Swim With Giants: Humpbacks of Niue
Workshop Information Packet

Contents:

I. General Information

II. To Do Checklist

III. Daily Itinerary

IV. FAQs

Swim With Giants: Humpbacks of Niue
General Information

WELCOME TO THE ADVENTURE!

Thanks again for joining our 2026 Swim with Giants: Humpbacks of Niue photography adventure.  We know you’re as excited as we are for our trip to begin, but first a bit of planning is necessary to ensure everything goes smoothly. This document contains important information to help you plan and prepare for your trip. Please take some time to carefully review it and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions:

DATES: July 31 - August 7, 2026

LOCATION (BEGINS/ENDS): Niue Airport/Niue Airport

TRIP LEADER/ INSTRUCTOR: LEIGHTON LUM

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

The workshop begins when you arrive at Niue Airport (IUE) on July 31, 2026 and ends on August 7, 2026 when we arrive at the same airport to begin our homeward journey. In between, we will embark on up to 10 whale swim sessions (conditions permitting) guided by local experts, with personalized underwater photography instruction by Leighton Lum. We will also have opportunities to explore and photograph the landscapes and culture of this remote island paradise.

See the Daily Itinerary in this packet for additional details on what we can expect to see and photograph during this workshop.

BALANCE OF FEES

Your initial deposit payment secured your reservation for this workshop. Additional payments are due as follows:

• Payment #2: $3000 due Nov 30, 2025

• Remaining Balance: due March 31, 2026

You will receive an invoice by email after registration that contains all charges, payments and due dates related to this workshop. Click the link in the invoice to access your Customer Portal where you can make payments, view or download statements, receipts and more at your convenience. 

TRAVEL LOGISTICS & DOCUMENTS

International Flights

Important notes regarding flights to/from Niue:

• The only regularly scheduled passenger flights to Niue (IUE) originates from Auckland, New Zealand (AKL). This flight is operated by Air New Zealand twice weekly.

• Although the AKL– IUE flight is only 3.5 hours in duration, it crosses the International Date Line, which means that you will arrive in Niue the day BEFORE you depart Auckland.  This can be an obvious source of confusion and makes even searching for flights online difficult.

Therefore, we suggest booking two separate round-trip flights:

Flight 1: AKL-IUE round-trip – since there are only two flights per week, our entire group will arrive in and depart from Niue on the same flights. We will let you know the specific flight to book once  Air New Zealand published their July/August 2026 schedules.

Flight 2: Home – AKL round-trip – we suggest booking this flight AFTER you’ve booked your AKL-IUE.

For planning/budgeting purposes, you can search for flights from your home airport to Auckland (AKL) arriving early morning Aug 1 (or anytime July 31) and departing AKL the evening of Aug 8 (or anytime Aug 9).

Passport – make sure your passport expiration date is at least 6months after your departure date from New Zealand

Visas/eTA

• No visa is required to visit the nation of Niue.

• If your flight to New Zealand lists Auckland as your final destination (i.e. you have a separate AKL-IUE itinerary, as recommended), U.S. passport holders must obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to travel. Click the link to apply online. Cost is $17-$23 NZD (~$10 - $15 USD). Processing time is approximately 72hrs. Your eTA is valid for 2 years.

• Other Nationalities – check online or with the New Zealand embassy or consulate in your country to determine if you need to obtain a visa/eTA in advance of travel.

Travel Insurance – A travel insurance policy that includes emergency medical evacuation is required for participation in this workshop. Most travel insurance policies also provide coverage for trip cancellations, baggage loss, theft, and other travel-related issues.

Mobile Phone Carrier – Review your international roaming policies and rates before departure. Many participants purchase an international data plan or restrict usage to Wi-Fi to avoid high charges.

WhatsApp – is a free communications app that is used widely internationally. We will be using this app for group communications. Please download & install WhatsApp and create an account before arriving in New Zealand. You may also want your loved ones at home to install the app for easy communication.

