From July through Octo­ber, hump­back whales use Niue as a warm-water nurs­ery, lolling close enough to the island to be spot­ted from shore. Dur­ing those months, the sound of the whales’ songs and slap­ping tails can be heard above the sea breeze. Here, vis­i­tors can even join trained guides to swim with the hump­back whales, one of the few places on earth where it’s pos­si­ble.