Niue Budget & Backpacking Itinerary: 7 Days / 1 Week

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How to Get Around Niue in 7 Days on a Budget

Niue is one island with 123 km (76 mi) of paved roads, 64 km (40 mi) of road circling the island and no public transport… For this reason, we strongly recommend hiring some sort of vehicle to make the most out of this seven-day budget and backpacking itinerary for Niue.

Car Rental

Budget car rentals are readily available in Niue, just make sure to book your vehicle in advance to get the best deal. We give advice on What You Need to Hire a Car in Niue, including the Niue Driver’s License. For money-saving tips, check out 10 Ways to Save Money on Car Rental in Niue.

Bicycle/E-Bike Rental

Certainly cheaper than hiring a car, but more exhausting to ride in the tropical heat, cycling around Niue can be a fun way to explore for the right people. Both bicycle and electric bike hire are available in Niue. Find out more about this transport method in The Guide to Cycling & Mountain Biking in Niue.

Motorcycle Rental

If you have a motorcycle license, motorcycle rental could be a more affordable motor-powered way to get around Niue. Find out more about the advantages and disadvantages in our guide, Motorcycle Hire in Niue: Where to Rent, Cost & More.

For alternative transport in Niue, including airport transfers and motorcycle rental, see the 11 Ways to Get to (& Around) Niue. Plus, compare the most popular methods in Should You Rent a Car or a Bicycle in Niue?

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 1 – Arrive in Niue and Check-in at Your Guesthouse

Travel time: 5-10 minutes drive.

Your Niue adventure begins! On arrival, you will go through the airport customs and biosecurity process, as outlined in Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Niue.

Visit the appropriate kiosk for your chosen car rental company or your chosen accommodation will either have its own kiosk for accommodation transfers or simply a representative with a sign ready to pick you up. You may also want to pick up your Niue Driver’s License from the Police Station since it’s so close to the airport.

Because Niue is so small (it takes around two hours to drive around the whole island), it’s more convenient to stay in the same accommodation for the entire week.

Budget Accommodations in Niue

• Heleni Jessop’s Fatahega
• Kololi’s Motel (Guesthouse)
• Peleni’s Guesthouse
• Aleki Guesthouse
• Damiana’s Holiday Motel
• Lialagi Dorm & Units
• Aliutu Guesthouse
• Yolos Accommodation
• Vinnie’s Guesthouse
• Kaliki Lodge

For more details on our top picks, see the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Niue.

Self-Catering in Niue

Almost all budget accommodation on the island has self-catering facilities, so we recommend picking up supplies on your way to your accommodation. The largest supermarket, Swanson Supermarket, is just outside of the airport. Alternatively, there are a few grocery stores in Alofi. Check out The Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Niue to learn more.

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Day 2 – Explore Alofi

Travel time: 5-15 minutes drive.

When the rest of Niue’s visitors rush to the top attractions, take the time today to get acquainted with Alofi. That way, you’ll understand what services and restaurants are available, make any bookings you may need at the Visitor Information Centre, and do some fun free stuff too! Yes, Alofi is home to some of its own free sea tracks leading to amazing coastal scenery. There’s also a cheap museum, an art gallery, gift shops and whale-watching sites!

Free/Cheap Things to Do in Alofi

• Watch whales and dolphins from Tomb Point
• Check out historic sites, like Tomb Point and Opaahi
• Walk Alofi’s sea tracks
• Play a round of mini golf at the Vaiolama Cafe
• Scout out the cheap eats
• Admire the paintings in the Tahiono Art Gallery
• Visit the Fale Tau Taoga (Niue National Museum)

For more details and suggestions, check out the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Alofi.

Dining Recommendations

While self-catering will always save you more than eating out, if you have the budget to spare, treat yourself to a panini at the rustic cliff-top eatery of the Crazy Uga Cafe (Alofi). For dinner, cheap eats can be found at Buk Buk Chicken (behind Alofi Commercial Centre). See more recommendations in The Top Cheap Eats in Niue.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 3 – Experience Church and Avatele Beach

Travel time: 5-15 minutes drive.

