Niue, the second least populated island in the world, has many scenic spots[Interlink Domain Island Tour No. 50 “.nu”]- GIGAZINE

With a population of only about 1,800 people as of 2024, Niue is the world’s second-lowest population after Vatican City, and is the world’s smallest independent nation, with about a quarter of the population being civil servants. Until nowCrime-prone cityor sinkingA remote island in the seathere are more polar bears than peopleworld’s northernmost townThis is the 50th installment of the “Domain Island Tour,” which we have carried out on-site interviews with the likes of Niue Island.We visited Niue Island, talked with the only inmate in a prison where people can come and go freely, and took part in a class at a high school. I went on a tour, helped build a house, and asked locals for their recommended scenic spots, and went to see 10 scenic spots.

Domain Island Tour – Interlink, which handles more than 1,000 types of domains from around the world, focuses on about 50 types of “island domains” such as “.cc”, “.tv”, “.sx”, etc. from the South Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, We will actually go to the islands and report on their charms.
https://islanddomains.earth/

◆Where is Niue Island?
The island of Niue is located northeast of New Zealand, east of Tonga, and southeast of Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean. The area is 269 square km. It is an oval-shaped island made of the world’s largest coral reef. The currency used is the NZ dollar.

table of contents
◆Run into the hotel, mistaking it for a fire.
◆Watch classes at the only high school on the island
◆Talk to the only inmate in the island’s prison
◆The food situation on Niue Island is like this
◆Various things on Niue Island
◆Visiting spectacular scenic spots on Niue Island recommended by locals
◆“.nu” domain seen on the street
◆Local SIM purchase & speed investigation

◆Run into the hotel, mistaking it for a fire.
After a 3 hour flight from New Zealand, we arrived at Niue International Airport.

You can buy souvenirs such as accessories at the hut next to the airport.

Approximately 7 minutes from the airport by hotel shuttle, you will be taken to your accommodation.Scenic Matabai Resort Niuearrived at.

A large painting in the hotel lobby conveys a strong message: “Don’t pollute the beautiful sea.”

The room has an ocean view. As a welcome drink, “coconut water” made from coconut fruit was prepared. It’s well chilled and delicious.

The rooms are fully air conditioned and the beds are soft. If you’re lucky, you can even see whales and dolphins from your balcony.

There were friendly cats on the premises, and they were petted by the guests.

There is no veterinary hospital on Niue. If something happens to your animal, you can contact New Zealand’s volunteer charities for support. The operation of this charity organization is based on donations.

Since Niue does not have public transportation such as buses or taxis, the hotel arranged for us to rent a car to explore the island. 387 NZ dollars (approximately 36,765 yen) for 3 days. The car was a Nissan.

After driving for about 10 minutes from the hotel, I found a large amount of garbage dumped in what looked like a field.

It looks like it’s a garbage dump. Cans and bottles are separated, and those who need them can take them home.

bigwhite goodsIt had been thrown away.

After sunset, on my way back from exploring the island, I passed the same spot again and saw a large flame rising from the garbage dump. There was no one around, so I hurried back to the hotel and told the reception that there was a fire, but they said, “There’s no problem because they’re just burning trash.”

The next morning, when I headed to the garbage dump again, I found a civil servant who had been burning the garbage the night before, and I was able to talk to him about it. Civil servants on Niue Island have three days off a week, and they burn garbage every day when they are working, so there is no need to worry.

◆Watch classes at the only high school on the island
Niue’s population has a literacy rate of 98%, which is among the highest among Pacific Island countries. There is a free compulsory education system for 13 years from the age of 3 to 16.After graduating from elementary school, they will go on to a seven-year high school.. So, this time I decided to go to Niue High School, the only high school on Niue Island.

niue high schoolArrived at. There are rows of one-story school buildings.

Even though it was a sudden visit, I was able to get a tour of the school. This is a great gym. Approximately 200 students attend the school and approximately 40 teachers are enrolled.

Next, I was able to observe the classes. Students with bright smiles are taking an English class. The teacher is Jimmy from Fiji. The teacher wears a tie and a formal black wrap-around skirt.

Posters such as “STOP Bullying” and “The signs of Autism.” were posted on the classroom door.

There is also a university on the same grounds as Niue High School.

This is the university building. Like the high school, it is a one-story building.

I went to the reception, but no one was there. It seems that university classes are mainly remote.

On my way to my next destination, I passed a construction site where soft music was playing.

As I was touring around for a while, some cheerful carpenters approached me and asked if I could help them move the tin sheets, so I helped out a little.

The owner of this house is also on the roof, and it seems that they are building the house together. He secretly told me that the construction cost was approximately 200,000 NZ dollars (approximately 19 million yen).

◆Talk to the only inmate in the island’s prison
There is only one prison on the island of Niue. According to advance information, there were no prisoners housed there, so I decided to just take a look at the exterior. The location of the prison is not listed on Google Maps, but this one-story white building is the prison.

When I got close, a guard came out. When I told him I was from Japan, he said he would show me around the prison. The guards came to Niue from Tonga and are said to be living in the guard’s room inside the prison.

