The pristine waters of Niue, a whale sanctuary, offer a unique and beautiful whale watching experience for Oceania Humpback Whales from July - October on their migratory path to warmer waters to nurse their young.

Niue Tourism Chief Executive Felicity Bollen says Niue's unique coral atoll geography with its water clarity and deep waters allows you to get to within 50 metres of the whales from viewing points on shore.

"If you're a landlubber and prefer to stay dry on land, Niue is one of the few places in the world where you can view humpback whales so clearly from shore, seeing them with their calves after their 5,000 kilometre migration.

"Unlike anywhere else, you can hear their calls from on-shore as they come in so close. Or book a tour and one of Niue's registered whale-watching operators can give you a unique perspective, while maintaining a safe distance."

With a usual four-month whale-watching season, there's plenty of time to enjoy viewing this amazing creature and sample the delights of Niue.  It's a great time to escape New Zealand's chilly weather, with a balmy 27 degree average temperature, perfect for relaxing.  Or if you're feeling adventurous, try your hand at fishing, diving, snorkelling, caving or one of the many scenic walks or bike rides.

Niue Tourism is proud to be a partner of the "Protect Pacific Whales - Ocean Voyagers" Campaign in 2016 and 2017, run by The Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme.

"The campaign celebrates these magnificent creatures, and ensures they are introduced to tourism in a responsible and sustainable way, which we fully support," says Felicity. "The Programme runs research projects to ensure the health and safety of the whale environment to ensure these amazing mammals thrive into the future."

Running until September, Niue's whale-watching tours run daily (on demand) for four hours, and include educational presentations.  Prices start from $150 per person.

The following registered tourism providers offer experiences with humpback whales:

Buccaneer Adventures Niue Dive - http://www.dive.nuMagical Sea Adventures: http://www.magicalniue.com ish Niue Charters: http:///www.facebook.com/fishniuecharters

To find out more about Niue please visit http://www.niueisland.com.

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