If you arrived in Niue on Friday, then today is Sunday and a day of sabbath for Niueans. An interesting and free cultural activity on the island is going to one of the Sunday church services. The spiritual experience with amazing harmonious singing is uplifting even for those who are not religious. Check out church recommendations in the 10 Best Churches in Niue to Experience as a Visitor.

After church, head to Avatele Beach where the Washaway Cafe is open on Sundays only! Enjoy swimming from the beach at low or mid tide on an outgoing tide (watch out for currents near the channel and boat ramp) and enjoy a drink and some food at the Washaway Cafe, which is a serve-yourself honesty bar! Learn more about it in The 20 Best Restaurants in Niue.

Dining Recommendations

See above!

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 4 – Explore the East Coast

Travel time: 1 hour drive.

Still early into your week away, we suggest exploring Niue’s “quieter” side first (as if it already wasn’t quiet). Hire a car, if you already haven’t, and hit the road to Niue’s quieter coast. We have a full-day itinerary you can follow in A Self-Guided Day Trip in Niue: East Coast Itinerary. Otherwise, some highlights include…

Anapala Chasm

Starting from south to north, head to the village of Hakupu and the Anapala Chasm Sea Track. The 15-minute one-way walk takes you through lush rainforest and down some steep steps to the bottom of an awe-inspiring chasm. If you’re not too spooked, you can swim in the cold freshwater at the bottom.

Togo Chasm

Your next chasm fix comes with a 30-45-minute walk to Togo Chasm. After walking through the tropical rainforest of the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, you’ll emerge on a rocky coastline with limestone pinnacles as far as the eye can see. Follow the track down a ladder and into a sandy-bottom chasm dotted with coconut palms! You can scramble over the rockfall at the back of the chasm to watch waves breaking against the rocks. Needless to say, you won’t want to venture further, so return the same way.

Laufoli Umu Pit

Easy to miss, keep an eye on the east side of the road, north of the Togo Chasm for a quick stop at the Laufoli Umu Pit. You can see the distinct ditch in the ground that was used as an earth oven which it is said that a great warrior created in order to end his life there – learn more in the 10 Best Historical Sites in Niue.

Hikulagi Sculpture Park

Have a quick browse around this outdoor sculpture park with works of art created out of recycled materials.

Uluvehi Sea Track

Park up on some steep clifftops where you’ll be able to look inside a couple of shallow limestone caves, see fishermen’s vaka (canoes) and enjoy amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

While the suggested free attractions will keep you busy for the day, there are many more nooks and crannies along the east coast to explore should you be a fast explorer. See the 8 Best Sea Tracks on the East Coast of Niue for more inspiration.

Dining Recommendations

Pick up breakfast or brunch to go from the hole-in-the-wall takeaway of Little Rock (Alofi), serving fresh wraps, hot rolls and fish and chips for a reasonable price.

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Day 5 – Check Out Matapa Chasm, Talava Arches and the Limu Pools

Travel time: 10-30 minutes drive.

There’s so much to see on the calmer side of the island, including snorkelling hotspots, that you might want to take your exploration on the west coast a little slower. First, head north to the villages of Hikutavake and Namukulu, which have a whole bunch of amazing coastal attractions. Note that these attractions for snorkelling are tide-dependent, so change the order you visit them according to the tide – get more advice in Tide Times in Niue: Essential for Your Trip!

Limu Pools

An oasis for swimming and snorkelling, the Limu Pools is a must-visit. Follow a short sea track down to the main pools, where swimming is best enjoyed at half-to-full incoming tide. Otherwise, the water tends to be a little too shallow at low tide. There’s also a small side track to another snorkelling spot with an archway which is generally better to snorkel at low tide.

Matapa Chasm

Suitable for swimming at any tide, the Matapa Chasm is a wide chasm harbouring all sorts of tropical fish in its safe swimming spot. Walk down a seven-minute rocky sea track through the forest to emerge at the chasm.

Talava Arches

Enjoyed at any tide, but best at low tide if you want to walk across the reef and under the arch, the Talava Arches is what awaits after a 30-minute walk through the forest. The sea track is right next to the beginning of the Matapa Chasm track and leads to a series of limestone caves to navigate with guide ropes. You’ll emerge at a stunning view of the coastal archway and have the opportunity to snorkel in the coral-lined channel below.

