14-Day Family Itinerary for Niue
Families who are lucky enough to enjoy two full weeks in Niue have the time to not only see all of the major highlights of the world’s largest uplifted coral atoll but also have the time to enjoy some much-deserved rest. This Niue family itinerary for 14 days is for the tribe that wants to explore, see and do as much as possible! For a more relaxed holiday schedule, see What to Do for 14 Days in Niue on a Family Vacation.
Note that some activities on this Niue family 14-day itinerary are only available on certain days of the week. This itinerary is based on if you arrive in Niue on a Friday (local time). However, the days can be moved around accordingly should you arrive in Niue on another day.
Before we jump into this 14-day family itinerary for Niue, be sure to bookmark The Travel Guide to Niue for Families for even more family vacation advice.
How to Get Around Niue in 14 Days
Niue is one island with 123km (76 miles) of paved roads and only one taxi vehicle available… For this reason, and the reason that attractions are spread out across the island, we strongly recommend hiring a car to make the most out of your family getaway to Niue.
To drive a car in Niue, you will need a Niue Driver’s Licence available from the Alofi Police Station and costing around NZ$22.50.
For advice on car rentals, check out The Guide to Car Hire in Niue. Plus, learn more about transport in Niue with the 8 Ways to Get to Niue (& Get Around Niue).
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 1 – Land in Niue, Check-in at Your Resort or Holiday Home
Welcome to Niue! On arrival, you will go through the airport customs and biosecurity processes as outlined in Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Niue, before getting your transport from the airport.
Visit the appropriate kiosk for your chosen car rental company or accommodation, while other airport transfer services will be standing with a sign stating their accommodation or your family name. Then you’ll enjoy a short drive to wherever your accommodation may be.
As the island is so small, we recommend staying in the same accommodation for the entire two weeks.
Family Accommodation in Niue
- Scenic Matavai Resort
- Namukulu Cottages
- Matapa Guest House
- Scenic Matavai Apartments & Villas
- Stone Villas
- Heleni Jessop’s Fatahega
- Kololi’s Motel
For more details on our top recommendations, see the 10 Best Family Accommodation in Niue.
Dining in Niue
Most accommodation on the island is self-catering, where we recommend picking up supplies on your way from the airport. There is the Swanson Supermarket just outside of the airport. Alternatively, there are a few grocery stores in Alofi.
If you prefer eating out tonight, check out the recommendations in The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 2 – Explore Alofi
Today is the day that eager tourists rush to the most popular attractions, so we recommend taking it easy and visiting those attractions later. Today, you can get acquainted with the main town of Niue, Alofi, so you understand what services and restaurants are available, can pick up your Niue Driver’s License, as well as book tours through the Visitor Information Centre.
Don’t worry, things won’t get too boring for the little ones, as there’s still plenty of things to do in Alofi.
Things to Do in Alofi with Kids
- Play a round of mini golf on the clifftops
- Visit the Fale Tau Taoga (Niue National Museum)
- Snorkel in the rock pools and a cave at the Vaila Sea Track
- Check out the vaka and rocky coastline on the Opaahi Sea Track
- Explore the rockpools down the Togalahi Sea Track
- Check out the world’s smallest bay on the Togalupo Sea Track
- Get some beach time at the Utuko Reef
For more details and suggestions, check out the 10 Things To Do in Alofi with Kids!
Dining in Alofi
While you’re in Alofi, be sure to check out some of the fantastic restaurants and cafes. See The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Alofi for recommendations.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 3 – Explore the East Coast
Today is Sunday and a day of rest in Niue, so be prepared to do something independently, such as exploring the glorious east coast of the island.
Get your Niue map, that you no doubt have picked up from your accommodation or the Tourist Information Centre, and hit the road! There are points of interest to check out every 10 to 20 minutes on the east coast road, including the Anapala Chasm, Togo Chasm, the Laufoli Umu Pit, Hikulagi Sculpture Park, Motu Sea Track, Uluvehi Sea Track and more! Note that these tracks are much rougher than some of the tracks recommended on the west coast, so children need to be supervised at all times. Some of the walks include steep steps and ladders, so be sure to take your time and stay safe.
Going from south to north, you’ll loop around the island, passing the Matapa Chasm again, giving you your all essential swimming spot for the day!
To drive around the entire island takes around 2h30mins (assuming you drive slowly over the potholes), but you can cut the journey short by taking one of the inland roads, such as the Alofi-Liku Road or Alofi-Lakepa Road if needed.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 4 – Do a Nature Tour
Not too far from Alofi (just up the road that turns off at the Police Station), Misa’s Nature Tours will teach you and your family how to survive in the wild! Get the imaginations of the little ones running on this nature tour where you’ll try coconut through its different stages of life, see tribal weapons and hunting gear, see if Dad can make fire, hold an uga (coconut crab) and more!
