Within the mighty, crystal blue waters of the South Pacific lies a tiny little spec that hardly anyone is privy to. Nestled cosily in a natural triangle made up of the Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa, the island of Niue is a magical place like no other. Full of contrasts, it is not only one of the smallest countries in the world, but it is also home to one of the largest raised coral atolls on earth. This mostly untouched one-island paradise should be on anyone’s holiday bucket-list.

The Island of Niue

Niue, whilst only making up a total of about 260 km² in land mass, boasts an incredible amount of activities and adventures. With Niue being a raised coral atoll it is perfect for all things water, but also harbours an array of amazing caves that visitors can explore, and is the perfect place to explore by bike.

Swimming with Whales & Dolphins

Niue is one of the few places on earth where you have the amazing opportunity swim with Humpback whales and Spinner dolphins in their natural habitat. While the peaceful giants generally inhabit the Niue waters from July to October, the large pods of dolphins call Niue their home year round.  Nothing really compares to this unique experience and there is something humbling about sharing the water with these majestic creatures. Time your visit right and you will be able to swim with both species in what will most likely be an unforgettable holiday.   

Water Adventures

Niue also makes for absolutely fantastic snorkelling whether it is in the open sea, right off the coast or inside of caves and little coves. We recommend a dip in the gorgeous Limu Pools or the Matapa Chasm, you will not be disappointed. Also, visibility can be up to an impressive 100 metres! Due to the fact that Niue is made of porous limestone and does not have any lakes or streams, rain is filtered quickly without sediments to affect the clarity. This makes Niue a diver’s paradise and you don’t even have to get into the water to see what’s beneath. For the ones who like to catch their own dinner Niue offers some pretty amazing fishing grounds and you can feast on Wahoo, Tuna, Mahimahi and Bill Fish after a day out on the water. 

Caving, Tracks & Walks

Niue is a wondrous and magical place where you can explore caves and chasms of the most radiant colours.  There are hundreds of them all over the island, some of them filled with water, others dry and therefore used to store canoes, as ancient burial grounds or homes. Many can be self-explored and tours can be booked for the more challenging and daring caves. You will be amazed by their changing colours, formations and the beauty of their ever-forming stalagmites and stalactites.

Art & Culture

Even though Niue is small in size it offers visitor’s an Art Gallery displaying contemporary art and jewellery produced in Niue, a Sculpture Park where visitors can add to the large, found object assemblage, a National Museum, and 14 annual village show-day festivals. Don’t miss out on exploring the art & culture of this unique island paradise.

Language

The languages widely spoken on Niue are Niuean and English.  Maybe learn a few handy Niuean words to impressive the locals during your visit:

Greetings or hello: Fakaalofa lahi atu
Thank you: Fakaaue
Please: Fakamolemole

When to visit

As a tropical island Niue is warm during the day with a drop in temperature at night year round. Between April and November, the Niuean winter, the temperature ranges from approx. 20-28 degrees Celsius. In the summer months (December-March) the temperature ranges from approx. 22-30 degrees Celsius. We recommend bringing a light rain jacket and something warmer for the cooler evenings. For guests wanting to swim with the whales Humpback season is usually from July – October.

CURRENCY, BANKING & TIPPING

Niue accepts the New Zealand dollar as legal tender. While Niue does not have ATM's you can withdraw cash from Kiwibank in Alofi. Most businesses have EFTPOS and accept NZ debit cards, Mastercard and Visa. Kiwibank accept ONLY NZ debit cards, Mastercard and Visa. Note also that Kiwibank does not handle foreign exchange. While tipping is not expected in Niue it is of course always appreciated.

Niue Holidays:

View our Niue Holiday Specials online or let us help you tailor make a package by contacting us on 1800 800 722.