HEALTH/MEDICAL

• Consult your physician or travel clinic for any required or recommended vaccinations or medications.

• Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

• Notify us of any allergies AND the severity of your reactions. Carry necessary medications (e.g. EpiPen) as needed.

• Consider seasickness medication if you are susceptible to motion sickness.

THINGS TO PACK

Clothing & Personal Items – thin, cool and quick-drying are the order of the day for this trip. Long sleeves and pants are recommended for protection from the sun and insects. Below are key items to bring, but this is not meant to be a complete packing list:

• Brimmed hat

• Sunglasses

• Spare eyeglasses/reading glasses/contacts

• Light jacket/rain jacket

• Swimsuit

• Sneakers – closed toed shoes with good traction.

• Flip flops/sandals – ideal for relaxing on the boat, at the lodge, or on the beach.

• Tabi/reef walker shoes are also good to protect your feet from rocks and other sharp objects in and out of the water.

Photo Gear – it’s tempting to bring everything you own, but that usually works against you. The following are what we consider to be the essentials. We’re happy to give more specific brand/model recommendations for specific items. Just ask.

Topside Photo Gear

• Camera Body(s) – dSLR or mirrorless (full frame or crop sensor). ‘Bridge’ cameras with a long zoom (400mm+) are also an option.

• Lenses – Everyone’s kit will be unique, but here are some general recommendations:

  • Your longest lens should reach at least 400mm, preferably 500mm+ before adding teleconverters. You simply cannot have too much ‘reach’

  • You will also want 1 or 2 shorter focal length lenses such as a 70–200mm and/or 24–105mm.

  • A wide angle/ fisheye is essential for underwater photography, but also handy for landscapes and up-close shots.

Underwater Photo Gear 

• The optimal kit for experienced underwater photographers includes a full frame dSLR or mirrorless camera body in an underwater or surf photography housing with a ultra-wide or fisheye lens. Strobes are not allowed (or necessary). We’re happy to provide our recommendations for specific items, just ask.

• If you don’t already own underwater photo gear and don’t want to invest thousands in equipment you may not use again, options include GoPros, waterproof phone cases/housings and underwater point & shoot cameras. Here’s a good article about relatively inexpensive underwater photo kits.

• Drone (optional) – Drones are allowed in Niue under our permits.

• Batteries and Memory cards – you will be shooting a lot, maybe more than you ever have, easily in the thousands of images and hundreds of gigabytes total. Bring PLENTY of extra cards and batteries. You should NOT erase/overwrite any memory cards until you get home, even if you have downloaded the images to your laptop or hard drive.

• Camera Battery Charger – don’t forget to pack this critical item!

• Card reader – if not built-in to your laptop.

• Camera bag or backpack – there are an infinite number of options out there – it’s really a matter of personal preference. Our advice is to choose something that is no bigger than it has to be. The real key is to be sure that it fits into a standard airplane overhead compartment.

• Small camera bag/daypack/dry bag – besides your camera and a lens or two, all you need to bring for most outings is a few spare batteries and some personal items (sunscreen, chapstick, etc). No need to carry the big camera bag everywhere.

• Cleaning kit – nothing fancy, a small microfiber towel, lens cloth, lens cleaner and maybe a blower. A folding travel toothbrush is also handy for cleaning around the buttons & dials of your camera.

• Headlamp – MUCH better than a flashlight because it leaves both hands free. We may do some astro photography or look for nocturnal coconut crabs to photograph.

• Camera Rain Protection – always good to have to protect your expensive gear.  There are many choices available, but we haven’t found anything better than O/P Tech’s Rainsleeve, which happens to be one of the least expensive options. Make sure to get the right size(s) to fit all your lenses.

Other Things to Pack

• Laptop or tablet – highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home.

• Portable hard drive - for image storage/backup. We recommend SSD drives with 1TB capacity minimum, 2TB is better.

• Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics.

• Power bank – always handy when traveling.

