What? 5 Pikachus for a Coffee?
Yes, you heard it right, somewhere in the small island of Niue in the pacific, you can buy a cup of coffee in exchange for some pikachus!
Niue is a relatively unknown island country in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,400 kilometers (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand within the triangle formed by Tonga to the west, Samoa to the north, and the Cook Islands to the east.
Its land area is just 260 square kilometers (100 sq mi) and its population, predominantly Polynesian, is around 1,400.
The most fascinating and unusual thing about the island is that it has a commissioned set of coins featuring various pokemons and a host of Star Wars characters.
Pokemon coin, Star Wars coinSource
In 2003, Niue became the world’s first “Wi-Fi nation”, in which free wireless Internet access was provided throughout the country by the Internet User’s Society-Niue.
Why Visit Niue?
1. Coral Reefs
The island’s isolation and coral makeup creates an exciting rugged coastline and reef, which provides intimate swimming coves as opposed to the typical long stretches of sandy beaches so predominant elsewhere.
A sandy oasis among corals Source
2. Unexplored Caves
The whole island is dotted with an array of caves and sheltered rocky coves, some of which are yet to be explored.
Sunset view from a cave Source
3. Honesty Bar
An honesty bar is an unattended beverage bar, typically in the lobby or lounge of a hotel or cafe where payment is left to the guest. Wash away Cafe and Bar, with its stunning beachfront setting is definitely worth a visit. It is quite possibly the last honesty bar under operation anywhere in the world.
4. Diving/Snorkeling
There are no sediments in the water and hence, the visibility can be up to 80 meters. This clarity is ranked amongst the very best in the world and with the warm water of the sea, makes for an exceptional diving experience.
5. Whale Watching
Niue is on a humpback whale migratory path, meaning each year the island is blessed with these gentle giants who arrive in Niue’s waters to calve and nurse their young. It is one of the only handful of places in the world where you are allowed to swim with the whales.
If you are not that adventurous and prefer watching them from the distance, you could do so from the shore, because Niue is an atoll, its deep waters mean visitors don’t have to head out to sea to see these gentle giants – they swim within 50 meters of the shore providing for a spectacular show.
The whale season commences from July each year.
Swimming with the whales Source
6. Fishing
Catching Sailfish, Wahoo, Tuna and Pacific Barracuda, just to name a few, all from 100 meters off shore is usually unheard of-but that’s the norm in Niue.
When to Visit
Niue is best from May to October, when the temperatures are low and there’s less rain. The average daytime temperature is 27°C from May to October and 30°C from November to April. December to March is the cyclone season.
How to Reach
Air
Air New Zealand operates a direct flight departing for Auckland every Friday night, arriving in Niue on early Friday morning after crossing the International Date Line. Return flights leave Niue one hour after landing and arrive back in Auckland on early Saturday morning.
Air New Zealand Source
By Boat
There are no ferries from foreign ports. Outside of the cyclone season you can sail your own yacht to Niue. The yachts are provided by the Niue Yacht Club.
