Travel Advice for Families Visiting Niue
Niue is a tropical family getaway like nowhere else. Instead of spending day after day by the pool, you’ll be spending it by swimming holes surrounded by dramatic coral cliffs, snorkelling in limestone cave pools and seeing amazing wildlife like the colourful coconut crab the uga! However, with an out-of-the-ordinary holiday comes some out-of-the-ordinary thinking for families planning a safe and fun family getaway. We’ll help you out with these essential tips for family holiday to Niue.
Is Niue Good for a Family Holiday?
Niue is one of the most exciting places in the South Pacific to travel with children, especially if you’re looking for something different from the usual tourist hotspots of Fiji, Rarotonga, Bali, etc. There are accommodations and activities well-catered to family travel, with emphasis on things to do for the whole family.
1. Visit Child-Friendly Swimming Spots
Niue is not your typical beach holiday destination. It is the largest raised coral atoll in the world with a rocky landscape lined with corals, caves and reefs. With that in mind, there are swimming spots in Niue that are much safer for kids than others, especially on the west coast where swimming spots are determined by the tide. Luckily, you won’t have to do too much research on the subject, as we’ve listed the 8 Best Sea Tracks & Places to Swim in Niue for Kids for you.
(c) Niue Tourism2. Niue is Not Your Kids’ Club Package Deal Holiday
Niue has no kids’ club and no babysitting. It’s much more down-to-earth, whereas the typical family holiday here is all about spending time together. That’s not to say that you can’t enjoy some time relaxing by the pool…
(c) niuepocketguide.com3. Plan Your Family-Friendly Activities
Speaking of spending time together, you’re going to want to choose activities that the whole family can enjoy! Snorkelling in Niue’s crystal clear waters is a must, while meeting one of the islands’ resident coconut crabs (uga) is always a highlight for children. Check out some of our recommendations for the 10 Things To Do in Niue with Kids.
© NiuePocketGuide.com4. Scout Out the Family Accommodation
Scouting out appropriate accommodation for a family is always a task, but again, we’ve done the research for you in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Niue. In Niue, there is one resort offering interconnecting rooms for families, as well as apartments about 1.5 km (1 mi) down the road from the resort. Niue also has one and two-bedroom cottages set up for families, as well as holiday homes scattered around the island.
(c) niuepocketguide.com5. Book Early, if Travelling in the High Season (or School Holidays)
Speaking of family rooms, note that all of Niue’s accommodation is boutique, therefore the offering of family rooms is very limited! With that in mind, family rooms can book up quickly for the high season (July to September) so, if you’re travelling during this time, make sure to book your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Speaking of booking, an extra tip is to book your evening meals in Niue’s restaurants – more on that in The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com6. Use Sunscreen That Will Protect Them and the Environment
Niue is a country that takes pride in protecting its land and waters, which you can contribute to by making sure your family uses reef-safe sunscreen. Niue is lined with stunning coral, which can be damaged by harmful oxybenzone in standard sunscreens. Make sure you buy your family natural reef-safe sunscreens, such as the ones we list in the 5 Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens for Kids & Babies.
(c) Pixabay7. Bring Their Own Snorkelling Gear
Snorkelling is a major part of a getaway to Niue, especially considering that the island has no rivers running off into the ocean to impair visibility. There are all kinds of wonderful tropical fish and coral to see just off the coast, so make sure your kids have the best experience possible by bringing their own snorkelling gear! Snorkelling gear is available to rent from Niue Blue and some accommodations, but picking the right size and something that hasn’t been too “overused” is tricky. Check out the 15 Essentials You Need to Pack for Niue for suggestions.
(c) niuepocketguide.com8. Pack Some Games
There’s always a bit of downtime when travelling, from taking your flight to Niue to relaxing back at your accommodation after the day’s adventures. Games are an essential boredom-buster while getting the whole family bonding, so pack some travel-size games! Some family favourites are Uno and Connect 4 Grab & Go!
© NiuePocketGuide.com9. Educate Them About Niue
Let’s be honest, Niue is your dream destination, not theirs. However, it can be if you take the time to get them excited about Niue, teaching them about the island, pointing out where it is on the world map (and where you’re staying on an island map), as well as teaching them a few fun facts about this fascinating and fun country! In fact, we’ve put a few together in the 20 Fun Facts About Niue for Kids.
© NiuePocketGuide.com10. Prepare for a Rainy Day (and for Sunday)
With a tropical climate and rain being a possibility no matter what time of the year you visit, it’s a good idea to have one or two rainy-day backups. There are some fantastic museums, markets and much more. Head to the 10 Things to Do in Niue on a Rainy Day for ideas!
Also on the subject, you’ll notice that Sundays are a little quieter in Niue, so have a look at what attractions are open in the 10 Things to Do in Niue on a Sunday.
