5 things that will surprise you in Niue

If you thought giants only lived in storybooks, Niue might just change your mind. One of the world’s smallest independent nations, this tiny island is home to some of Earth’s biggest and most majestic visitors.

1. You'll find humungous humpback whales

Before you notice their size, you’ll hear them sing. Humpback whales are famous for their haunting, beautiful songs — and on a whale diving excursion, it’s often the first sign they’re nearby. When a whale begins to sing, you’ll feel it deep in your chest.

Whale season in Niue runs from July to October, with August and September being the prime months for sightings. These giants glide through Niue’s incredibly clear waters, creating one of the most magical wildlife encounters on Earth. Swimmers are required to keep 200 metres away — but humpbacks are curious creatures. You might just find one swims closer to you.

2. There are giant swaggering crabs

Not all giants are as graceful as the humpback whale. Niue’s coconut crab — known locally as uga — is a sight you won’t forget in a hurry. As wide as your outstretched arms and weighing up to 4 kilograms, these hulking creatures have a habit of lumbering across roads or scaling trees in search of their next snack.

They might look prehistoric, but uga are a prized delicacy in the South Pacific. Niue is one of the few places where they’re still found in sustainable numbers, and crab hunting remains a popular tradition. Join a local tour and you’ll see coconut meat laid as bait, or skip the chase and enjoy the reward — if uga is on the menu, don’t miss your chance to try it.

3. You'll discover the iconic Talava Arches

Step beneath the towering Talava Arches and you’ll feel wonderfully small in a world carved by giants. Hidden in the island’s north, this natural wonder is a dramatic mix of caves, fossilised coral and soaring limestone arches — shaped by centuries of wind, water and time.

Getting there is all part of the adventure. A 20-minute walk through lush rainforest and ancient coral beds leads you to high-ceiling caverns dripping with stalactites, before opening out to the majestic arches themselves. Visit at low tide for the best footing — and in the calm pools, you might even swim or snorkel. Just next door, Matapa Chasm offers a crystal-clear swimming hole filled with vibrant fish and fairy tale charm.

4. Experience enormous underwater cathedrals

Some say diving in Niue feels like drifting through a giant block of Swiss cheese — and they’re not wrong. Below the surface, the island reveals a spectacular maze of chasms, caves, coves, canyons, chimneys and channels. It’s a spellbinding underwater world that mirrors the limestone landscape above — only here, you’re gliding through it.

Because Niue is an upraised coral atoll, the limestone naturally filters the water, making visibility nothing short of extraordinary. On a good day, you can see up to 100 metres — even on a bad one, rarely less than 30. It’s a diver’s dream and an underwater explorer’s paradise.

5. You'll meet larger-than-life locals

Willy's Washaway Café is neither grand nor giant. If anything, it's rather average sized and seriously informal. What's anything but average is Willy himself! A simply marvellous character, Willy is larger than life. He owns — and built — the café himself, and he takes visitors crab hunting, fishing and caving. In his spare time he's a baker as well as the local mechanic.

Between jobs, he entertains the punters with his big personality and even bigger smile. Willy’s a busy man so the Washaway Café at Avetele beach is only open Sundays. The burgers are almost as legendary as Willy, while the bar, which works like an honesty box whereby you serve yourself, adds a relaxed vibe to an already laid-back establishment. Throughout Niue, the locals are much like Willy: generous, about as friendly as you could hope for, with huge smiles and even bigger hearts.