Food Activities in Niue
Niue might be recognised for its stunning rocky landscapes and crystal clear waters for snorkelling, but what surprises many visitors is the food. Yes, the “Rock of the Pacific” just happens to be home to the world’s cleanest bees for honey-making, a producer of leading organic vanilla, while the locals also have traditional delicacies like the fascinating coconut crab, the uga. Explore Niue through your tastebuds with these things to do in Niue for foodies.
While you’re here, be sure to also check out The Foodie Guide to Niue. Foodies might also want to check out the self-catering accommodation and resorts with restaurants in the 10 Best Accommodation in Niue for Foodies.
1. Learn How to Hunt Uga
Uga or coconut crabs have been a highly prized food source on the island for centuries. Learn about what the locals do to bait coconut crabs and catch them on a uga hunting tour. Taue Uga Tours in Avatele offer day tours to show you how to set up coconut baits around the forest, as well as night tours to see how the baits work, how to pick which crab to take, and much more. Alternatively, guests at the Matapa Guest House are also offered uga hunting experiences with the hosts.
(c) niuepocketguide.com2. Tour a Vanilla Plantation
Niue is a producer of premium organic vanilla, where growing prime Tahitian vanilla beans is an arduous and labourious task. Learn all about vanilla growing in a vanilla plantation tour with Niue Vanilla. Join your knowledgeable guide as you tour a plantation of more than 7,000 vanilla vines, which have to be hand-pollinated. Book your tour at the Niue Vanilla store in Alofi.
(c) M. Crawford - Niue Tourism3. Visit a Noni Farm
While the noni fruit is revered for its pungent smell, there’s no denying its health benefits! Learn all about the intriguing noni fruit on the Noni Farm Tour near the village of Vaiea. The plantation holds around 18,000 noni trees grown to export to the New Zealand and Asian markets.
(c) niuepocketguide.com4. Learn About the Food of the Forest on Misa’s Nature Tour
Learn about how to use natural forest vegetation for food, tools and medicinal remedies in Misa’s Nature Tour. Misa grew up living in the Niuean bush, so knows first-hand about living off coconuts, uga, making fire and sleeping in caves. These skills are passed to you in this interactive tour where you’ll get to try coconut through their different life stages, make fire, hold an uga or a flying fox, learn how to keep mosquitos away, and the list goes on! Find this tour opposite the Niue High School, 1.5km (one mile) outside of Alofi.
(c) niuepocketguide.com5. Browse the Niue Market
The Niue Market in Alofi is not just a place to purchase local fruit and uga for sale, but it’s a cultural experience. Mingle with the locals at this morning market, taking place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. There is also an organic market on the first Friday of the month from 5pm. See more activities like this in the 10 Free & Cheap Things To Do in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com6. Pick Up Some Clean Niuean Honey
Niue’s honey has had international acclaim recently, with Niue being home to the “world’s cleanest bees”. While much of the world’s bees are in decline, Niue presents a safe haven for bees and, in turn, produces unbelievably pure honey. Pick up a pot of honey from Double M or the Tourist Information Centre in Alofi where you’ll be able to take it back to New Zealand if you get a quarantine certificate at Hanan Airport.
(c) niuepocketguide.com7. Stop by the Food Stalls
Local produce stalls crop up around Niue now and again, which are usually well worth stopping by while you’re on your Niue road trip. If it’s not fresh drinking coconut stalls then it’s usually vanilla stalls, such as Koefaga Vanilla in Alofi South. Their signs are prominent on the roadside, where you can pick up all kinds of wonderful vanilla and coconut oil products using the honesty box system.
(c) niuepocketguide.com8. Dine at Niue’s Restaurants
Niue might be a small island, but you’ll certainly find big flavours at its small collection of restaurants. While much of the cuisines you will be familiar with, such as Japanese, Indian, American, Chinese, Italian and more, the Pacific twist on these dishes, for instance, using the freshest fish, is something you’ll remember for a long time. What’s more, it’s unlikely that you’ll miss any restaurants out after spending a week on the rock! Check out our recommendations in The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com9. Sample Niuean Food at an Umu Night
While restaurant menus in Niue might not be awash with Niuean cuisine, there are special umu (earth oven) nights on the island giving visitor’s the chance to sample some real Niuean dishes! Thursday nights are umu nights in Niue, at least that’s the case for the Scenic Matavai Resort and the Hio Cafe & Bar. Try takihi, povi masima, moa Niue, faikai ika and more! Bookings for these nights are essential. Learn more about these umu nights in The Ultimate Guide to the Niue Nightlife, as well as what local food to look for in the 8 Unique Foods in Niue You Have to Try.
(c) niuepocketguide.com10. Take Part in a Niuean Plantation Tour
Last but certainly not least, tour a plantation with a local guide to see how Niueans grow taro, kumara, cassava, pawpaw, watermelon, bananas and more on the A5 Rainforest and Plantation Tour. This easy-going 4WD tour teaches you about farming methods old and new, as well as gives you the opportunity to husk a coconut and hold an uga. Find the A5 Tours in the village of Mutalau. Learn more about Niue’s tours in The Guided Tours in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comMore Things to Do in Niue for Foodies