The morning tour lasts approximately two hours, giving you enough time to head back to Alofi for lunch. See the 6 Best Cafes in Niue for recommendations.
Alternative Things to Do: Explore the Alofi Sea Tracks
If Misa’s Nature Tour doesn’t sound like your thing, then consider exploring the reefs or swimming at one of Alofi’s sea tracks for a free alternative. See the 6 Best Sea Tracks in Alofi for descriptions.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 5 – Do Some Dolphin/Whale Watching
Whale/Dolphin Tours for Children Aged 8+
Treat the family to a spectacular encounter with nature on one of the dolphin-watching or whale-watching tours! Spinner dolphins can be seen in Niue all year round, with operators, such as Magical Niue Sea Adventures and Niue Blue offering tours on their boats (for ages 8 and above) to watch and (for ages 10 and above) to swim with the dolphins in their element. Learn more about it in The Guide to Swimming with Dolphins in Niue.
Between July and September, whale watching tours are also available, again where you can either stay on the boat or get in the water with them. Learn more about it in The Guide to Swimming with Whales in Niue.
Whale/Dolphin Watching for Children Under 8 Years
If your little ones are too little, then don’t worry, there’s still the opportunity to spot whales and dolphins while you are in Niue. What’s more, this opportunity is free!
Whales (seen between July and September) and dolphins (year-round) can be admired from the shores! While many accommodations have their own whale and dolphin-watching decks, there are signposted lookouts along the west coast of the island which also provide fantastic viewings. Take a picnic to lookouts, such as at the Hikutavake or Makefu sea tracks, as well as a pair of binoculars (not essential but does make for better viewing) and enjoy some family bonding time over scouting for dolphins and whales!
(c) Niue TourismDay 6 – Visit the Limu Pools, Matapa Chasm and More
A few days after arrival flights to Niue is the perfect time to visit some of Niue’s best snorkelling and swimming spots for kids when they are a little quieter.
First on the list is the Limu Pools, nearby the village of Namukulu. It’s best visited at mid to full incoming tide for older kids that want to do a bit of cliff jumping and the pools won’t be too shallow for swimming. Alternatively, come at low tide for shallow pools, ideal for young children.
Travel a little further north on the west coast and you’ll find the Matapa Chasm, another amazing swimming and snorkelling spot that can be enjoyed at any tide. The sea track is seven minutes one-way.
If you have more time, stop by Hio Beach on the way back where you can snorkel in the reef pools to the right of the beach, best swam 30 minutes before low tide or 30 minutes after. Alternatively, simply enjoy the reef walks here at low tide. While you’re here, treat the kids to a fresh fruit smoothie a the Hio Cafe & Bar!
For more family-friendly swimming spots, see the 8 Best Sea Tracks & Places to Swim in Niue for Kids.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 7 – Kids Go to Kids’ Club, Parents Do Scuba Diving/Fishing/etc.
If there’s something in Niue you’ve had your eye on but couldn’t do due to parental duties then you might have just found your saviour! Buccaneer Adventures Niue Dive offers a fun and educational kids’ club for children aged six years and above. The Reef Watch Kids Club has two sessions available, a low-tide reef walk where kids will get to see and learn about the crabs, small fish and other cool creatures they find. An alternative session is to Avaiki Cave where they’ll learn about the cave’s formation and its inhabitants. Sessions last about two to three hours each. Children’s scuba diving lessons are also available for ages 8 and over.
[Update: The Reef Watch Kids Club is no longer available. This page will be updated if another Kids Club becomes available].
In the meantime, Mum and Dad can enjoy an epic scuba diving adventure among caves, chasms and vibrant reefs. How about reeling in the big ones on a fishing charter or indulging in an island massage at the spa? Get inspired for things to do without the kid in our 7 Adult-Only Activities in Niue!
Alternative Things to Do: Visit Avaiki Cave
If you’d rather stick to your budget and stick together as a family, enjoy your own snorkelling session at Avaiki Cave near the village of Makefu. The cave is only accessible at low tide, where a short well-formed sea track takes you down to a cave with its very own pool for snorkelling. Be careful on the slippery rocks. Learn more about this cave and others in The Best Caves in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 8 – Niuean School and Talava Arches
Should today fall on a Friday, your morning can be spent visiting a local primary school. Get a glimpse into the school life of a South Pacific Island and watch the kids sing in a cultural assembly. The assembly starts at 8.45am on a Friday at the Niue Primary School in Paliati (next to the Niue High School where you took Misa’s Nature Tour).
After that, head into Alofi for some breakfast, then head north to the Talava Arches! The Talava Arches Sea Track can be enjoyed at any tide, but low tide is best if you want to walk onto the reef and underneath the arch.
