It looked just as I remembered it. What a relief.
We were coming in to land at Niue and it was our first visit back since Cyclone Heta had devastated the north and west coasts in 2004.
At the airport, our friendly hosts, Robyn and Joe from the Namukulu Motel, were there to meet us.
We were staying there one week before moving to equally friendly Kololi's Motel for the second week.
Niue's reef is very close in, so there is essentially no swimming in the sea and snorkelling is restricted to low tide.
However, the clarity of the water and the abundance and variety of fish along with the corals, which are growing back very well post-cyclone, make the wait for low tide worthwhile.
Niue is known for its beautiful sea snakes.
They are said to be curious rather than aggressive and, although they are very poisonous, their mouths are reputed to be too small to bite.
I did not want to put this to the test, especially as the snakes seemed very interested in my blue swim shoes.
Luckily, with the exception of one day, there were very few sea snakes about.
The island is riddled with chasms and limestone caves and there is free access to many of them.
The stalactite and stalagmite formations are straight out of a horror movie.
My favourite cave is Avaiki, where there is a path to an opening above a large pool and you have a grandstand seat to watch if anyone happens to be swimming in the pool in the almost cathedral-like cave.
Then there is Togo Chasm.
This chasm has to be seen to be believed with its sand and palm trees making it look like an oasis.
However, it is the walk to Togo Chasm through jagged pinnacles of coral remnants that always takes my breath away.
No photograph seems to be able to capture the ferocity of the landscape.
Luckily, a cement path has been threaded through the rocks to the chasm so it is a relatively easy walk.
Not so easy is the walk to Vaikona Chasm.
You certainly get a sense of achievement if you make it in and out safely.
But better than all the scenery are the friendly people.
We will be back. - Barbara Weavers