Dining Recommendations

We don’t blame you if you’re tempted by the $10 lunch special of Kaiika (Alofi), usually 10 pieces of fresh or cooked sushi. Be warned, you’ll probably want to return for dinner!

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Day 6 – Explore Avaiki and Palaha Cave and Do Some Whale Watching

Travel time: 10-25 minutes drive.

You have more time to make the most of the amazing coastal scenery on the west of the island, this time around the village of Makefu.

Just before low tide, find the Avaiki Cave Sea Track down to a huge cathedral cave with a swimming pool at the base. After a bit of snorkelling, head back up the sea track and up the road to the nearby Palaha Cave for more magnificent viewings of grand limestone caves. Although you can walk between the two caves on the reef at low tide, we don’t recommend it, as it’s hard to avoid standing on fragile coral.

Top off your exploration of Makefu by setting up camp (not literally, but more like a picnic camp) at the Makefu Sea Track, which is a good place to look out for whales (July to September) and dolphins. See more spots like this in the 10 Best Whale & Dolphin Lookouts in Niue.

Dining Recommendations

While not exactly a “budget” meal, it’s still worth sampling some authentic Niuean dishes, from sweet takihi to lupe (pigeon) risotto, at the Manuiz (Alofi) island buffet. The bar serves well-priced drinks and your meal is enjoyed to the tunes of a local string band. Bookings are essential.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 7 – Free Day

Be sure to set a day aside in your itinerary to either relax at your accommodation or do one of the slightly more expensive activities that we wouldn’t usually include in a “budget” itinerary. After all, you’re only in Niue once (in the unlikely event that you don’t fall in love with the place), so why not treat yourself to swimming with whales, scuba diving in crystal clear waters, or one of the other 10 Must-Dos in Niue?

Alternatively, many accommodations on the island have their own attractions and activities, whether it’s the host offering cultural tours or having access to its own swimming spot (or swimming pool). At some of the budget guesthouses, locals are known to arrange last-minute uga (coconut crab) hunts or umu dinners, so always leave some room for the spontaneous!

Dining Recommendations

Head north for happy hour at Hio Cafe & Bar (Tuapa), starting at 5 pm on a Friday. Try their irresistible fish tacos, wood-fired pizzas and Niuean tasting platters – not exactly a “cheap eat” but a worthy stop nonetheless.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Departure Day

Travel time: 5-10 minutes drive.

Day 8 is departure day, so say goodbye to your guesthouse hosts who, no doubt, have made you part of the family, and make your way to Hanan Airport to check in your luggage.

The departure process in Niue is lengthier than your average international departure and one that’s worth getting to understand in Leaving Niue: The Niue Airport Departure Process. You’ll see that you will need to check in your bags a long time before catching your flight.

When you’ve had one last chance to grab a bite to eat or spent some time relaxing at your favourite beach, head back to the airport to return your rental car by parking it in the car park and leaving the keys in the ignition.

Then it’s goodbye to Niue!

© NiuePocketGuide.com

Alternative Itinerary: Niue Relaxing Budget and Backpacking 1-Week (7-Day) Itinerary

Below is an overview of a more relaxed budget and backpacking itinerary for Niue as an alternative to our more active itinerary above. In this itinerary, you will be staying in the same accommodation. Also note, there is an extra day added due to the irregular flight schedule.

• Day 1 – Arrive in Niue and check-in at your accommodation
• Day 2 – Explore Alofi, its museum, shops and sea tracks. Pick up a driver’s license (if needed)
• Day 3 – Visit Avatele, its beach, the Washaway Cafe and Pofitu Sea Track
• Day 4 – Swim at the Limu Pools
• Day 5 – Trek to the Matapa Chasm and Talava Arches
• Day 6 – Visit the Niue Market and Niue Council of Women’s weaving group
• Day 7 – Explore the east coast sights, like Togo Chasm and Anapala Chasm
• Departure Day – Get prepared for departure on an exciting and unusual Niue plane day.