DAY 8 to 10 - Motu, Taro, Humpback Whales, Diving, Reef Sharks
With a rare westerly wind blowing for the last few days and diving having to be cancelled we were happy when it switched direction so I could get in the water snorkelling and kayaking again and do the slast dives.
I did my first night dive which was a bit of an experience with the inflorescene when we turned our torches off, we also did a deep dive in front of the matavai resort and then to the catacombs where we saw a turtle, and crayfish in the caves.
Also went out for one last kayak and fish in the north of the island and came across several curious sharks and some wahoo that we saw jumping out of the water probably trying to get away from them.
I wanted to go out on a fishing charter as I hadnt been able to catch any tuna or wahoo in the kayak but they were fully booked so will have to wait until next time.
Overall this was a wicked place to travel to with plenty of exciting things to do so we will be back for sure.
Hikulagi Sculpture Park
Taro and shellfish - the taro was amazing but I will leave the shellfish to the locals
Ahi baked us up some coconut and it was surprisingly good. We tried
We got on another bike trail through the forest and biked to Motu
The flat vegetation on the coast at Motu
Step ladder down to the coral reef
We had a look around the caves at Motu but could not find the entrance into the main cavern below us.
I went down to the Liku sea track to hang out and spotted a humpback whale spouting. This was the first whale sited by anyone in over a week. We jumped in the car and went down the coast in the hope to catch it but were only able to spot it at a distance through the binoculars.
Snorkelling off the outer reef at Liku we saw a white tipped reef shark
New coconut sprouting
The Vaihoko sea track was the most overgrown track we had been to.
Fossilied coral
We went back to talava arches and I popped the question to Karen under one of the arches
We celebrated by going to the Matavai Resort buffet dinner and fire dance night
Tahiono Retreat in Liku Village
Keeping in touch with Mark Yungnickel
Day 5 to 7 - The sites along the western side of the island
Day 5 to 7 - Biking, Vaikona Chasm, Liku Coastal Walk, Uga hunting, Togo Chasm, Anapala Chasm
We stayed the rest of our time on the island at the Tahiono Retreat in Liku village. It was a very different experience staying away from all the other tourists for a more authentic niuean experience. I have especially enjoyed eating fresh coconut every day with my favourites being the half ripe ones with soft flesh and fizzy zingy water.
We borrowed bikes from Mark and Ahi and did the Huvalu Forest loop mountain bike track
Taro fields alongside the road
Some old forest within the Huvalu Forest conservation area
Mark took us for a big walk along the Liku coast. We were dropped off at Vaikona Chasm and walked back along the reef to Liku Village.
Coastal forest getting out to the Viakona Chasm
Vaikona Chasm - it was really tricky and dangerous to get down into but really beautiful
Trying to follow the overgrown path to the reef
The waves were hammering the reef
Hermit Crab
From the reef there is a steep cliff which somehow crabs (hermit crabs and coconut crabs) can climb
Every so often a large wave would surge right up over the reef
Liku coast
There were areas where the flat reef turned into steep surge pools and every time a large wave crashed onto the cliff it would splash up into the pools
Looking back over where we had walked
Like the rest of the island we went to the wash away cafe for a couple of beers and burgers in Avatele
I was told if you go out into the coastal forest at night you could see Uga (coconut crabs) and I was not dissapointed. The crabs were everywhere some big and some small. They had some really sharp claws on them that im sure they could take a finger off with.
Anapala Chasm - we followed a path through the forest and down into this freshwater chasm. The used to be the source of freshwater on the island where the locals would have to come and collect water in coconut shells.
A fish in the pool at the bottom
I went for a swim but was not tempted to go too far into the dark depths of the chasm
Looking out to sea from the canoe landing site at Anapala
This information signs were found throughout the island
The sharp rouged rocks on the way down to Togo Chasm
Togo Chasm was very different to the other ones. We had to climb down a steep ladder to a sandy bottom with scattered coconut trees and a small stagnant freshwater pool
From the chasm there was a small entrance to where the sea was surging into a small cave
We stayed the rest of our time on the island at the Tahiono Retreat in Liku village. It was a very different experience staying away from all the other tourists for a more authentic niuean experience. I have especially enjoyed eating fresh coconut every day with my favourites being the half ripe ones with soft flesh and fizzy zingy water.
We borrowed bikes from Mark and Ahi and did the Huvalu Forest loop mountain bike track
Taro fields alongside the road
Some old forest within the Huvalu Forest conservation area
Mark took us for a big walk along the Liku coast. We were dropped off at Vaikona Chasm and walked back along the reef to Liku Village.
Coastal forest getting out to the Viakona Chasm
Vaikona Chasm - it was really tricky and dangerous to get down into but really beautiful
Trying to follow the overgrown path to the reef
The waves were hammering the reef
Hermit Crab
From the reef there is a steep cliff which somehow crabs (hermit crabs and coconut crabs) can climb
Every so often a large wave would surge right up over the reef
Liku coast
There were areas where the flat reef turned into steep surge pools and every time a large wave crashed onto the cliff it would splash up into the pools
Looking back over where we had walked
Like the rest of the island we went to the wash away cafe for a couple of beers and burgers in Avatele
I was told if you go out into the coastal forest at night you could see Uga (coconut crabs) and I was not dissapointed. The crabs were everywhere some big and some small. They had some really sharp claws on them that im sure they could take a finger off with.
Anapala Chasm - we followed a path through the forest and down into this freshwater chasm. The used to be the source of freshwater on the island where the locals would have to come and collect water in coconut shells.
A fish in the pool at the bottom
I went for a swim but was not tempted to go too far into the dark depths of the chasm
Looking out to sea from the canoe landing site at Anapala
This information signs were found throughout the island
The sharp rouged rocks on the way down to Togo Chasm
Togo Chasm was very different to the other ones. We had to climb down a steep ladder to a sandy bottom with scattered coconut trees and a small stagnant freshwater pool
From the chasm there was a small entrance to where the sea was surging into a small cave
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