Niue
Rock of Polynesia
If you love snorkelling and diving, exploring and walking and want a relaxing laid back holiday with super friendly locals - then Niue might be the Island you never knew about. With some of the clearest water imaginable it's a real water babies paradise - and in the right season when the whales come to feed their young you can see them right from the shore. I got to check it out recently with my better half!
To get to Niue you take an Air New Zealand flight out of Auckland and there are two flights a week. The return flight is fun because you can guarantee after spending a week on the Rock you will know most of the people on the plane home.
Fast Facts
Niue lies in the centre of the triangle made up of Rarotonga, Samoa and Tonga. The average water temperature is 23 C and has a tropical balmy temperature all year round but can be very humid over the summer months. The whales come to visit and raise their young from July through to October with peak times August to September so this is a fantastic time to visit.
Niue's currency is the NZ dollar and they have a Kiwibank but no ATM's - a number of places take cards and EFTPOS but remember to take plenty of cash with you.
Language - Niuean and English are widely spoken, you won't have a hard time being understood here. The Niuean people are genuinely friendly and there are about 1,500 residents on the island of which there were about 800 on the island when we visited during the quiet season.
Because Niue is a raised coral atoll - it is like no other island in the Pacific. It has a stunning geography made up of rugged and rocky terrain, with hidden caves and coves around every corner. It is also one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whales in the amazingly clear water.
We flew to Niue in February – which is the low season, which has a bit more rain and a lot of humidity. The best time to travel to Niue is over the winter period as the weather is less humid and rainy but still incredibly warm and tropical.
There are some stunning places to visit in Niue and if you like snorkeling, swimming, diving, walking and exploring then Niue is great to visit.
We visited some stunning locations when we were there. There is really nowhere else in the Pacific quite like Niue. Hidden away down Sea Tracks are coral reefs, tidal pools and magical spots just waiting for you to discover.
Some of our highlights were:
The Limu Pools – this place is beautiful and even though the tides were a bit rough during our stay we managed to get some snorkeling in.
Avatele Beach – check out the Washaway cafe while you are there. Only open on Sunday - and it works on an honesty system - you write down what you have taken and pay at the end. It's a great spot for a beer or a wine and a dip at the beach.
Matapa Chasm - this is another great spot for swimming and it is stunningly beautiful.
Palaha Cave - with amazing colours and stalagtites and stalagmites - we slipped and slid our way around the cave here. There is a rope to hang on to and we found it easier to explore bare footed.
Togo Chasm – this is a must do walk, and the landscape is quite surreal.
It is a more challenging walk with a pretty much vertical ladder climb at the end - but it is worth it. Wear sensible walking shoes on this one.
Hire a car when you are here, there really isn't any public transport (there is a taxi) but you will be able to explore the island in full with a car. Just don't do what I did and drive with the handbrake on. It wasn't until I could smell burning rubber that I realised. The car was okay thank goodness.
The roads are paved in Niue and a drive around the island with stops along the way is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just beware the potholes, these are many and varied and in some areas it is more like navigating an obstacle course than a road.
There are lots and lots of great accommodation options in Niue - We stayed at the Scenic Matavai which is the main resort on the Island and they looked after us - the staff were fantastic.
If a resort isn't your thing there are lots of other options from backpackers to luxury stays, apartment style to self catering options along with everything in between.
Something I would recommend if traveling to Niue is to do an orientation tour when you arrive.
This will really set you up to get the most out of your stay. We went on a half day tour with Niue Tours run by Keith and his wife and they were fantastic! They also give you a pack to take away which gives you information on the tides - this is essential in Niue!
There are lots of places to eat on the Island too. We checked out the restaurant at Scenic Matavai, The Crazy Uga for coffee, Washaway cafe, Hio Cafe, Falafa Fa Cafe and Bar and Gill's Indian - we also stocked up on supplies from Swansons Supermarket – which stocks pretty much everything you would need and is located in the main township.
There is no shortage of activities to do in Niue, with the natural scenery being the biggest attraction of all. You can play mini golf, go bowling , play golf, go on a tour, snorkel, dive, swim, go fishing, go caving, biking or just relax.
We really enjoyed the snorkeling and just exploring the Island - seeing the little skinks with their blue tails and the geckos, chickens - so so many chickens, plovers, terns, and I think I spotted some red tailed tropic birds which I got excited about. Also crabs - big crabs (Uga's climbing trees!) to little crabs in shells - lots and lots of crabs.
Fish - so many fish and so many colours and some sea snakes.
The sea is amazingly clear in Niue as there is no run off from streams and rivers. I would love to go back during whale season - that would be an absolute bucket list experience.
Driving around the island, negotiating the potholes, exploring the sea tracks and walking along the reefs, getting the car stuck down tiny tracks and roads and then relaxing with a cocktail at the end of the day where we caught up with other visitors to the islands travel stories made for a great 10 days.
Would I go back? Yes I would.
So if you are thinking of a trip to Niue – get in contact – I can help. Or if you have been to Niue and want to share your experience – get in touch – I'd love to hear about it.
