Matapa Chasm
A cleft in the coast that was the bathing place of Niuean kings, now the island's swimming hole.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Matapa Chasm is a deep cleft in the coastal rock on Niue's northwestern side where fresh water meeting the sea makes a pool between vertical walls, reached on a short walk down a path from the road. It was reserved for Niuean royalty as a bathing place. The water is calm and deep enough to swim the length of the chasm, and the rock rises straight up on both sides.
What you actually see
- The cleft - the deep cut in the coast with walls rising both sides.
- The pool - calm water deep enough to swim the length of it.
- The fresh water - the seepage meeting the sea in the chasm.
- The royal history - a bathing place reserved for Niuean kings.
When to go
May to October is the dry season and the calmest. Swell closes the chasm at times. Cyclone season runs November to April.
Honest expectations
Swell entering the chasm makes swimming dangerous at times and it should be assessed before getting in. The path down is short but slippery. There are no facilities.
Nearby
Talava Arches are north, and Hikutavake is south.
What to pack for Matapa Chasm
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.