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Alofi - The Capital of Niue
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Alofi
is located at the West side of the Island and It is the
official Capital of Niue. It is a pretty small town,
bonding together almost the totality of the commerce on
the Island as well as the Government House and the port,
or the wharf. In other words, everything you may need
in Niue, including things such us bank, post office,
Internet, shops, police, grog, ciggies, petrol, groceries,
car rentals, tourist information, phone, food, bars,
bakeries, restaurants and accommodation (with the
exception of a couple of other places) Alofi has it.
If Alofi doesn't have what you need, you wont find it
anywhere else in Nuie. |
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We
loved Alofi. There
is not much to do or see anyway, but is a place you
walk without worrying about anything, day or night. It is
clean, and the 700 or so inhabitants pass you the
sensation you are not alone in the world and are very
welcome there. The Commercial
Centre (larger photo on the top of this page) is the place
where everybody goes and meet. The bank, Internet, Telecom, Post Office, Grocery shops
and the Tourist information are there, together with a
couple of other shops. The grog shop (Bond shop) is at the
back, outside the commercial centre and it is basically a
door with a balcony in front (don't forget you only have
until Wednesday after your arrival to
purchase duty free alcohol there - Just take your
bording pass). Across the
street from the commercial centre and there is a bakery which
opens before 6 AM (if Mr. Armstrong still has flour - ask
for his coconut bread. It is divine). Down the road
there is the big Government House (photo), and right
in front is where the Island Market is (Tuesday and
Fridays only). Well, this is pretty much the complete tour
of this fabulous little town which is basically just a single street. My wife
calls this part, Downtown.
50
metres South of "downtown"
is the Police Station (photo) which also doubles as an Immigration dept. and transport dept.
It is there that you'll need
to go to purchase the best souvenir you can bring back
home from Niue, which is your Niue Driver's License.
Right in front of the Police Station is the Crazy Uga Cafe and further
down the road you'll find almost everybody else, the
Falala-fa Restaurant, Gill's Restaurant, Jenna's
Restaurant, an Ice cream and Juice shop, Pelenis and Teresa
Guesthouses, the Petrol Station, Alofi Rentals
(cars), Pacific Way bar and the Fish factory. Go further down the road and you'll
reach New Zealand 2400 Km
away. Ok, so this was South of Alofi, and separating the South
from the North, you have one of the most important features
in Niue. The Wharf.
The
Wharf is to Niue
the same way Tauranga is to New Zealand. I mean, it is the
centre of the Universe. Yes, just like the Niue Police, the
wharf also doubles as a recreational area, fishing spot,
snorkelling Spot, swimming spot, boat ramp, a teenagers
meeting point, a cinema where you can watch sunsets and the ships
arriving and a nice romantic area with excited sea
snakes procreating. But the biggest function of the wharf,
is that it is of vital economic importance. Without it,
no food, no fuel, no cars, no furniture, no grog, no
construction material, and nothing could enter Niue,
except by plane. Only a few products are commercially
viable to bring in by plane and without a ship docking in
Niue, bau bau, na ne ni na no, no way Jose. Touristicly,
we consider the wharf a must visit place, due the fact
there you'll be able to interact with the local people and
understand life in Niue more than anywhere else on the
Island.
North
of "Downtown"
there is not much. We can point only two places of
importance for a tourist. One is Swan Son (photo) which is
the only "Supermarket" in Niue. It looks alike
some I've seen in some towns of the Australian Outback but
without the coconut trees. Further North you have Niue
Rentals (cars) and also a video-DVD rental place. Well,
this is the end of North Alofi and from now on til the
next village all you'll see are only abandoned and empty homes. Cyclone Heta destroyed everything on this side of
Niue, and The Coral Gardens Motel and a few other places,
are the only exception on this Northbound road.
Note:
Hospital,
School, Airport, and Museum, are in different roads to the
interior of the Island.
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The
main street in Alofi on a Sunday afternoon.
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Locals
use the wharf's Electric winch to put and take their boats
out of water |
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Fishing
is another activity locals and tourists use the
wharf for. |
The
economic importance of the Wharf to Niue is immense |
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View
from
the wharf to South of Alofi - Panorama with
4 photos |
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View
from
the Wharf to North of Alofi - Panorama with
4 photos |
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