© NiuePocketGuide.com11. Book Car Rentals with Baby Seats in Advance
Niue is the perfect island for a family road trip; you’re never stuck in the car for too long until you come across an amazing cave or swimming spot to explore. On the other hand, baby and child seats are usually in short supply, but achievable to obtain with a bit of advance notice. If you need one, make sure to request one upon booking, which will give your host time to source one.
Get more vehicle rental tips, including the best type of car to rent and how to get the Niue Driver’s License in our guide, What You Need to Hire a Car in Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com12. There are No Fences Around Swimming Pools
A little bit of a safety tip, note that there are no fences around any swimming pools in Niue. Therefore, you’ll want to keep an extra eye on little ones around the pool.
For more safety tips, head to Niue Safety Tips: Is it Safe to Travel to Niue?
© Namukulu Cottages - Michelle Hight13. Assign Roles
It’s important to assign roles between parents or between the whole family before jetting off to Niue. Who is going to be in charge of the food? Who is going to choose the activities? Who is going to book the activities? Who is going to handle the airport check-in while the other watches the kids? Communicate these roles early so you avoid hick-ups in Niue, giving more time for everyone to enjoy themselves. Plus, assigning small roles to the children is a great way to teach responsibility.
© Niue Tourism14. Split Up for Some Activities
Ok, so there may be some experience that half the family aren’t too keen on, and that’s fine. Instead of booking spots (and paying the extra bucks) for tours for the whole family, make the decision to split, for example, mum and the kids or dad and one kid, etc. In the meantime, the rest of the family can do something else they’d rather do and, likely, make sure their travel budget is better spent!
© Niue Tourism15. Don’t Try to Fit in Too Much
On the flip side, packing your itinerary to the brim with sights and activities is probably just going to exhaust everyone. Allow a free day or two in your holiday to relax and enjoy more the simple pleasures; a day by the pool or at one of Niue’s coral beaches is plenty (and kids love hermit crab hunting)!
© NiuePocketGuide.com16. Pack a Baby Carrier and Waterproof Diapers
Although we have a full packing list in What to Pack for Niue: A Full Niue Packing List, those with infants will need to consider a couple of holiday extras. As mentioned, a core part of your Niue family holiday is spending some time in the water so waterproof nappies/diapers are a must for the packing list! Normal nappies/diapers are normally readily available in supermarkets if you’re not bringing your own.
Additionally, a baby carrier is the way to go, as there are not many places that are stroller-friendly in Niue.
© Unsplash17. Rashies and Reef Shoes are Highly Recommended
For an extra piece of protection while spending so much time in the water, we highly recommend that you get rashies (rash vest/swimming T-shirt) for younger ones that are more prone to sunburn, especially as sunscreen otherwise needs to be applied much more often when swimming (and no kid likes being pulled out of the water every couple of hours for a sunscreen slap-on). We like Sharkskin for their rapid-dry rashies which have SPF 50+ protection, come in fully recyclable packaging and are saltwater, chlorine and UV-resistant so can be used for many more holidays to come.
We also recommend packing some reef shoes to protect little feet when standing on rocks or bits of coral. Speedo Kids and Toddlers Water Shoes are a great choice for little ones, but we have more recommendations in the 10 Best Reef Shoes (& Gloves) for Niue.
© Niue Tourism18. Pack Medication and a First Aid Kit
What’s a holiday without a few cuts and bruises? Stop any minor injuries or illnesses from getting any worse than they need to by putting together an appropriate first aid kit for your family. When buying medication, check the dosage for children and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure of what you can give to your kids. Family medication kits should include a pain and fever reducer such as ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, steroid cream for itching, antihistamine for allergic reactions, cough and cold medicine for older children, plasters/band-aids, antiseptic cream, etc. See a complete list of medications to take in What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com19. Bring Baby Formula With You
It is a well-known fact that changing baby formula can bring bowel complications for babies, and since travelling will already stress them a bit, you may avoid adding extra issues. Plus, Niue has a very limited inventory so if your baby has any specific needs, you are better off arriving already prepared.
© NiuePocketGuide.com20. Do Your Research Using Our Family Guides
Finally, while this is a little piece of shameless self-promotion, make sure you do your research! A good place to start is right here on Niue Pocket Guide where we not only have The Complete Travel Guide to Niue for Families but even advice specific for travelling with younger ones, from 10 Things to Do in Alofi with Kids to 5 Best Sunscreens for Kids & Babies.
© NiuePocketGuide.comMore Tips for Your Family Niue Vacation with Kids
That’s it for our list of tips for your family Niue vacation with kids. Congratulations on making it this far! But, of course, our advice for families in Niue doesn’t end here. Check out more tips for a family trip to Niue using the following guides:
- 10 Best Family Accommodations in Niue
- How to Pick the Best Family-Friendly Accommodation in Niue
- Niue Travel Tips: 30 Tips for Travelling in Tip
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed you’re likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Niue for Families.
