A Complete Guide to Sailing, Cruising and Flying to Niue
You’ve seen that a tiny dot on the map of the South Pacific exists and that there actually are some amazing things to see and do there, now all you need to know is how to get there…
Niue can be accessed from overseas via flights, cruises and sailing, but all of these ways of getting to Niue are limited. There are limited flights per week with one airline, less than five cruise companies offering stopovers there, and only 15 spots for mooring. Nevertheless, those who make the journey will be rewarded with visiting one of the most unique islands in the South Pacific. So, find out how to get to Niue in this guide.
5 Quick Tips for Getting to Niue
- Do you need a visa for Niue? Find out in our visa guide
- Niue only has direct flights from Auckland, New Zealand – check out some of the best airports around the world for connecting flights to Niue in How Long Does it Take to Fly to Niue?
- Niue has a 24-hour time difference from New Zealand, so bear this in mind when you take a 3 hrs 30 mins flight and arrive a day later
- Note that shore days on Niue are often cancelled in bad weather due to its unforgiving coastline
- If sailing to Niue, be aware of the customs clearance process.
And enjoy a smooth arrival following the steps in Arriving at Hanan Airport, Niue: A Step-by-Step Guide.
© NiuePocketGuide.comInternational Flights to Niue
Direct flights between Auckland, New Zealand and Niue happen on a limited weekly schedule with Auckland Airport having hundreds of connecting flights.
Route and Duration of Flight to Niue
The flight between Auckland and Niue takes approximately 210 minutes (3 hrs 30 mins). An important thing to note is that New Zealand and Niue have a 24-hour time difference, for example, when you depart Auckland on a Saturday morning, you arrive in Niue on a Friday afternoon.
The sole airline servicing Niue is Air New Zealand, which offers four fare types for its Niue flights: Seat, Seat + Bag, The Works and The Works Deluxe. For more information on the fare types, see Which Airlines Fly to Niue?
The International Airport in Niue
Flights arrive at Niue at Hanan International Airport (IUE), approximately a five-minute drive from Alofi. Arriving passengers will go through an Immigration, Customs and Biosecurity process as outlined in our guide, Arriving in Niue: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process.
Airport transfers await arriving international flights outside of the arrivals area of Hanan Airport. It’s best to have airport transfers pre-booked, as there are no taxis in Niue. Check out the Airport Transfer Options in Niue for all of your options.
The departure process for Hanan Airport is a little unusual in that you can’t go through airport security until at least an hour after you have checked in. See Leaving Niue: The Niue Airport Departure Process for more details.
(c) PixabayCruises to Niue
For a quick visit to Niue, an alternative way to get to the island is on a South Pacific cruise. Less than five cruise companies offer cruises to Niue, including Seabourn and Holland America Line. The port of call is Alofi, the island’s capital. Find out more about these cruises in The Cruises That Visit Niue.
About Cruises to Niue
Cruises to Niue depart from either Sydney (Australia), San Fransisco (US), San Diego (US) or Vancouver (Canada). All of the cruises use zodiac boats to get between the ship and Alofi’s wharf. Due to the rocky nature of the island, cruise passengers can only disembark at Niue if the weather and the swell are safe enough. Often visits to Niue are cancelled in bad weather.
Learn more about cruising to Niue in The Guide to Taking a Cruise to Niue.
Ports of Call in Niue
The one and only port of call in Niue is Alofi. Tours and rental vehicles meet passengers at the harbour, giving you plenty of options for getting around and discovering some of the 101 Things to Do in Niue or at least 20 Best Things to Do in Alofi should you not want to venture too far.
(c) Niue TourismSailing to Niue
Just about the only other way you can get to Niue is by sailing in your own yacht. Niue is ideally situated at the centre of a Transpacific journey between the US and New Zealand. The yachting season is between May and October.
Niue Sailing Formalities
A few processes need to be handled on arrival to Niue in relation to Customs and mooring on Niue’s unforgiving coastline.
Visiting yachts to Niue must stop at Alofi Bay and call Niue Radio on VHF Channel 16 in order to arrange customs clearance. Follow the instructions given. Then radio the Niue Yacht Club on VHF Channel 10 for mooring allocation and advice for mooring. Niue has just 15 moorings available.
Learn more about sailing to Niue in The Guide to Sailing to Niue.
More About How to Get to Niue
That’s it for our complete guide on how to get to Niue! Get more advice for getting to Niue with these guides:
Finally, if there’s anything we missed, you’re likely to find it in the 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Niue.
