Niue has welcomed the first migratory Oceania humpback whales to their shores this week.
The arrival marks an early start to the traditional season, which runs from July-October. During this time, pods of humpback arrive to calve and nurse their young in the sheltered sanctuary of Niue. The deep, pristine, tropical waters of Niue and its rich feeding grounds make Niue an appealing stop for the whales on their epic journey south along what is now known as the ‘humpback highway.’
Regarded as one of the premier locations in the world for whale watching and only one of only three countries where people can swim with these majestic creatures this season looks to already be one that mother nature will ensure the “bucket list” can be fulfilled by the tourists now flocking back to the island since covid restrictions were fully lifted in April this year. Land-based whale watching is probably some of the best in the world.
The arrival of the whales is an addition to an already exciting array of nature-based experiences the island is renowned for. Director of Tourism Micah Fuhiniu-Viviani says, “The arrival of the whales is celebrated across the island, but there is nothing quite like the spontaneous delight they bring to visitors who may be just at a café, the hotel or one of our many scenic sites when a pod swims by to show off their young or erupt into a display of “whale gymnastics.”
While not ones to take nature for granted or hold her to a schedule, the island’s small band of tourism operators does gear itself up in anticipation of their arrival with several ways for visitors to experience the whales from land or sea.
New Zealand’s multi-award-winning tourism and dive operator, Dive Tutukaka, operates a Niue-based dive company, Niue Blue offering experiential and educational encounters. Fish Niue also adds guided whale encounters to their folio of exceptional water and nature-based activities.