There are a total of 8 rooms in the prison. There are no restrooms. He told me that he relieves himself in the nearby grass.

This is what the inside of the room looks like. There is no sense of life, perhaps because no one is housed there.

There is no toilet, but there is a shower room.

As I was walking around the prison with the guards, a well-built young man popped out from a back room and waved to me. Previous information said that there were no inmates housed there, but in reality he was the only one housed there. They came out of the room and said, “Where are you from?” “Japan? I have a friend named YUKI in Japan.” “I love anime.” There is a high degree of freedom, and it feels more like living in a training camp than a prison sentence.

He was imprisoned for impregnating his 15-year-old girlfriend when he was 19 years old. When I was shown the inside of the room, there was a bed and a desk with magazines, notebooks, pens, etc. on top of it.

After leaving the prison, a few minutes walkNiue Lawn Bowls ClubDiscovered (Niue Lawn Bowls Club). Lawn bowls is a sport in which players roll a synthetic resin bowl on grass to get close to a target ball (jack), and it is a sport that everyone can enjoy together, regardless of age, physical strength, gender, or disability. The number of competitive players is estimated to be 2 million worldwide.

Niue’s lawn bowls team competed in the Gold Coast, Australia in August 2023Participate in the world championshipI’m doing it.

◆The food situation on Niue Island is like this
Must-see Japanese restaurants on Niue IslandSquid squid(Kaiika). This shop is run by Taiichi Wada, a Japanese man who is said to be the only one on Niue Island. Unfortunately, Mr. Wada was not present when I visited the store this time.

Looking at the menu, there was not only Japanese food but also Western food. First, I ordered the Niuean white fish and papaya pizza (NZ$24/approximately 2,280 yen). It’s a little spicy and delicious. There is also soy sauce on the table.

This is vegetable tempura (NZ$24/approx. 2,280 yen). As the shop is owned by a Japanese person, it had an authentic finish.

This is the SMAPLER OF THE DAY set (NZ$32/approx. 3040 yen). You can enjoy small portions of various dishes such as fried sushi and carpaccio.

We had breakfast and dinner at the restaurant at Scenic Matabai Resort Niue, where we stayed this time. Breakfast is buffet style.

We had dinner while enjoying the sunset.

There are also cats.

This evening’s dinner includes live guitar music. When he noticed us, he sang his own arrangement of “Kira Kira Hoshi” in Japanese. Her voice is deep and beautiful, and her lyrics are perfect.

The person from Niue who sang “Twinkle Twinkle Stars” in Japanese – YouTube

The dishes we ate while listening to a wonderful performance were Polynesian Coconut Curry (NZ$32/approx. 3,040 yen), Garlic Spawn Spagetthi (NZ$37/approx. 3,515 yen), and Sticky Niuean Honey Pork Belly (NZ$42/approx. 3,990 yen). Although the price was high, the portion was full and the taste was gentler than it looked.

I also visited some of the small cafes scattered around the island. First, in the Alofi area.crazy uga cafe(Crazy Uga Café).

This cafe is popular with locals, but the inside is quite hot and humid.

The fries in the Crazy Club Sandwich (NZ$18/approximately 1,710 yen) were exquisite.

Next I visitedHi-O Cafe(HIO CAFE). It’s crowded with people at night, so I went there without making a reservation and ended up eating at a dark table outside.

I ordered Fish Tacos (NZ$24/approx. 2,280 yen), Waffle ($14 NZ/approx. 1,330 yen), and Deep Fried Seafood ($25 NZ/approx. 2,375 yen). I was bitten by a lot of mosquitoes so I didn’t have time to eat slowly, but the flavor was quite strong. As I was eating, many free-ranging dogs approached me. He didn’t even want food, he just stared at me.

◆Various things on Niue Island
The sky on Niue Island, which has a small population and no tall buildings, is wide and very clear. At night, we could see the starry sky with our naked eyes.

However, when looking at the impressive starry sky, be careful of wild dogs. As soon as I stopped the car and got out, a bunch of wild dogs came running out of the darkness and started barking at me, so I hurried back inside the car. When enjoying the starry sky outside of a safe place such as a hotel or restaurant, you should always be aware of your surroundings.

built in 2018Taoganihue Museum(Tāoga Niue Museum) is located on the site of the Huanaki Cultural Center and Museum, which was destroyed by Cyclone Heta in 2004. After paying the admission fee of 10 NZ dollars (approximately 950 yen) per person, taking off my shoes and entering the room, I was able to see a detailed history of Niue Island on video. The air conditioning works well, which is rare on the island, so it’s comfortable.

The largest supermarket on Niueswan son’s supermarket(Swan Sons Supermarket) was right next to the prison. Portable drinks are hard to come by on Niue, so we recommend buying plastic bottled drinks here.

Kendras Klub, located in the Swanson commercial complex that also includes Swanson’s Supermarket and marked by a sign that reads “K mark,” sells toys, games, clothing, household goods and more. All products are available.

There was also a T-shirt with “NIUE” printed on it. It might be a good idea to look for souvenirs here. Payment can also be made by credit card. A cheerful and friendly clerk helped me.

