A Self-Guided Day Trip in Niue: West Coast Itinerary

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Avatele to Tamakautoga

Distance: 2.6 km (1.6 mi), Drive time: 3 minutes.

Starting at Avatele Beach, snorkelling is good here at the low-to-mid outgoing tide. If it happens to be a Sunday, you can also enjoy lunch/dinner at the self-serve Washaway Cafe. See more things to do in the 10 Best Things to Do in Avatele.

Travel north along the coastal road for approximately 1 km (0.6 m) and you’ll come across highlights such as the Pofitu Sea Track leading to a picturesque beach. You’re likely to have it all to yourself.

Travel about another kilometre and you’ll reach the Scenic Matavai Resort. The resort is another option to enjoy some dining along with the expansive views across Niue’s rugged coast.

Finally, you’ll reach the tiny village of Tamakautoga where you should keep left at the fork to continue to the Togulu Sea Track. Down the 30-second track, you’ll find a small beach that’s ideal for reef walking. See more experiences in the 7 Best Things to Do in Tamakautoga.

Learn more about each of the beaches mentioned in the 5 Best Beaches in Niue.

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Tamakautoga to Alofi (via the Coast Road)

Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 mi), Drive time: 13 minutes.

Follow the coastal road north through lush tropical forest for approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) to see a signpost for the Anaana Burial Cave. There is a short set of steps to view this historical cave.

From the cave, drive just a little further north to a large parking area of Ana’ana Point. Take in the dramatic coastal vistas and keep an eye out for whales (July-September) and spinner dolphins.

Now drive approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) to the outskirts of Alofi where you’ll see the sign for the Amanau Sea Track on the left-hand side. While it’s worth a look at any tide, the best tide for swimming is low-to-mid tide.

Finally, it’s just a few hundred metres until you reach Alofi town. On the left-hand side, you have the Vaiolama Cafe on the clifftops. A little further on the right is Kaiika serving sushi for lunch. When you reach Halamahaga Road to your right, take it to reach the Fale Tau Taoga Niue Museum. It’s also worth a quick walk down the Utuko Reef Sea Track to a sandy beach and reef, which is ideal for snorkelling around low tide. Finally, have a browse around the shops of Alofi’s Commercial Centre, found on the right-hand side of the main road, for gifts, restaurants and art galleries. See more stuff to do in the 20 Things to Do in Alofi.

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Alofi to Makefu

Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 mi), Drive time: 7 minutes.

As you continue north from Alofi, there are a few more sea tracks signposted from the road. The first you’ll come across is the Togalupo Sea Track leading to a tiny cove. However, the Vaila Cave Sea Track has a bit more to offer with steps leading down to a cave cut into the cliffs. Have a snorkel or a reef walk at low tide.

After checking out Vaila Cave, continue approximately 1.8 km (1.1 mi) to visit the historical site of Peniamina’s Grave Memorial.

If you really want to fit every sea track in, you’ll see signs for the Makefu Sea Track just before reaching the village of Makefu.

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Makefu to Hikutavake

Distance: 5.5 km (3.4 mi), Drive time: 7 minutes.

The northwest coast of Niue arguably has the most natural attractions so save plenty of time to explore this part of the island.

Just north of Makefu is the entrance to Avaiki Cave Sea Track. This cave with a sheltered swimming pool is best visited at low tide. Drive a little further north and you’ll reach the entrance to the dramatic formations of Palaha Cave, accessible at any tide.

A few hundred metres further north is the small settlement of Tuapa and the Hio Cafe where you can grab a bite to eat, providing it is open, or take the long staircase down to Hio Beach. Swimming here is best done 30 minutes before low tide or 30 minutes after.

Approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) north of the Hio Cafe is the Limu Pools, one of Niue’s most popular swimming spots. The water is shallow at low tide (great for kids), but most prefer to swim at the half-to-full incoming tide.

Once you reach Hikutavake, park up on the grassy area before the coastal road turns inland to find three different sea tracks. The Hikutavake Sea Track offers some fantastic snorkelling pools 30 minutes before or after low tide. Alternatively, the track to the Matapa Chasm not only takes you to an impressive chasm but an enjoyable snorkelling spot no matter what the tide is doing.

Finally, the track to the Talava Arches offers one of the longest walks in Niue (then again, it’s still only 30 minutes one-way). Your reward at the end of the track through forests and caves is to a grand coastal arch. At low tide, there is a channel cut through the reef that makes a mesmerising place for snorkelling.