Niue (“The Rock”) is an upthrusted coral atoll. Over time the limestone has dissolved in many areas to make a landscape worthy of science fiction.

We set off in the rental car on Saturday morning to see Togo and Vaikona Chasms. 

Steamy “trails” led through the karst formations. The jungle was pungent with sweet organic decay. Spider webs blanketed our faces in each narrow spot.

 

The fact that anything lives in this landscape is amazing…

The unexpected oasis of palms and and freshwater pools at Togo Chasm is worth the 1200 nm trip across the mid south Pacific.

A sturdy 50 ft ladder leads down to the sandy bottom of the chasm…

…where the palms queue up to share the slim shaft of salt spray sunlight.

A freshwater pool disappeared into the rock on one end,

and a sea cave opened to the surf on the other.

It’s a magical place with few visitors.

The trail to Vaikona Chasm was more of a challenge, but we managed to find the entrance to the cave mouth.

In the end, prudence won the day and we settled for a grand view of the coastline.