In various places on Niue Island,as well as the Cook IslandsThere was a signboard showing the evacuation route in case a tsunami came.

◆Visiting spectacular scenic spots on Niue Island recommended by locals
Made up of the world’s largest coral reef, Niue has caves and canyons found nowhere else. This time I went to 10 scenic spots.

1:Whales & Dolphins(WHALES＆DOLPHINS)
This is the coast where you can see whales and dolphins. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see either of them this time. The best time to see whales on Niue Island is from July to October.

A vast ocean stretches out beyond the rocky area.

2:Utuko Reef(UTUKO REEF)
Just walk down the entrance stairs from the road and you’ll be there in no time.

The water was so clear that you could clearly see the coral reefs on the ocean floor.

3:Matapa Gorge(MATAPA CHASM)
A scenic spot recommended by a local. The road is a little rough, so I head there in sports shoes.

After passing through a jungle-like road, we arrived at the canyon. It is said to be famous as a snorkeling spot.

4:Taraba Arches(TALAVA ARCHES)
This is a scenic spot for advanced skiers as it involves a dangerous path lined with sharp rocks.

One of the members who visited the site fell down about 10 minutes into the event, was injured and had to return. After about 30 minutes, we came to a point where we had to climb down a nearly vertical slope using a rope, and the rest of us decided to give up and head back because it was too dangerous to proceed with our current equipment. Spectacular views await ahead, so those planning to visit should make sure they are fully equipped. In addition, my smartphone’s signal went out of range on the way.

5:Tautu Sea Truck(Tautu Sea Track)
I heard that it was a spectacular spot where you can see a beautiful sunrise, so I headed there by car at 6am. The road around the destination is narrow and has thick vegetation on both sides, so the alarm keeps going off inside the car. However, after continuing for a while and passing through the rough road, a spectacular view spread out. It was early in the morning, so there was no one else there except us.

6:Abatelle Beach(AVATELE BEACH)
It is said to be a picturesque beach.

The water was highly transparent and shallow.

7:togo chasm(TOGO CHASM)
Togo Chasm is a scenic spot that is relatively easy to get to.

You can feel the magnificent nature of Niue Island.

There was a place where there was a ladder. If you get off here, you can go further, but you feel the danger of falling, so you turn back here.

8:Anapara Chasm(ANAPALA CHASM)
It is located next to Hakupu village. It is a scenic spot that is relatively easy to explore because there are stairs.

At the bottom of the cliff, there was a spring with cold water gushing out. For Niue Island, which has no rivers or lakes, it has long been an important water source. It was pitch dark, so I used the light from my smartphone to take the photo.

9:Avaiki Cave(AVAIKI CAVE)
The Avaiki Cave, once used as a royal bath, is said to be one of the best places to visit when you’re on Niue. The signboard stated that Japan provided maintenance and other support.

The well-maintained path, which is unlike any other scenic spot, was very easy to walk through. When we got to the point just before heading out to the beach, the shining sunlight was magical.

10:Hio Beach(HIO BEACH)
I heard that it is a spectacular spot where you can see a beautiful sunset, so I went there. It’s located near Hi-O Cafe, where I had a hard time getting bitten by mosquitoes.

Although the weather was a little cloudy, we were able to see a quiet and beautiful sunset.

◆“.nu” domain seen on the street
Each country has “ccTLD (Country Code Top Level Domain)There are domains assigned to each country. “Domain Island Tour” focuses on about 50 types of domains that are assigned to “island countries” among such ccTLDs, and we actually visit the island countries to which the ccTLDs are assigned and report on their local attractions. “How is the domain used locally?The purpose is to investigate.

The ccTLD (Country Code Top Level Domain) assigned to Niue Island is “.nu“is. By the way, “nu” means “now” in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian.Domains that have become popular in Northern EuropeThere is also.

The e-mail address of the electricity company on Niue Island uses the Niue government domain “.gov.nu”.

“.gov.nu” was also used for hospital contact information.

Contact information for industrial parks in Niue.

◆Local SIM purchase & speed investigation
If you purchase a SIM card at Telecom Niue inside Niue International Airport, the staff will set it up for you. It took about 15 minutes for each person to complete the setup.

Regardless of the length of your stay, you can only choose a 14-day plan for 55 NZ dollars (approximately 5,225 yen).

There were times when the signal could not reach in remote areas of the island, but when I measured the speed in the center, it was 5.5 Mbps.

If you are planning to go abroad, please refer to the following pages.

This is the best overseas eSIM! All the reasons why you should stop using overseas Wi-Fi | Interlink Co., Ltd.
https://note.interlink.blog/n/nbc08ddc8169e

So, you can check all the places visited on this domain island tour on the Google map below.

Also, for access details, “How do I actually get to Niue Island?”hereYou can check from

You can check the details and application for the domain “.nu” from the link below.

.nu ​​domain registration (Niue) | Gonbei Domain for domain acquisition and consulting around the world

(Text/Photos: Interlink https://www.interlink.or.jp/
Domain island tour https://islanddomains.earth/)