Niue New Year Ideas: How to Spend the New Year in Niue

Celebrating the New Year in Niue

Monuina e Tau Foou! Niue is one of the last countries in the world to celebrate the New Year, making it a pretty noteworthy place to visit for New Year fans. What’s more, Niueans have their own special tradition to celebrate the New Year called Takai! That alone is a reason to celebrate the New Year in Niue.

So plan your New Year’s getaway with this guide on how to spend the New Year in Niue to make sure your visit is extra special.

How to Say “Happy New Year” in Niuean

Happy New Year in Niuean is “Monuina e Tau Foou!” Learn more about the local language in our guide, What is the Niuean Language?

Join in on the Takai Celebrations

Takai is a traditional holiday in Niue to celebrate the New Year.

The official public holiday is on January 2, as New Year’s Day on January 1 is also a public holiday. However, the Takai celebration as we’re about to describe tends to take place on the first weekend after the New Year. See the Niue Tourism Events Page for dates for this year.

What is Takai?

So what is Takai? Historically, this is where villagers would walk from village to village, sharing gifts to wish goodwill for the New Year. Today, the locals have swapped walking for driving around the island, instead, dressing up their vehicles in the wildest and most creative ways, throwing out candy to villages they pass by.

Visitors are welcome to participate in the event. Otherwise, it’s simply just fun to watch, so set yourself up at one of the 14 villages on the island and enjoy the show! For more details, head to What is Takai in Niue? (How Niueans Celebrate New Year).

Plus, check out more events throughout the year in the 10 Biggest Events in Niue.

New Year at Niue’s Resort

As for New Year’s Eve, the island’s one and only resort, the Scenic Matavai Resort, usually hosts a New Year’s event that everyone is welcome to join but bookings are essential.

In the past, the Scenic Matavai Resort has hosted fireworks nights to special barbecue nights with live music. It’s typically a good opportunity to try some Niuean food to celebrate the New Year the Niuean way.

Learn more about the resort in Niue in the 10 Best Hotels & Resorts in Niue.

Bars to Head to for New Year’s Eve in Niue

If you’re looking for something to do which is a little more universal, then head to one of Niue’s bars or restaurants! New Year is always a good excuse to drink and be merry, so go to a watering hole and enjoy it with other visitors and the locals.

Bars in Niue

These are the bars in Niue that may stay open until midnight for New Year’s Eve:

All Relativf – A vibrant cocktail bar in the Swanson Shopping Complex
Pacific Way Bar – A local’s bar in Alofi South
Clayton’s Bar – A favourite with the locals when it is open.

Learn more about Niue’s bars in the 5 Best Bars in Niue.

Niue New Year Ideas: How to Spend the New Year in Niue

More Things to Do for New Year’s Eve in Niue

For a couple of more solitary ways to spend New Year’s Eve, or to just spend it with your nearest and dearest, Niue offers a perfect place on this planet to watch the last sunset of the year or stargaze in the world’s only Dark Sky Nation.

Watch the Last Sunset of the Old Year (or the Last Sunrise of New Year’s Day)

Ok, this can be a little confusing, but Niue is actually one of the last places in the world to celebrate the New Year due to its location on the east side of the International Date Line. With that in mind, you can watch the last sunset in the world of the Old Year and/or watch the last sunrise in the world to be experienced on New Year’s Day – whichever one feels more special to you. And boy, does Niue have some stunning sunrises and sunsets. See the 10 Most Beautiful Sunrise & Sunset Spots in Niue for inspiration on where to go.

Spend New Year’s Eve in Tranquillity

In Niue, there are no obligations. If you would rather spend the New Year escaping civilisation, enjoying it with just your loved ones or travel buddies, then Niue has plenty of quiet spots where you can spend in Niue in peace. How about one of the remote holiday homes overlooking the Pacific Ocean? How about nestled inland in tropical forest? Check out the 10 Best Holiday Homes in Niue with listings of some of the remotest accommodations.

Other Public Holidays in Niue

New Year’s Day is just one of several public holidays in Niue experienced throughout the year. Other public holidays in Niue include:

January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – Takai Commission Holiday
February 6 – Waitangi Day
Friday before Easter Sunday – Good Friday
Monday after Easter Sunday – Easter Monday
April 25 – ANZAC Day
First Monday in June – King’s Birthday
October 19 – Constitution Day
October 20 – Constitution Day Holiday
October 21 (or October 22 if falls on a Sunday) – Constitution Day Holiday
October 22 – Peniamina Gospel Day
December 25 – Christmas
December 26 – Boxing Day

For more information on Niue’s holidays, see Public Holidays in Niue (& Other Important Dates).

More About New Year in Niue

That’s it for our guide to New Year’s Eve in Niue! For more excuses to celebrate on the island, take a look a the following guides:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Top Events & Festivals in Niue.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Niue Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Niue. She knows the island inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Niue’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Laura via our contact page