E6AQ – Niue

Jacek, SP5EAQ will be active as E6AQ from Niue, IOTA OC – 040 from October 22 to November 9, 2024.
He will be working in the 80 – 10m range, including activities in the CQ WW DX SSB competition.
Nearest DX Point E6Q
E6AQ Log Searchsearch QSL passes SP7DQR, LOTW, ClubLog.

Niue

Niue’s name literally translates to “Look! Coconuts!”. In 1774, when James Cook’s expedition arrived, the locals were anything but friendly. Because of this, the island was officially renamed “Savage”, which literally means “savage” or “barbarian”. Niue didn’t shed this stigma until 1974, when it gained independence from New Zealand and voluntarily joined New Zealand to become an independent island nation.

Niue Island. Author – Lynne.

A tropical island ruled by a European monarch

Niue is located at the eastern end of the eastern Pacific Ocean and is geologically an extinct volcano. It covers an area of ​​only 261 square kilometers and has a population of less than 1,600 people. In addition to the locals, there are many immigrants from Asia and Europe. However, the number of Niue natives in New Zealand is 15 times that of the island. Niue is sometimes confused with Niue, which is the name of two islands in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The capital is called Alofi, but it is more of a village than a town. Alofi is located in the west of Niue and has only one street. Near this street is the only international airport on the island. Alofi also has the Opahi landing site, where James Cook tried to land, but he was not welcomed and was stabbed with a spear. There are no such towns on Niue, but there are 14 rural settlements. The total length of roads does not exceed 230 kilometers, and the only highway goes around the perimeter of the island.

English and Niuean are recognized as official languages. Niuean writing is based on the Latin alphabet, but only 17 letters are used. The official head of the island is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, but in practice state affairs are run by the Prime Minister. There are so many political activists here that a political party is recruited by them, and the parliament consists of three members. Niue has its own football team, but does not have its own army. The economy is not developed, and the main source of income is still subsidies from New Zealand. However, Niue’s foreign policy is independent of New Zealand.

Trade on the island is in New Zealand dollars, and Australian or US dollars can also be used for payment at the resort. At the same time, there are Niue dollars available for collection, which are attractive to numismatists (they depict coral islands). It is best to exchange cash in advance at a New Zealand bank, but it is not necessary to do so as traveler’s checks and bank cards are accepted everywhere on the island.

Due to the absence of mountains, weather and climate conditions here are quite monotonous: the average temperature throughout the year is +28°C. From January to March, Niue is rainy, and from March to November is the best time for tourists to visit. The time difference with Moscow is 15 hours.

Niue Island. Author – Adrian Johnson.

Visa required, but foreign visa required

Direct flights to the island are limited, so visitors must transfer in New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates or South Korea. Depending on the route chosen, they may need a double transit visa.

Foreigners should have a standard set of documents when crossing the Niue border: a passport, a hotel reservation confirmation, proof of financial solvency, and an airline ticket confirming the visitor’s intention to leave the island after a certain period of time.

Pets from other countries are not allowed on Niue, and corals, bones, and leather products from local animals and reptiles are not allowed to be taken off the island.

An island without a beach

In 2005, Niue was hit by a powerful cyclone and its infrastructure has yet to recover, but visitors will be pleased to know that free Wi-Fi is available throughout the island.

There are almost no beaches here: the coast is rocky and steep, making it difficult to enter the water. The best beach is considered Palaha, where you can admire stalactites. If you want to snorkel, you should go to the underwater cave Snake Gally; if you want a beach holiday, you should go to the Avatele resort, where you can go fishing. Scuba diving is best done in the Limu Pools, where there are coral reefs and underwater caves; in Lakepa, where you can swim through underwater cave tunnels; and near the underwater cave complexes of Talava and Matapa Chasm.

Mutaraw hosts a golf tournament every June. Visitors will also be interested in enjoying the local cultural festivals held in each village.

All visitors to Niue should go hiking in the “tapu” forest and visit the Anono Marine Reserve. At the Huvalu Land Reserve, you can admire a well-preserved corner of the ancient rainforest. The Tauga Peka Reserve is home to a variety of picturesque fauna. The amazing stalactites of the Avaiki Caves await photographers.
The main man-made attractions on the island include the Wanaki Cultural Center and Museum (the shop in the Women’s Club is where visitors can buy souvenirs from local artisans), the elegant Ekalesia Church, the grave of missionary Nukai Peniamin (thanks to him, Christianity began to spread on the island) and the experimental farm, where new crops and livestock techniques are tested. In the village of Tamakautoga, there is a monument dedicated to the soldiers of World War I. The abandoned museum village of Fatiau-Tuai was once inhabited, but its residents moved elsewhere due to an epidemic of an unknown eye disease.

Niue Island. Author – Colin Cock.

Rich people’s fern cuisine and ecotourism

Vegans and vegetarians will love this island: meat is not eaten here at all, and pork dishes are only on the menu during holidays. Interestingly, the full name of the island is Niue Fike, which roughly translates to “The Man-Eating Coconut Tree”. There is no evidence that the indigenous people of Niue ever practiced cannibalism, and historians have no evidence. In ancient times, Niue was also known as “The Lonely Island” and “Nukutu Taha”.

Today, the food here is mainly made up of vegetables, leafy 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 plant “ti”, while those who like exotic cuisine should try the boiled or grilled bracken “luku”. The main local delicacy is considered to be the coconut crab “uga”, also known as “unga”.

The residents of Niue have high hopes for the near future: they plan to develop high-end ecotourism here. They are confident of success because a quarter of the island is still covered by pristine tropical forest and the Pacific part of Niue has been designated a protected area.

E6AQ. Where is Niue Island? Map.