Niue, one of the lesser known Pacific Island countries. [Photo/Official WeChat Account of Voice of Diplomacy]

7. Niue

Niue is known as "The Rock", which derives from the traditional name "Rock of Polynesia". It's an island in the south Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand, east of Tonga, south of Samoa, and west of the Cook Islands. Niue's land area is about 261 square kilometres and its population, predominantly Polynesian, stood at 1,618 in 2017. Niue is the birthplace of artist, novelist and poet John Puhiatau Pule, "one of the Pacific's most significant artists", according to the Queensland Art Gallery, and the island also boasts a rich musical heritage.

Language: Niuean and English

What you need to do: Visit the caves at Matapa Chasm