19:0.0S 169:55.0W
Niue is just a big rock in the middle of the
Pacific, but it is a another useful stopping place after Suwarrow, if you don't
want to do the trip from Bora Bora to Tonga in one go. The island is a
raised coral atoll, where layers of reef are pushed up by volcanic
activity. This makes for impressive cliffs with caves and crevices along
the coast.
Niue is also home of the Niue Yacht Club, which has
the distinction of being a yacht club where none of the members owns a
yacht. This is because Niue does not have a harbour. They have
some mooring buoys on the western side of the island which you can use when the
wind is blowing from the east. We had to keep an eye on the weather with a
view to leaving the island quickly if the wind started blowing from the
west. The absence of local yachts does mean that the yacht club can
focus on entertaining visiting yachts and we spent a couple of evenings at the
club, for a barbecue and for an evening of local dancing and
feasting.
