Niue Family Itinerary: 14 Days / 2 Weeks

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How to Get Around Niue in 14 Days

Niue is one island with 123 km (76 mi) of paved roads and no public transport… 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.

Family Car Rental in Niue

A range of vehicles are available for hire in Niue, from family SUVs to station wagons. Get advice on hiring a car in What You Need to Hire a Car in Niue. Note, you will need to purchase a Niue Driver’s License to drive in Niue, which you can get from the Police Station.

For alternative transport in Niue, 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?

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Day 1 – Land in Niue and Check-in at Your Accommodation

Travel time: 5-10 minutes drive.

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 Accommodations in Niue

• Scenic Matavai Resort
• Scenic Matavai Apartments & Villa
• Namukulu Cottages
• Heleni Jessop’s Fatahega
• Stone Villas
• Tuaga Lodge
• Lalopine Rockhouse
• Taloa Heights
• Yolos Accommodation
• Aleki Guesthouse
• Lialagi Dorm & Units
• Kaliki Lodge
• Joema Place
• Lolani’s Retreat

For more details on our top recommendations, see the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Niue.

Dining and Self-Catering 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. Find out more about self-catering in The Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Niue.

If you prefer eating out tonight, check out the recommendations in the 20 Best Restaurants in Niue. Alternatively, book a table at Kaiika (Alofi) for fresh Japanese cuisine for Mum and Dad and pizzas for the kids.

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Day 2 – Explore Alofi

Travel time: 5-15 minutes drive.

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, 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 are still plenty of things to do in Alofi.

Things to Do in Alofi with Kids

• 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
• Reef walk or snorkel at the Utuko Reef.

For more details and suggestions, check out the 20 Best Things to Do in Niue with Kids!

Dining Recommendations

While you’re in Alofi, be sure to check out some of the fantastic restaurants and cafes. See The Best Places to Eat in Alofi for recommendations. For lunch, delight in paninis, fish and chips and salads in a rustic clifftop setting at the Crazy Uga Cafe. For dinner, discover the Indian cuisine of the Vanilla Cafe or, if you have fussy eaters, Buk Buk Chicken behind the Commercial Centre is a good backup.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 3 – Explore the East Coast

Travel time: 1 hour – 2 hrs 30 mins drive.

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 Visitor 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, Tautu Sea Track, 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.

Check off the sights from the 8 Best Sea Tracks on the East Coast, Niue or follow our itinerary step-by-step in A Self-Guided Day Trip in Niue: East Coast Itinerary.

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, as listed in the 8 Best Sea Tracks & Places to Swim in Niue for Kids.

To drive around the entire island takes around 2 hrs 30 mins (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.

Dining Recommendations

Sunday is the only day of the week that the honesty bar and kitchen of the Washaway Cafe (Avatele) is open, so head on down and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere for lunch and/or dinner.

When dinner comes around, Crow’s Nest (Alofi Commercial Centre) serves up excellent fish and chips and extra cakes on a Sunday (note that schedules are subject to change – see about getting a restaurant schedule on arrival, as outlined in Opening Hours in Niue: Odd Hours, Tide Times & Things to Know).

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Day 4 – Head Out on a Family-Friendly Fishing Charter

Travel time: 5-15 minutes drive.

Fishing is a big deal in Niue as a source of sustenance for the island’s inhabitants. Not to mention, it’s incredibly rewarding and exciting to hook on a fish and reel it in! Wahoo Fishing Charters is a fantastic option for families, where your experienced skipper will head to hotspots for kids to get hooked on smaller fish. Older members of your crew can try their luck at Pacific whoppers like mahimahi or wahoo. Learn more about the experience in The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Niue.

Alternative Thing to Do: Explore the Alofi Sea Tracks

If a fishing charter 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 8 Best Sea Tracks in Alofi for descriptions.

Dining Recommendations

Start your day off with aromatic coffee and an indulgent locally-sourced brunch at Fana Cafe (Swanson Complex). For dinner, give the Dolphin Restaurant (Scenic Matavai Resort) a try, with its a la carte menu accompanied by the soothing tunes of an island band.

