Visit Niue in the Off-season
When is the best time to visit Niue? If the best time for you to visit Niue is in the low season, between November and March, then why not?! Niue receives year-round tropical weather with amazing sights to see no matter what the month is. Visit Niue when accommodation, activities and flights can be at their cheapest. Get the sense of having this already relatively undiscovered island all to yourself… Need we say more? Apparently, if we need to say more, check out the list of reasons to travel in the low season in Niue…
When is the Low Season in Niue?
The low season in Niue is November to March, otherwise known as the “summer season” or the “wet season”.
1. Get a Better Deal on Your Accommodation
Yes, one of the main reasons to travel in the low season is to save money! One aspect of your trip where you can certainly save money is on accommodation. Many accommodations in Niue show cheaper nightly rates during the summer season than in winter. In fact, many even post their deals at cheaper rates on platforms like the Niue Tourism website and Booking.com.
(c) Jonathan Irish - Niue Tourism2. Find Activity and Flight Discounts Too!
A little less frequent than accommodation, but the low season sometimes means cheaper activities and airfares too. Every year during the South Pacific summer time, Air New Zealand, Niue’s one airline servicing the island, does the occasional “islands sale”. On top of that, local activity providers sometimes also get in on the low-season-deals action, so it’s always good to inquire about low season deals when you’re booking.
(c) niuepocketguide.com3. The Weather is Mostly Glorious
There’s a bit of a stigma when it comes to the low season, mainly because it’s also known as the “wet season”. This conjures up images of constant rain that no one would want to escape to the South Pacific Islands for. In reality, the rain is on and off in the wet season, much like it is in the “dry season” just a little more frequent. Niue is an island in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean so the weather changes quickly. Just as soon as it rains you’ll be back to sunny skies in no time. Learn more about the weather in Niue in What is the Weather Like in Niue?
(c) Niue Tourism4. Niue Looks Amazing All Year Round
There’s not a certain time of the year when Niue looks “better”. In the low season, you still have crystal clear waters thanks to the porous limestone make up of the island filtering any rain that lands on it. So yes, snorkelling and scuba diving in the wet season is still amazing! Niue still has tracts of lush rainforests and dramatic chasms to explore in the low season too. We’d even go as far as to say it feels like an island stuck in time.
(c) niuepocketguide.com5. Feel Like You Get the Whole Island to Yourself
Speaking of visiting Niue’s attractions, how about getting even the most popular hotspots all to yourself? Admittedly, even in the high season, you get many of the east coast attractions, like the Togo Chasm and Anapala Chasm, all to yourself, but that’s usually not the case on the west coast when everyone heads to places like the Limu Pools and Talava Arches for the right tide. In the low season, it feels like you get the WHOLE island to yourself, where it’s not uncommon to find yourself in the island’s major hotspots without another tourist in sight. Now THAT’S paradise.
(c) niuepocketguide.com6. There are Lots Going On
There’s always something going on in Niue, between the famous village show days to the food and film festivals. In the low season, your trip might coincide with events like the annual food festival, Kai Niue. November also has a couple of village show days to get a real sense of the local culture. There’s always something going on in Alofi around Christmas and New Year, plus, January is when the occasional film festival is hosted. Check out some of the most popular events on the island in the 10 Biggest Events in Niue.
(c) Mike Bhana - Niue Tourism7. Go Somewhere Different for Christmas and the New Year
As mentioned already, Christmas and New Year falls into the low season in Niue where you can find a tropical escape for something a little different this year. Escape the crowds and the Christmas chaos for a more relaxing experience in Niue. That’s not to say that no one is celebrating Christmas over here, in fact, it’s celebrated in earnest with events in the Alofi town centre, churches full of harmonious singing, and just a general upbeat ambience on the island for this exciting time of the year. Plus, due to Niue’s position on the International Date Line, you will be in one of the last places in the world to celebrate the New Year! Don’t miss the New Year celebration on the island known as “Takai”. Learn more about this time of the year in Niue with Where to Spend Christmas in Niue and Where to Spend New Year’s Eve in Niue.
(c) Pexels8. Have a More Impulsive Trip
Due to the limited accommodation on the island with limited rooms, visitors to Niue need to book their trips WAY in advance if wanting to travel in the high season. The same goes for car rentals, where vehicles are known to run out in the high season. In the low season, you can take it easy. You can easily book a spontaneous trip to Niue, even just turn up at a car rental depot to hire a car if you want to. If you’re the type of traveller who prefers to go with the flow, then travelling to Niue in the low season is ideal.
(c) niuepocketguide.com9. You’re Highly HIGHLY Unlikley to be Taken Out by a Cyclone
Yes, between November and April is the South Pacific cyclone season, but the risk of a cyclone significantly affecting Niue is still minimal. Sure, Niue has had a history of cyclones affecting the island, the worst happening in 2004 with Cyclone Heta, but this is certainly not a norm weather event! Even if a cyclone were to pass close to Niue, the island is well-prepared for this type of event. See How to Prepare for a Cyclone in Niue for more literature on the subject.
(c) Pixabay10. Visit Niue While it’s Still Undiscovered
How many people have you told about “Niue” and you receive glazed-over eyes like they have no idea what you’re talking about? Niue is a country many haven’t even heard of (and can’t seem to remember the name of, even if they have). So while you still have the privilege to know about this island, while so many people don’t, we recommend visiting Niue while that’s still the case! Visit Niue when it is best for you.
(c) Niue TourismMore Reasons to Travel in the Low Season in Niue
