay is pleasant as long as the wind stays
easterly.
 The wharf is the only means of getting
ashore. They have a supply ship every month or so which
takes 3 days to unload using the islands
barge.
 The shopping centre. One bank, two
supermarkets,a post office, an internet cafe, two souvenir shops.
 The government office.
 Crazy Uma's cafe. An uma is a coconut
crab.
 Great coffee
 The Niue Yacht Club and backpackers
hostel. Nieu gets one flight a week direct from Auckland
bringing a few tourists and Nieuians back home for
a visit. Two thirds of Nieu's houses were abandoned
in the last cyclone.
  Looking at the cliffs from the landward
side.
 The Matavai Resort, government built, is Nuie's
number one hotel.
 The Washaway Cafe, only open on Sundays. It
has the distinction of being the ONLY place on Nieu
that is open on a Sunday.
 The view from the Washaway Cafe. The canoeists are
going spear fishing.
 A new coconut tree takes root.
 Walking through the forest to visit the Togo
Chasm......
 ....through the eroded fields of limestone
pinnacles.....
 ...to the chasm at the bottom of the
cliffs.
 Climbing down the ladder....
 ..at the bottom you feel as if you are in a desert
oasis....
 ....with palm trees....
 ...and a freshwater pool. All that's
missing...
 ...are the camels.
 The Talavara arches.
 A pool, partly fresh water.
 In order to go ashore on Nuie...
 You have to land your passenger, then hook up to
the crane...
 ...which Sandra operates...
 until the dinghy is secure...
 ...and on leaving you reverse the process.
Quite a different experience.
 One of the many caves along the
shore....
 ...with stalactites and stalagmites.
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