Walks, Sights, Chasms and Coast on the East Coast of Niue
Admittedly, the west side of this tiny island of the South Pacific takes all the limelight when it comes to exploring the coast. However, it’s highly recommended to rent a car – at least for the day – and discover Niue’s wild side too. The east coast of Niue has a number of breathtaking coastal features, from unspoiled reefs to dramatic chasms. These can be accessed by taking the sea tracks on the east coast of Niue that we go through, from south to north, in the list below!
Tip: When looking for sea track signs from the road, look out for signs saying “Hala Tahi [track name]”, which is Niuean for “Sea Track”. For tracks on the west side of the island, see the 10 Best Sea Tracks on the West Coast of Niue.
1. Anapala Chasm Sea Track
Best tide: Any!
Location: Signposted toward the coast from Hakupu village. Cross the dirt road on the green to a narrow access road which continues to the coast for about 1 km (0.6 mi). Anapala Chasm is on the right-hand side with a small parking area. If you reach the coast, you’ve gone a tad too far.
Starting from the east coast’s southernmost sea track, the Anapala Chasm is a must-do! Signposted alongside Hakupu village green, the Anapala Chasm road is a short but narrow and winding gravel road so take care. You’ll arrive at the start of the Anapala Chasm Sea Track with an interpretation sign telling you more about the history of the area. The sea track is a 15-minute one-way walk on a well-maintained trail through the forest and down an estimated 146 steps to the bottom of the Anapala Chasm and its freshwater pool.
Go for a swim if you’re brave enough in its cold water. Return the same way (yes, up those 146 steps). Before leaving the car park, continue a little further down the road to our next sea track…
(c) niuepocketguide.com
2. Tuhia Sea Track (Hakupu Sea Track)
Best tide: Low tide for reef walking, any tide for sightseeing.
Location: Further down the road from Anapala Chasm (see above), Hakupu, southeast coast of Niue.
Drive all the way to the coast from Hakupu and you’ll reach the Tuhia Sea Track (also known as the Hakupu Sea Track). You’ll get great views of the coast from your car. Otherwise, there is a short set of steps onto the reef to explore the rock pools at low tide. There’s a sheltered picnic area here with a barbecue and electrical outlets here also, should you want to make an event of it.
© NiuePocketGuide.com
3. Togo Chasm Sea Track
Best tide: Any!
Location: Signposted along the main road in the Huvalu Forest, approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Hakupu, east coast of Niue.
One of the most iconic places in Niue, the Togo Chasm is another must-do sea track along the east coast road. The track is well signposted in the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area where an interpretation sign marks the start of the trail.
The track is a 45-minute one-way walk (but fit people will probably find themselves doing it in 20-30 minutes one-way), which starts off through stunning rainforest. You’ll emerge on the clifftops where the track continues along the cliffs to a rung ladder leading into the Togo Chasm itself. Admire the sandy oasis with coconut palms. You can also climb the boulders at the back of the chasm to watch the waves crashing on the other side. Return the same way.
(c) niuepocketguide.com
4. Tautu Sea Track (Liku Sea Track)
Best tide: Low tide for reef walking, any tide for sightseeing.
Location: Signposted along the main road and across Liku village green, Liku, central east coast of Niue.
Tucked away at the back of Liku village green, the Tautu Sea Track (also known as the Liku Sea Track) is your access to one of the island’s most stunning arch formations. Follow a steep unsealed road to the sea track (if you don’t want to take the car down the road, you can park it before the road and walk approximately 500 m/550 yards, which takes about 15 minutes down/20 minutes up).
The bottom of the road has a grassy clearing and a set of steps to an archway onto a reef, which is best explored at low tide. Tautu Reef is considered one of the best places on the island to watch the sunrise, as listed in the 10 Most Beautiful Sunrise & Sunset Spots in Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.com
5. Motu Sea Track
Best tide: Low tide for reef walking, any tide for sightseeing.
Location: Signposted between Liku and Lakepa on the coastal side of the road, east coast of Niue. The Motu Sea Track is a little closer to Lakepa than to Liku.
A sea track signposted along the road between Liku and Lakepa, the Motu Sea Track is well worth exploring. The signpost points to a narrow unsealed road, which is flat the whole way so is suitable for rental cars, except that you might need to clear a few fallen branches from the road. Otherwise, walking on the gravel road, which is approximately 1.4 km (0.9 mi) takes about 20 minutes.
At the end of the road is a small parking area and the start of the Motu Sea Track. Follow the rocky trail through the forest and across exposed clifftops. You’ll eventually reach a hole in the cliff to peer through across the reef (it’s super slippery here). There is also a ladder down to the reef below where it’s possible to spot crabs, eels and much more. The reef is best explored at low tide.
Learn more about the importance of the tide in What You Need to Know About Tide Times in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.com
6. Puluhiki Sea Track
Best tide: Low tide for reef walking, any tide for sightseeing.
Location: Signposted from the left (northern) side of Lakepa village green, Lakepa, east coast of Niue.
After a drive down a relatively steep and narrow unsealed road, you’ll come to a small car park and the start of the Puluhiki Sea Track. The sea track takes you down a set of concrete steps through low coastal foliage to a concrete platform to access a reef. The reef is fun to explore at low tide and provides stunning vistas of the coast. This is another amazing spot to catch the sunrise.
(c) niuepocketguide.com
7. Uluvehi Sea Track
Best tide: Low tide to access the bottom cave, any tide for the top caves.
Location: Take the 500 m (550-yard) access road north, signposted from the centre of Mutalau village, northeast coast of Niue.
On the northeast coast of Niue is the Uluvehi Sea Track, accessible from the village of Mutalau. A short unsealed bush road signposted from the village takes you to the start of the wide concrete Uluvehi Sea Track, which is better described as a road than a sea track, making it a good sight for those with mobility issues (see Accessibility in Niue: Travellers with Disabilities, Wheelchair Access & More). Venture past the sealed ramp road to access two small caves, one storing vaka (canoes) and the other with impressive limestone features.
Below the sealed road ramp is another cave which is only accessible from the reef at low tide.
(c) niuepocketguide.com8. Vaikona Chasm Sea Track
Not suitable without a guide.
Location: Signposted along the main road in Veli, just north of the Laufoli Umu Pit in the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, east coast of Niue.
The Vaikona Chasm Sea Track is worth mentioning as the signs and well-formed trail seen from the road are likely to pique interest. However, the Vaikona Chasm is a guided walk only due to the arduous and rough nature of the track, taking you over sharp coral bommies, sinkholes and under dense rainforest foliage to get to a fern-covered chasm with a freshwater pool for swimming.
The pool can be crossed and dived through to get to another pool, but this is highly discouraged as it can be a dangerous undertaking. A guide is essential for this experience, but there are no commercial operators taking visitors at this time.
(c) niuepocketguide.comMore About Sea Tracks on the East Coast of Niue
That’s it for our guide to the east coast sea tracks in Niue. For more amazing attractions to discover, take a look at the following guides:
Finally, complete your Niue bucket list with the 101 Things to Do in Niue: The Ultimate List.
