5-Day Family Itinerary for Niue
Arriving in Niue on a Monday and leaving on a Friday? While it’s not the recommended length of stay to make the most out of Niue (i.e. stay longer!), families can still enjoy some of the island’s magnificent swimming holes, snorkelling hotspots and nature tours within this time. This Niue family itinerary for 5 days is curated for the family that wants to explore, see and do as much as possible in a limited time. For a more relaxed itinerary, see What to Do for 5 Days in Niue on a Family Vacation.
Before we jump into this 5-day family itinerary for Niue, be sure to bookmark The Travel Guide to Niue for Families for even more family vacation 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
Niue is a small island with 123km (76 miles) of paved roads and little-to-no public transport. Although this Niue family 5-day itinerary mostly consists of short trips and full days of travelling from attraction to attraction, we recommend hiring a car for your entire stay in Niue. Alternatively, airport transfers and one taxi is available, and you could just hire a car for Day 4 of this itinerary – be sure to book well in advance in the high season.
To drive a car in Niue, you will need a Niue Driver’s Licence, available from the Police Station in Alofi and costing around NZ$22.50.
For advice on hiring a car, see The Guide to Car Hire in Niue and learn more about your transport options in the 8 Ways to Get to Niue (& Get Around Niue).
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 1 – Arrive in Niue
Fakaalofa Lahi Atu! Welcome to Niue, your home for the next five days!
On arrival at Hanan International Airport, go through the airport customs, collect your baggage and go through the quarantine process as explained in Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Niue.
Once you’re outside of the arrival area, head to the kiosk of your chosen rental company to pick up your rental car and go through the car inspection process. Alternatively, if you have organised airport transfers with your accommodation, a representative will be standing at a kiosk or with a sign stating their accommodation. Wherever you’re staying on the island, it will be a short drive to your accommodation.
Family Accommodation in Niue
- Scenic Matavai Resort
- Namukulu Cottages
- Matapa Guest House
- Scenic Matavai Apartments & Villas
- Stone Villas
- Heleni Jessop’s Fatahega
- Kololi Motel
See the 10 Best Family Accommodation in Niue for more details on our top recommendations for families.
Self-catering and Dining in Niue
Most accommodation on the island is self-catering, where you can pick up supplies on your way to your accommodation. The largest supermarket on the island, Swanson Supermarket, is just outside of the airport (turn left when you leave the airport). There are also a few convenience stores in Alofi.
Alternatively, celebrate your first day in Niue with a restaurant dinner. Check out our recommendations in The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 2 – Explore Alofi
While other visitors are rushing to the island’s popular attractions, we recommend taking it easy and getting acquainted with the main town of Niue, Alofi. This will allow you to see what services and restaurants are available, pick up your Niue Driver’s License, as well as book tours through the Visitor Information Centre.
It’s not all about the practicalities though, as you’ll still have the day to enjoy some of Alofi’s highlights, from various sea tracks and swimming holes to a museum to mini golf!
Things to Do in Alofi with Kids
- Get some beach time and do a reef walk at the Utuko Reef
- Snorkel in the rock pools and discover the cave on the Vaila Sea Track
- Get competitive with a round of mini golf at the Vaiolama Cafe
- Visit the Fale Tau Taoga (Niue National Museum)
- Check out the vaka (canoes) and rocky coastline on the Opaahi Sea Track
- Explore the rockpools on the Togalahi Sea Track
- Check out a tiny but cute swimming hole on the Togalupo Sea Track
For more details and more activities, check out the 10 Things To Do in Alofi with Kids!
Dining in Alofi
While you’re in Niue’s epic little capital, be sure to check out some of the family-friendly restaurants and cafes, such as Jenna’s Restaurant and the Crazy Uga Cafe. See more recommendations in The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Alofi.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 3 – Do a Nature Tour or Explore the Alofi Sea Tracks
Now that you know your way around Alofi, you’ll know where to go to reach Misa’s Nature Tours. It’s located just up the road that turns off at the Police Station and opposite the high school. There, Misa 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, see tribal weapons and hunting gear, see if Dad can make fire, hold an uga (coconut crab), hold a flying fox, and so much more!
The tour lasts approximately two hours and involves a little bit of walking at a slow pace, making it an ideal family-friendly tour. It will also give 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 a nature tour doesn’t sound like your thing or on budget, then enjoy one of the alternative free things to do in Alofi, like exploring the reefs or swimming at one of Alofi’s sea tracks. See the 6 Best Sea Tracks in Alofi for details.
(c) Niue TourismDay 4 – Visit the Limu Pools, Matapa Chasm, the Talava Arches and More!
If you’re staying in Alofi, now is a good time to hire a car for the day. Otherwise, you probably already have a car and are now ready to hit the road and explore Niue’s gorgeous nooks and crannies. We recommend a road trip on the west side of the island, which has the most family-friendly walks and swimming spots.
Limu Pools
A must-do in Niue for families is the Limu Pools. Located near Namukulu, the pools are best visited at mid to full incoming tide for older kids that want some deeper water for snorkelling and cliff-jumping. If you have little ones, visit the Limu Pools at low tide when they are nice and shallow!
Matapa Chasm and Talava Arches
Travel a little further north to Hikutavake where you’ll find the Matapa Chasm and the Talava Arches. If the tide is still low or at mid-tide, we recommend heading to the Talava Arches first.
The Talava Arches Sea Track is a 30-minute venture through the forest 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 until you reach a viewpoint of a magnificent coastal arch. You can walk on the reef under the arch at low tide and snorkel in the narrow channel at the bottom of the reef, lined with beautiful coral.
Return on the Talava Arches Sea Track the same way, then head down to the Matapa Chasm Sea Track just next door. The walk is an easy seven-minute walk to another amazing swimming and snorkelling spot that can be enjoyed at all tides.
Relax at the Hio Cafe
On your way back south, stop at nearby Hio Cafe & Bar! Treat the kids to a fresh-fruit smoothie, treat yourself to a cocktail, beer or a responsible non-alcoholic beverage, and enjoy the views of the beautiful Hio Beach! The cafe also does burgers, nachos and a Niuean buffet on a Thursday night (book ahead for the latter).
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 5 – Depart from Niue
Leaving already?! We told you five days wasn’t enough time! Nevertheless, you still have managed to do some of the highlights of the world’s largest raised coral atoll and, no doubt, enjoy some family bonding time.
After you have packed up your bags and checked out of your accommodation, it’s time to start the airport departure process.
The airport departure in Niue is a bit longer than in other countries due to the small airport with limited staff, so be sure to read Leaving Niue: The Niue Airport Departure Process for a full guide on what to expect. For many, it involves checking in your bags in the morning then coming back to catch your flight in the afternoon.
You’ll then depart on your flight to Auckland.
More on Niue Family Trip Ideas and Itineraries
That’s it for the Niue family 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.
