Amazing Niue Caves to Explore
Niue is unlike anywhere else in the South Pacific. It’s the world’s largest raised coral atoll almost completely made from limestone that the sea and rainwater shape to create some amazing land formations. Some of these formations are breathtaking caves with dangling stalactites and grandeur pillars reaching from the cave ceiling to its depths. While many of Niue’s caves can be explored on land, some are hidden below the ocean’s surface. We go through some of the most stunning caves in Niue on this list.
For more amazing rock formations on “The Rock”, see the 10 Most Stunning Natural Attractions in Niue.
1. Avaiki Cave
This cave combines as an excellent snorkelling location in Niue thanks to its turquoise cave pool teeming with fish and coral. Only accessible at low tide, the Avaiki Cave is down a short sea track in Makefu taking you through a large tunnel to get to the main event. The Avaiki Cave is said to be the landing place of the first Polynesians to the island, which you can find out more about in the 10 Fascinating Historical Sites in Niue.
Location: Signposted on the main road between Makefu and Tuapa, west coast of Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com2. Palaha Cave
Connected to the Avaiki Cave by a short reef walk or by driving a few hundred meters up the road, the Palaha Cave is worth visiting at any tide. It’s a short but slippery-when-wet sea track that takes you to a huge limestone cave overlooking the reef.
Location: Signposted on the main road between Makefu and Tuapa, approximately 300 m (330 yards) south of Avaiki Cave, west coast of Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com3. Vaila Cave
A small cave in Alofi North, the Vaila Cave was once where locals would go for a freshwater source for cleaning and weaving. Today, at low tide, it makes a good place for snorkelling in the pools, as well as a good photo stop for yet another beautiful cave in Niue!
Location: Signposted opposite Tusekolo Bush Road, approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Alofi town centre.
© NiuePocketGuide.com4. Amanau Cave
Ok, so this is more of an overhang than a cave but we still think it fits in this list of stunning caves in Niue. The Amanau Sea Track in Alofi South takes you down a ladder to a reef below where you’ll be able to climb onto a huge boulder and into a sheltered pool underneath the overhang. Snorkelling is good in the pool at low to mid-tide – learn more about the importance of tide times in our guide, Tide Times in Niue: Essential for Your Trip!
Location: Signposted in Alofi South, approximately 100 m (110 yards) west of Pacific Way Bar, west coast of Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com5. Uluvehi Sea Track Caves
On the northern coast of the island in the village of Mutalau, the Uluvehi Sea Track gives you access to two small caves. Walk down the concrete road sea track to a small cave containing vaka (canoes), as well as another cave a little further along the sea track with some cool stalactite formations. At low tide, it’s also possible to access a cave on the reef below the access road.
Location: Take the 500 m (550-yard) access road north, signposted from the centre of Mutalau village, northeast coast of Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com6. Talava Arches
While the huge coastal arch is the main event of the Talava Arches Sea Track, the visit includes a short scramble through limestone caves to get there. The sea track is approximately a 30-minute walk one-way where you’ll reach some caves toward the end of the track to clamber through using the guide ropes. At low tide, you can cross the reef to the coastal arch and find another cave in the cliffs along the way. Talava Arches is also at the top of our 101 Things to Do in Niue, so don’t miss it!
Location: Signposted at the back of the grassy parking area in Hikutavake village, northwest coast of Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com7. Huvalu Rainforest Caves
Home to a vast and fragmented cave network, the Huvalu Conservation Area has many caves to discover. As it’s very easy to lose your bearings in Niue’s native rainforest, it’s best to scout out these caves with a local guide. Ebony Rainforest Tours offers guided excursions into the forest, exploring the entrances of a few caves along the way. Find out more about the tour in the 10 Must-Do Tours in Niue.
Location: Accessible with Ebony Rainforest Tours, who offer transfers from the Scenic Matavai Resort and Alofi. Alternatively, tours depart from the blue “Ebony Carving” sign at the southern entrance of Hakupu village, southeast coast of Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com8. Limu Twin Caves
Niue is not just about the caves above ground but there’s also much to explore below the surface. The Limu Twin Caves is one of the must-do dive sites in Niue where there are two large caves dropping from 6 to 28 m (19-92 ft) with a tunnel connecting them. Find out more about this dive site and many others in the 10 Best Dive Sites in Niue.
Location: Accessed with local dive operators – see The Guide to Scuba Diving in Niue.
© Niue Tourism9. Bubble Cave
Another cave worth diving into is the deep and dark Bubble Cave. The only light into the cave comes from the entrance, where the dark descent and swim-through bring you to an open chamber awash with stalactites. The cave is also where Niue’s endemic sea snakes, the katuali, lay their eggs. Learn more about Niue’s native creatures in the 10 Animals & Birds Native to Niue.
Location: Accessed with local dive operators – see The Guide to Scuba Diving in Niue.
(c) Niue Tourism10. The Dome Cave
While there are many more dive sites in Niue that involve caves, the last one worth mentioning is The Dome. This is a 30 m (98 ft) dive in and under the island where you’ll emerge in an open chamber home to uga (coconut crabs). Diving is the only way in or out of this cave so it’s a real adventure!
Location: Accessed with local dive operators – see The Guide to Scuba Diving in Niue.
(c) BAND - Niue TourismMore About Caves in Niue
That’s it for the best caves in Niue. For more adventure experiences like this, take a look at the following guides:
Finally, head to the 101 Things to Do in Niue: The Ultimate List featuring more amazing experiences.
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