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Day 5 – Jump on a Snorkelling Boat Tour with Niue Blue

Travel time: 10-20 minutes drive.

Get your wildlife fix by watching acrobatic spinner dolphins year-round or even majestic humpback whales between July and September on a family-friendly snorkelling tour with Niue Blue. The team can curate the ultimate trip with a wealth of equipment at their disposal, such as transparent boogie boards, snorkelling gear and more. Check out some lesser-visited snorkelling spots and, depending on the ability of everyone, there may be an opportunity to swim with whales and dolphins. Tours are suitable for ages 5 years and up. Learn more in The Best Guided Snorkelling Tours in Niue.

Alternative Thing to Do: Whale/Dolphin Watching From Shore

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!

Dining Recommendations

You’ll have likely worked up an appetite from snorkelling, so refuel on fish and chips either from Cafe Tavana (Alofi Commercial Centre) for lunch or the Crow’s Nest (Alofi Commercial Centre) for dinner.

(c) Niue Tourism

Day 6 – Visit the Limu Pools, Matapa Chasm and More

Travel time: 10-30 minutes drive.

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.

Dining Recommendations

Since you’re in the area, it would be rude not to treat the family to lunch at the Hio Cafe & Bar (Tuapa) with its wood-fired pizzas, fish tacos, burgers and Niuean tasting platters.

Tonight, try some authentic Niuean dishes, from sweet takihi to lupe (pigeon) risotto, as well as child-friendly options, at the Manuiz island buffet. Bookings are essential. For more umu buffets to try, check out schedules in The Ultimate Guide to Niue Nightlife.

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Day 7 – Explore Avaiki Cave and Palaha Cave

Travel time: 10-30 minutes drive.

Only accessible at low tide, Avaiki Cave is a large cathedral cave with safe swimming in the cave pool. Snorkel among coral and fish in this impressive limestone cave! Just down the road (or connected by the reef at low tide), Palaha Cave is a fantastic cave to explore with magnificent limestone formations. Be careful that rock surfaces are often slippery. For more caves to explore, see The 10 Best Caves in Niue.

Dining Recommendations

Start your day off with aromatic coffee and an indulgent locally-sourced brunch at Fana Cafe (Swanson Complex).

If you arrived on a Friday, today is Thursday and happy hour at the Vaiolama Cafe (Alofi South) starts at 5 pm with family-friendly DJ entertainment and irresistible grill-style cuisine.

Again, timings change all the time in Niue, so be sure to pick up an entertainment schedule from the Visitor Information Centre when you arrive.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 8 – Check Out a Niuean School and the Talava Arches

Travel time: 20-30 minutes drive.

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 9 am every second Friday at the Niue Primary School (on the Alofi-Liku Road next to the Niue High School).

After that, head into Alofi for some brunch, 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.

Dining Recommendations

Pick up a hot roll from Little Rock (Alofi) for brunch before they sell out, which is a great option to take on the road to the Avaiki Cave.

While you’re up that way, happy hour at the Hio Cafe & Bar (Tuapa) starts at 5 pm (but things change all the time in Niue, so see Opening Hours in Niue: Odd Hours, Tide Times & Things to Know for advice), so head down after your swim and enjoy some sundowners, as well as Niuean tasting platters, wood-fired pizzas and more. Be sure to book!

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Day 9 – Spend Some Downtime in Alofi

Travel time: 5-15 minutes drive.

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, educate yourselves at the Niue Museum or snorkel at Utuko Reef.

See the 20 Best Things to Do in Alofi, should you need more ideas!

Dining Recommendations

If you haven’t gone already, don’t miss lunch at the Crazy Uga Cafe (Alofi) during your trip. The clifftop restaurant overlooking the gorgeous Utuko Reef offers a rustic setting for paninis, fish and chips, salads and more. For dinner, you may be tempted to try some of the best pizzas on the island at the Katuali Coffee House (Alofi).