• Dive mask, snorkel, fins (rentals available locally if needed)

• Small dry towel

• Power adapters - Niue uses Type I power outlets)

• Personal toiletries

• Phone leash or lanyard - Highly recommended

• Reusable water bottle

• Reef Safe Sunscreen

MISCELLANEOUS

A Word About Gratuities – I think you will find our local guides in Niue to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you have received good service, a gratuity is greatly appreciated. Since we are often asked for guidance, below are some general guidelines:

Naturalist Guides:  $10-$15/day

Boat crews: $20-30 per day for entire crew

Tipping at hotels and restaurants is not expected, but small gratuities are appreciated.

You can get by with US currency as a tourist, including tips. A supply of small bills is handy for tips and small purchases.

Any Questions?
If there’s anything we’ve missed or you have questions, contact us by email or we can schedule a phone call.

Ken Lee                                                                    
+1 949-282-9660 mobile/WhatsApp                                           
ken@artofseeing.com                                                       

2026 Swim with Giants: Humpbacks of Niue
To-Do Checklist 

___     Book flights to/from Niue (IUE) and send us a copy of your flight itinerary.

___     Send us a copy of your Passport picture page (cell phone snap is fine)

___     Purchase Travel Insurance. Send us a copy of proof of coverage

___     Check mobile phone carrier’s international roaming policies and plans

___     Make personal packing checklist. Click here for a downloadable Photo Trip Packing List template you can customize to your own needs

2026 Swim with Giants: Humpbacks of Niue
Daily Itinerary

Note: This itinerary is our general plan but is subject to change without notice due to weather, whale behavior, logistical considerations or other reasons.

2026 Swim with Giants: Humpbacks of Niue
FAQs

Q: Where is Niue?
A: Niue (pronounced “New-ay”) is a small island nation in the South Pacific, located roughly halfway between Tonga and the Cook Islands..

Q: How do I get to Niue?
A: Despite its remote setting, Niue is easily accessible via a direct 3.5-hour flight from Auckland, New Zealand. Additional information to help book your Auckland-Niue flight will be provided to registered participants.

Q: What are the physical fitness requirements?
A: You must be able to swim in the ocean and cover 200-350 feet. Additionally, you should be comfortable in deeper water, where you may not be able to see the bottom.

Q: What kind of photography equipment do I need?
A: A variety of viable options exist including dSLR/mirrorless cameras in an underwater housing, underwater point & shoots, GoPro type action cameras and even phone cameras in a housing. Each option has its pros and cons and price tag. We’re happy to provide our input and specific recommendations based on your goals and budget. Just ask.

Q: Are the seas calm? What if I get seasick?
A: The weather during July and August is generally calm, but occasional weather can roll in. We recommend bringing seasickness medication in case rougher conditions occur.

Q: Can I bring a drone?
A: Yes, you may bring a drone. We have the necessary permits, but you must fly in accordance with  local drone regulations and respectful wildlife practices.

Q: What happens if the weather is bad?
A: If the weather is unfavorable or unsafe, we will remain on shore. While no refunds will be provided, we can use the day to explore the island, engage in landscape photography, or work on editing images.

Q: Do you guarantee whale encounters?
A: No, we are confident we will enjoy multiple close-up encounters with humpback whales, but Mother Nature makes no guarantees and neither do we.

Q: What if I want to skip a session?
A: No worries, feel free to hang out in town or relax back at the hotel.

Q: Can my non-photographer friend/partner attend?
A: Absolutely! Travel partners who may not share your passion for photography are very welcome to join. Just make sure they’re comfortable being part of a group that focuses primarily on photography. However, due to limited space, we are unable to offer a discount or alternate activities for non-photographer partners.

Q: Can I rent snorkeling gear?
A: Yes, mask, snorkel, and fins are available for rent at the local dive shop.

Q: Is scuba diving allowed?
A: No, scuba diving is not allowed in Niue to protect and avoid stressing the whales. 

Q: Is there an extra fee for a private room?
A: No, the workshop fee includes private rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Something we missed?
Send us a message or schedule a phone call. We’re happy to address any questions.