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Niue Travel Guide

The latest travel Information on Niue, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Niue Information

Overview

Reputedly the world’s largest coral island, Niue is an idyllic retreat from the modern world. Its rugged coastline, clear waters and coral reef offer excellent fishing, diving, snorkelling and whale watching. Parakeets, white-tailed terns, weka and other exotic birds live here and butterflies are a common sight darting among the hibiscus and orchids.

Despite the island’s remote location, it is rarely short of visitors. At the same time, however, there are only a handful of hotels, so it is never crowded and easy to imagine you have the island all to yourself.

Most of the island inhabitants descend from settlers from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. The first Europeans reached Niue in the wake of Captain Cook’s expedition in 1774. It became a British Protectorate in 1900, and was annexed to New Zealand as part of the Cook Islands. In 1974, Niue was granted ‘self-government in free association with New Zealand’, making it the smallest self-governing state with that status.

Top Things To See

Visit Togo Chasm, on the island’s eastern side, which is a beautiful area with tropical rainforest, towering coral pinnacles, white sand, palms and a hidden pond reputed to be home to a monstrous eel.

Catch a glimpse of Niue’s oldest traditions. Every month there are traditional coming-of-age haircutting and ear-piercing ceremonies held in various locations. However, prior permission must be sought to witness these.

Visit the Talava Arches at low tide. These are a group of extraordinary arches and caverns, many containing stalactites and stalagmites, which may be visited at low tide. The archway was noted by Captain Cook in the 18th century.

See Matapa Chasm with its fabulous swimming and snorkelling area, encased by steep cliffs overhanging a deep pool. Niueans sometimes jump from the overhanging cliffs into the deep water.

Explore Alofi: take a look at the Women’s Club Town Hall with its handicraft shop, and peruse Alofi Market on Fridays.

Take a peek into the huge, gaping Avaiki Cave, reported to be where the first settler’s canoe landed here. It is most accessible at low tide, and has a deep pool overhung by large stalagmites.

Brave the slippery entrance to Palaha Cave, a dramatically sculpted and oddly coloured cavern that joins with many smaller caves; there is also a delightful little pool at its mouth, which locals recommend as the best spot to enjoy a romantic sunset (provided there is a low tide).

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

Get wet. There are good swimming and snorkelling locations at Vaitafe, Avaiki and Limu, with its colourful coral, rich marine life and nice beach. Avatele Bay is another excellent location, and visitors can watch fishermen in their canoes and dinghies.

Have a close encounter with whales: Humpbacks shelter in the bays around Avatele and Tamakautoga between June to October, sometimes as close as 50m (150ft) from the water’s edge. It is even possible to go swimming, snorkelling or diving with them.

Enjoy the clear and unpolluted waters, rich marine life and beautiful underwater landscape by scuba-diving. Keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins, water snakes, whales and all manner of fish. For further information, contact Niue Dive (website: www.dive.nu).

Take advantage of Niue’s sheer drops from reefs into deep ocean, which make land-based game fishing a unique experience here. Red bass, wahoo, tuna, sailfish and marlin abound. Traditional outrigger canoes and motor boats can be arranged for line-fishing expeditions.

Take a walk on the wild side: Venture into the tropical rainforest within Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, full to the brim with flora and fauna, none of it poisonous or harmful to visitors.

Go on a reef walk around Niue’s raised reef at low tide.

Explore the coastline and frangipani-scented interior on two wheels. Cycling is easy and enjoyable thanks to a good network of quiet, sealed and relatively flat roads. If you’re game, there is an annual race around the island’s ring road in September.

Go caving: Niue has an extensive cave system, both under and over the sea (see Top Things to See). Some caves were even used as homes by islanders until the mid 1800s. Some can be found without help, but for the better ones take a guide.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

Many ceremonies and social events stem from the processing of food. One community ritual is based on the extraction of nu pia starch from arrowroot, which is used in traditional dishes and soups and often given as a gift. Another ritualised ceremony surrounds ti root, which is made into a sweet drink or eaten as a sweet with coconuts.

Things to know: Restaurants do not have service charge or tax.

National specialities:
• The luku fern is another indigenous plant used in Niuean cooking and is boiled, stir-fried or baked in an earth oven with coconut cream and chicken or corned beef.
• Other popular foods include shellfish, taro, kumara, coconuts, pawpaw, bananas, tomatoes, capsicum and many varieties of yam.

Tipping: Not encouraged.

Nightlife

There are a number of nightclubs. Hakupu Village also hosts a traditional fiafia (cultural night) once a week beginning with a tour of the village, followed by a traditional feast with dancing and singing (advance booking is recommended).

Shopping

Niuean women are especially regarded for the quality of their weaving, producing hats, baskets, handbags and mats from indigenous plants, such as pandanus, which make excellent buys for the visitor. These are available to visitors at a handful of shops and can also be found at village show days.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600; sometimes Sat 0800-1600. There are generally one or two small stores in most villages around the island which are open in the evenings and during weekends.

Climate

Tropical climate bathed by southeast trade winds, Niue has warm days and pleasantly cool nights. The wet season is from December until March.

Required Clothing

Loose, natural fabrics; a cover-up for the evenings.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
2 Jan Takai Commission Holiday.
6 Feb Waitangi Day.
21-24 Mar Easter.
25 Apr ANZAC Day.
16 Jun Queen’s Birthday.
16 Oct Constitution Celebrations (two weekdays).
27 Oct Peniamina Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
2 Jan Takai Commission Holiday.
6 Feb Waitangi Day.
10-13 Apr Easter.
25 Apr ANZAC Day.
15 Jun* Queen’s Birthday.
16 Oct Constitution Celebrations (two weekdays).
26 Oct Peniamina Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

* Date to be confirmed.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Yes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Yes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No*

Health Care

The Niue Health Centre offers medical and dental treatment. There is a 24-hour on-call emergency service. Patients will be asked for on-the-spot payment. Complicated cases will be sent to New Zealand. International travellers are strongly advised to take out full medical insurance before departure.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD; symbol NZ$) is legal tender (see New Zealand section). Niue sometimes produces commemorative coins which, when available, may be obtained at the treasury.

Currency Exchange

The Bank of the South Pacific in Alofi, the only commercial bank in Niue, can exchange currency.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in most hotels and resorts.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0900-1500; Fri 0830-1500.

Passport/Visa

British