Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Shadow Room
The Museum of Lost Tales
Sherlock Holmes Statue
Sherlock Holmes Statue
South Pole Growth Chamber
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Siegfried Tieber specializes in sleight-of-hand magic using small objects, as well as mentalism, which gives the illusion of reading minds.
Does a Magician Really Never Reveal Their Tricks? AO Wants to Know.
13 days ago
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
16 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
19 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
26 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Niue Alofi Niue

Niue

A tiny, remote island packed with wonders both natural and geeky.

Alofi, Niue

Added By
Taylor West
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Coral Chasm in Niue   fearlessRich/CC BY SA 2.0
Coral Chasm in Niue   fearlessRich/CC BY SA 2.0
Matapa Chasm   piawaugh/CC BY SA 2.0
Niue Coastline   fearlessRich/CC BY SA 2.0
Coconut crab   tahasic / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Who wouldn't want to live on an island with universal free wi-fi, currency featuring characters from Pokemon and Doctor Who, and a landscape covered in beautiful natural formations? Apparently, the island's natives themselves, most of whom live 1,500 miles away in New Zealand.

The small island of Niue, measuring about 100 square miles, is unique by many counts. It's one of the largest coral islands in the world, surrounded entirely by coral reefs except for one stretch of the west coast near the capital, Alofi. Limestone cliffs and caves line the coast and cliff-encircled chasm pools are popular destinations with tourists. Humpback whales have been known to nurse their calves off the coast of the island during the summer, though a respectful distance is encouraged while observing them. The absence of lakes and rivers keeps the water very clear and safe to drink. Another peculiar feature that's drawn visitors is that the island's isolation makes it easier to pick up ham radio signals.

But even stranger is the non-circulating "Niue dollar" coins, produced as bullions in New Zealand and sold to collectors worldwide. Niue introduced its first set of geeky coins, commemorating the Star Wars franchise. Since then, it has issued well over a thousand types of coins featuring pop culture icons. There are coins commemorating Disney movies, Pokémon, Harry Potter, DC Comics and Magic: The Gathering. These Niue dollars do not always come in the round coin shape, but also in oblongs, hearts, animal shapes, Darth Vader's helmet and more, sometimes even multi-colored.

There are 14 villages on the island, and most people speak both Niuean and English. Niue continues to look to the future, hopeful it can bring back expats who sought opportunities elsewhere. In 2003, it became the first country to offer free wi-fi to all inhabitants, and it is currently working toward becoming the first fully organic country and transitioning to solar power.

Related Tags

Islands Coral Reefs Cliffs Caves Whales Animals Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

Weekly flights by Air New Zealand from Auckland, New Zealand will take you to Niue in about 3 hours. Niue’s international Airport, Hanan (IUE), is less than 5 minutes from the main town of Alofi. An entry visa can be applied for beforehand if planning on staying more than 30 days. Passports are required, and don't plan on bringing any form of food in with you.

Community Contributors

Added By

tbwest24

Edited By

tylercole, Fred Cherrygarden, AaronNetsky, tahasic

  • tylercole
  • Fred Cherrygarden
  • AaronNetsky
  • tahasic

Published

July 24, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.numista.com/catalogue/niue-1.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niue
  • http://www.niueisland.com/facts/
  • http://www.lonelyplanet.com/niue/introduction
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/13/niue-pacific-island-struggling-population-new-zealand
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5piobQIVdM
  • http://avax.news/wow/niue_pokemon_legal_coins.html
Niue
Alofi
Niue
-19.055371, -169.917871
Visit Website

Related Stories and Lists

16 Tales of the South Pacific

List

By Samir S. Patel

Related Places

  • The monastery is chiseled into the side of the mountain.

    Kalarrites, Greece

    Holy Kipinas Monastery

    This 13th-century monastery chiseled into the side of a mountain is equipped with a bridge that can be lifted to protect against raids.

  • Laas Geel

    Hargeisa, Somalia

    Laas Geel

    This cave located in the badlands of Somaliland contains some of the oldest cave art in Africa.

  • Belmaco Cave

    La Palma, Spain

    Belmaco Cave

    This cave was the former seat of power for two brothers who ruled together as kings.

  • Johann the last goat.

    Cushendun, Northern Ireland

    'Johann'

    A memorial to a goat culled during a foot and mouth disease outbreak guards a series of fantastical caves.

  • Folkestone, England

    Zigzag Path

    A winding cave grotto walkway built to provide employment for veterans after World War I.

  • Chamber with Screaming Monster formation in  Sudwala Caves.

    Dollaaskraal, South Africa

    Sudwala Caves

    These otherworldly caverns form Earth's oldest known cave system.

  • Ruins of a blubber oven in Smeerenburg.

    Amsterdam Island, Norway

    Smeerenburg Blubber Ovens

    These circular ruins are all that remain of a 17th-century Arctic whaling outpost.

  • Nickajack Cave

    South Pittsburg, Tennessee

    Nickajack Cave

    This large cave is a summer home to thousands of bats and has a rich history dating back to prehistoric times.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.