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 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 any of the accommodations listed in the 6 Accommodations in Niue with a Swimming Pool. Alternatively, you could swim at swimming holes, but avoid doing so near villages when church is in session, usually, around 9/10 am and 3/4 pm. See more cultural customs in our guide to Niuean Etiquette: Niue Customs & Traditions.

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!

Dining Recommendations

Washaway Cafe (Avatele) is always a reliable option on a Sunday. The Dolphin Restaurant (Scenic Matavai Resort) usually has something special happening on a Sunday for dinner, such as a smoked barbecue night. Check out the entertainment schedule on arrival.

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Day 11 – Do the Ebony Rainforest Tour

Travel time: 5 minutes to 1 hour drive.

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, 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. Refreshments are provided on the tour, as well as pick-ups from Alofi and the Scenic Matavai Resort.

Dining Recommendations

Serving a huge range of cocktails, mocktails and smoothies, All Relativf (Swanson Complex) is a family-friendly bar that’s well worth popping in at some point during your trip. Afterwards, head down to Jenna’s Restaurant (Alofi) to see what’s on the blackboard menu of this rustic eatery.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Day 12 – Check Out the Niue Market

The Niue Market takes place several times a week, including Tuesdays if you’re following this itinerary as having arrived on a Friday. Get up bright and early for the market that begins at 8 am and ends around 12 pm. 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, such as Kauhi Krafts (Alofi Commerical Centre) which also whips up amazing milkshakes. Find out more shopping opportunities in The Guide to Shopping in Niue + The Best Places to Shop.

Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Alternative Thing 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 a meal at the on-site Dolphin Restaurant and combine this with one of their entertainment evenings, such as coconut husking shows and demonstrations of the mighty uga coconut crab! See a sample schedule in The Ultimate Guide to Niue Nightlife or simply pick up a schedule from the resort reception or Visitor Information Centre on arrival.

Dining Recommendations

Have the kids tried the smoothies and fresh sandwiches at the Vaiolama Cafe (Alofi) for lunch yet? For dinner, try out the sourdough pizzas at Kaiika (Alofi) or, ya know, some more sushi!

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Days 13 & 14 – Free Days

These days are 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)! It’s always smart to have a couple of free days in your Niue itinerary in case any of your tours are rescheduled due to bad weather, for instance. Otherwise, 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.

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 days 13 and 14 of your family itinerary in Niue!

Dining Recommendations

By this point, you must have your favourite!

(c) niuepocketguide.com

Departure Day

Travel time: 5-10 minutes drive.

The hardest part of a family holiday is when it comes to an end. In Niue, the departure process is a bit lengthier 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 in the airport car park, leaving the keys in the ignition.

Then, it’s goodbye from Niue! Chances are, you’ll be back soon…

© Niue Tourism

Alternative Itinerary: Niue Relaxing Family 2-Week (14-Day) Itinerary

Remember that a holiday is your opportunity to relax too, so take a look at the proposed itinerary below listing just one or two activities per day for a laidback pace. In the below itinerary, you will be staying in the same accommodation. Plus, 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 – Swim at the Limu Pools
• Day 3 – Visit Avatele, its beach and the Washaway Cafe
• Day 4 – Walk to the Talava Arches and snorkel with the fish
• Day 5 – Enjoy a day in Alofi
• Day 6 – Enjoy a pool day at your resort/accommodation
• Day 7 – Relax at Hio Beach and the Hio Cafe
• Day 8 – Visit the east coast attractions, like Togo Chasm and Matapa Chasm
• Day 9 – Tour a tropical plantation with A5 Tours
• Day 10 – Enjoy a pool day at your resort/accommodation
• Day 11 – Rent some bikes and hit the cycle trails
• Day 12 – Visit a Niuean school for their Friday cultural assembly
• Day 13 – Catch the uga (coconut crab) presentation at the Scenic Matavai Resort
• Day 14 – Visit your favourite swimming spot one last time
• Departure Day – Get prepared for departure on an exciting and unusual Niue plane day.