Starting next to the Matapa Chasm Sea Track in Hikutavake, the Talava Arches Sea Track is a 30-minute walk along a rocky path until you reach a limestone cave. Keep an eye on enthusiastic children, helping them to use the guide ropes through the caves to the viewpoint of the Talava Arches. There is a narrow channel at the bottom of the reef offering safe snorkelling.
(c) M. Crawford - Niue TourismDay 9 – Spend Some Downtime in Alofi
After your active day of exploring yesterday, enjoy some downtime in Alofi again, doing the activities you might have missed on Day 2. For instance, enjoy a family game of mini golf at the Vaiolama Cafe or educate yourselves at the Niue Museum.
See 10 Things To Do in Alofi with Kids, should you need more ideas!
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 10 – Relax (Sunday Option)
10 days have almost gone already?! Yes, time flies in Niue, but you’ve managed to squeeze in a lot of amazing experiences so far.
At some point during your trip, you will find yourself in Niue on a Sunday, which is observed as a day of rest. Enjoy a bit of rest yourself with some pool time, if you’re staying at accommodations, such as the Scenic Matavai Resort, Namukulu Cottages, Taloa Heights or the Scenic Matavai Apartments & Villas. Alternatively, you could swim at swimming holes, but avoid doing so near villages when church is in session, usually, around 9/10am and 3/4pm.
Another fun option is to head to Avatele Beach where the Washaway Cafe is open on Sundays only. Kids can enjoy swimming from the beach at low or mid-tide on an outgoing tide (watch out for currents near the channel and boat ramp). In the meantime, treat yourself to a drink and food at the Washaway Cafe, which is a serve-yourself honesty bar!
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 11 – Check Out the Niue Market
The Niue Market takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, so should be one of the days on Day 10 of your family getaway. Get up bright and early for the market that begins at 6am, ending at 8am on a Monday and Friday, and 12pm on a Wednesday. Treat the little ones (and yourselves) to some unique souvenirs to remember your time here, whether it’s clothing, jewellery or something else. There are more gift shopping opportunities around the island too, from the Tourist Information Centre to the Commercial Centre in Alofi to Kauhi Krafts in Avatele. Find out more in Where to Find the Best Souvenirs in Niue.
Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
(c) Niue TourismDay 12 – Do an Ebony Rainforest Tour
If you still have energy, experience a stunning part of the Niuean rainforest on the family-friendly Ebony Rainforest Tour. Your guide, Jack, will take you through the ancient Polynesian wilderness to learn how his ancestors gathered food and medicine, to visit limestone caves and see where Jack collects rare ebony wood to make magnificent carvings.
The tour involves a walk on a rough track not recommended for children under five years old. However, there is an easier track that can be taken if you have small children. Refreshments are provided on the tour, as well as pick-ups from Alofi and the Scenic Matavai Resort.
Alternative Things to Do: Go to an Entertainment Evening at the Scenic Matavai Resort
Guests at the Scenic Matavai Resort get a whole week’s worth of entertainment each evening free of charge! Alternatively, casual visitors can book in for a meal at the on-site Dolphin Restaurant and combine this with one of their entertainment evenings, which typically go as follows:
- Monday: Learn to weave, 10am-12pm
- Tuesday: Coconut husking, 5.30pm
- Wednesday: Uga presentation, 5.30pm
- Thursday: Spitroast Dinner, Umu & Fire Dancing Performance, 6.30pm
- Friday: Taste of Niue Barbecue, 6pm
- Sunday: Barbecue, Burgers & Beer Night, 6pm
© M Crawford - Niue TourismDay 13 – Free Day
Today is all yours to do anything you might have missed over the past fortnight (or anything that you thought was so amazing you want to do again)!
We have plenty of inspiration for new experiences in our 101 Things to Do in Niue: The Ultimate List, so get scrolling and complete your bucket list for day 14 of your family itinerary in Niue!
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 14 – Go Beach-Hopping (Or Have Some Pool Time)
Wow, you have really made the most of your family holiday in Niue, so take the time to relax and slowly get your things packed for leaving tomorrow. There’s always time to treat the kids to some splash time, whether it’s at your accommodation’s swimming pool or at one of the swimming holes we recommend in 8 Best Sea Tracks & Places to Swim in Niue for Kids.
Treat yourselves to a meal at your favourite restaurant on the island, as everyone has a favourite at this point! If not, see The 10 Best Restaurants in Niue where we pick some favourites for you.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDeparture Day – Check Out and Leave Niue
The hardest part of a family holiday is when it comes to an end. In Niue, the departure process is a bit of a lengthy one than you might be used to, where checking in luggage needs to be done quite some time before departure. See Leaving Niue: The Niue Airport Departure Process for a full guide on the departure process.
Return your car rental by parking the car where the “Rental Cars Only” signs are, leaving the keys in the car.
Goodbye from Niue! Chances are, you’ll be back soon…
More on Family Itineraries for Niue
That’s it for the Niue family itinerary: 14 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.
