5-Day Budget Itinerary for Niue
Five full days in Niue gives you just enough time to explore Niue’s top free attractions, such as stunning chasms, arches and snorkelling hotspots, but not much else… Nevertheless, if you only have limited time to enjoy the “Rock of the Pacific”, this Niue budget itinerary for 5 days will show you how to see and do as much as possible while spending as little as possible. If you’re looking for a more relaxed 5 days away, see What to Do for 5 Days in Niue on a Budget for an alternative itinerary.
Before we dive into this 5-day budget itinerary for Niue, bookmark the Niue Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Niue Cost? for its full budget overview or The Travel Guide to Niue on a Budget for more advice.
Note that due to Niue’s reduced flight schedule, this itinerary may no longer be compatible with current flights – check the flight schedule in Which Airlines Fly to Niue?
How to Get Around Niue in 5 Days on a Budget
Niue is one island with 64km (40 miles) of road circling the island and little-to-no public transport. For this reason, we recommend hiring a car for the length of your stay in order to make the most out of this 5-day budget itinerary for Niue. Car rental companies in Niue have economic options available, which you can find out more in The Guide to Car Hire in Niue. Note that you will need a Niue Driver’s License, available from the Alofi Police Station and costing around NZ$22.50.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 1 – Welcome to Niue!
Your 5-day Niue adventure begins! On arrival at Hanan International Airport, go through the necessary airport customs and biosecurity process, which you can prepare for using our guide to Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Niue.
Once you’ve made it through, visit the appropriate kiosk for your chosen car rental company, go through the car inspection, then drive to your accommodation, picking up supplies along the way. Because Niue is so small and because you’re only staying five days, we recommend staying in the same accommodation for convenience.
Budget Accommodation in Niue
- Kumar Enterprise / Guest House
- Turtle Lodge
- Heleni Jessop’s Fatahega
- Kololi’s Motel
- Aleki Guesthouse
- Damiana’s Motel
- Lialagi Units
- Aliutu Guesthouse
- Peleni’s Guesthouse
See the 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Niue for more information on our top picks!
Self-catering in Niue
Almost all of Niue’s budget accommodation has kitchen facilities. Pick up supplies on your way to your accommodation, where you’ll find the largest supermarket, Swanson Supermarket, just outside of the airport and a few grocery stores in Alofi. See Where to Buy Food in Niue for more advice.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 2 – Explore the East Coast
Early into your five days away, we suggest exploring Niue’s “quieter” side first (as if Niue isn’t already quiet). You’ll need to pick up a Niue Driver’s License first from the Police Station, then you can hit the road to the rugged east coast! Here are some top free attractions to stop by along the way, starting from south to north.
Anapala Chasm
In the village of Hakupu, behind the school buildings, the Anapala Chasm Sea Track is a 15-minute one-way walk taking you through lush rainforest and down some steep steps to the depths of a narrow chasm. It’s possible to swim in the freshwater below if you dare!
Togo Chasm
Next, the Togo Chasm comes with a 30-45-minute walk in the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area. After walking through magnificent tropical rainforest, emerge on top of a rocky coastline jagged with limestone pinnacles. Follow the track down a ladder and into a sandy-bottom chasm with its own little oasis of coconut palms and rockfall to scramble on and check out the waves crashing on the other side. Return the same way.
Laufoli Umu Pit
Easy to miss, so keep an eye on the east side of the road, the historic Laufoli Umu Pit is just a few minutes north of the Togo Chasm. See the distinct ditch in the ground that was used as an earth oven, made not for food, but for a Niuean warrior… Learn more about the pit on the interpretation sign when you get there!
Hikulagi Sculpture Park
This outdoor sculpture park is worth a quick walk-around to see works of art created out of the rubbish that has washed up on Niue’s shores.
Uluvehi Sea Track
Park up on the steep clifftops and have a nosy inside a couple of shallow limestone caves where fishermen store their vaka (canoes).
While the suggested free attractions will keep you busy for the day, there are many more sea tracks along the east coast to explore should you feel like you can fit more in. Check out the 7 Best Sea Tracks on the East Coast of Niue for more places to visit.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 3 – Check Out the Limu Pools, Matapa Chasm and the Talava Arches
With snorkelling hotspots on the west coast of Niue, you’ll want to spend more time exploring this side – that’s why we’ve given you two days to do so.
First, we suggest heading north to Hikutavake and Namukulu, which have a whole bunch of stunning coastal attractions accessible by, you guessed it, sea tracks! Note that some of the attractions below are tide-dependent, so change the order you visit them according to the appropriate tide.
Matapa Chasm
One you can rely on at any tide, the Matapa Chasm is wide chasm accessible on a seven-minute sea track through the forest. Your reward is a stunning snorkelling hotspot with all sorts of tropical fish, crabs and other marine life.
Talava Arches
Although enjoyed at any tide, we recommend seeing the Talava Arches at low tide to be able to walk across the reef and under the arch. Getting there is a 30-minute walk through the forest, starting at a track next to the Matapa Chasm track. You’ll walk to a series of limestone caves to scramble through using the guide ropes and emerge at a stunning view of Niue’s giant coastal archway. There’s also the opportunity to snorkel in the coral-lined channel splitting the reef.
Limu Pools
This picturesque cove is a hotspot for swimming and snorkelling. Visit the Limu Pools at half to incoming full tide by following a short sea track down to the main pools. There’s also a small side track next to the sail shade to another snorkelling spot with an archway. This is generally better to snorkel at low tide.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 4 – Explore Avaiki Cave, the Palaha Cave and Do Some Whale Watching
Today, you have more time to make the most of the amazing coastal scenery on the west coast of Niue, this time around the village of Makefu.
Just before low tide, find the Avaiki Cave Sea Track, which leads down to an impressive cathedral cave with a crystal clear pool ideal for snorkelling. Just a little further north is the Palaha Cave for an arguably more impressive limestone cave – no snorkelling here, though. While you can walk between the two caves on the reef at low tide, it’s not recommended in order to avoid standing on fragile coral.
To top off your exploration of Makefu, set yourself up at the top of the Makefu Sea Track, which is a good place to look out for humpback whales (July to September) and spinner dolphins. Note that the coin-operated binoculars don’t work…
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 5 – Departure Day
Leaving already?! We told you five days wasn’t enough! Check-out of your accommodation and make your way to Hanan Airport to check in your luggage, which opens at 9am – see why you need to do this in our guide to Leaving Niue: The Niue Airport Departure Process.
As you will have some free time before catching your flight, we recommend heading to Alofi to do some of the free/cheap activities there.
Alofi has some of its own free sea tracks leading to stunning coves, reefs and beaches. Check out the local museum, browse the art gallery, play mini golf and more! Here are some more ideas should you need inspiration…
Free/Cheap Things to Do in Alofi
- Visit the Niue National Museum – Fale Tau Taoga
- Find all of the Alofi sea tracks
- Check out historic sites, like Tomb Point and Opaahi
- Play a round of mini golf at the Vaiolama Cafe
- Scout out the cheap eats in Alofi
- Admire the canvas paintings in the Tahiono Art Gallery
- Watch whales and dolphins from the lookout at Tomb Point
For details and more ideas, check out the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Alofi.
When you’re done, head back to the airport to return your rental car by parking it where the “Rental Cars Only” signs are, leaving the keys in the car.
Then it’s goodbye, Niue!
More on Niue Budget Trip Ideas and Itineraries
That’s it for the Niue budget itinerary: 5 days. Get more trip-planning inspiration from our itinerary compilations: The Best Niue Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Niue Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Niue Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Niue Itineraries for a Weekend.
