7-Day Family Itinerary for Niue
A family getaway to Niue is like no other in the South Pacific! Spend a week exploring the west coast of the raised coral atoll, where the most family-friendly walks, swimming and snorkelling spots are, as well as enjoy unique activities, from nature tours to whale-watching excursions. This Niue family itinerary for 7 days is curated for the family that wants to explore, see and do. For a more relaxed itinerary, see What to Do for 7 Days in Niue on a Family Vacation.
Note that due to the flight schedule in Niue, visitors will have to choose to stay an extra day, which this itinerary takes into account. Also, note that this Niue family 7-day itinerary has some activities that are only available on particular 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 7-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 7 Days
Niue is a single island with 123km (76 miles) of paved roads with little-to-no public transport. For this reason, and for the reason that the attractions are scattered throughout the island, we 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 Police Station in Alofi and costing around NZ$22.50.
For advice on car rentals, see The Guide to Car Hire in Niue and learn more about transport in Niue with the 8 Ways to Get to Niue (& Get Around Niue).
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 1 – Land in Niue and Check-in
Fakaalofa Lahi Atu! Welcome to Niue!
On arrival at Hanan International Airport, you will go through the airport customs and quarantine processes as explained in Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Niue, before picking up your rental car.
Visit the kiosk for your chosen vehicle rental company. Alternatively, if you have organised airport transfers with your accommodation, a representative will be waiting with a sign stating either their accommodation or your family name. Then you’ll enjoy a short drive to wherever your accommodation may be.
As Niue is so small, we recommend staying in the same accommodation for the entire week.
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 and our top recommendations, see the 10 Best Family Accommodation in Niue.
Self-catering and Dining in Niue
Most accommodation on the island is self-catering, where we recommend picking up supplies on your way to your accommodation. There is the Swanson Supermarket just outside of the airport (turn left when you leave the airport). Alternatively, there are a few convenience stores in Alofi.
Alternatively, treat the family to dining at one of Niue’s fabulous restaurants. 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 today 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.
The practicalities won’t take too long though, so you’ll still have plenty of time to experience some of Alofi’s top family-friendly activities!
Things to Do in Alofi with Kids
- Snorkel in the rock pools and a cave at the Vaila Sea Track (best at low tide)
- Play a round of mini golf at the Vaiolama Cafe
- Get some beach time at the Utuko Reef
- Visit the Fale Tau Taoga (Niue National Museum)
- 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 and a cute swimming hole on the Togalupo Sea Track
For more details and recommendations, check out the 10 Things To Do in Alofi with Kids!
Dining in Alofi
While you’re in Niue’s tiny capital, 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 – Relax
If you arrived in Niue on a Friday, it will mean that today is a Sunday, which is observed as a day of rest by locals. With many of the shops, restaurants, services and tours closed on a Sunday, it’s a good excuse for you to rest too!
Kids always love some pool time, which you can enjoy if you’re staying at one of the accommodations with a pool, such as the Scenic Matavai Resort, Namukulu Cottages, Taloa Heights or the Scenic Matavai Apartments & Villas. Alternatively, swim at one of Niue’s swimming holes, but avoid doing so near villages when church is in session, which is usually around 9/10am and 3/4pm.
Our recommendation is to go for a swim at Avatele Beach, where the Washaway Cafe is open on Sunday. Kids can enjoy swimming from the beach at low or mid outgoing tide (watch out for currents near the channel and boat ramp). Plus, treat yourself to beer, wine, burgers, pizzas and soft drinks at the serve-yourself honesty bar and cafe!
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 4 – Do a Nature Tour or Explore the Alofi Sea Tracks
Now that you are acquainted with Alofi, you’ll know where to go to reach Misa’s Nature Tours. Just up the road that turns off at the Police Station, find Misa’s Nature Tours opposite the high school. Misa will teach you and your family how to survive in the wild!
On this nature tour, get the imaginations of the little ones running 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) and a flying fox, and so much more!
The morning tour lasts approximately two hours and involves a little bit of walking at a slow pace. This makes Misa’s Nature Tour not only family-friendly but it gives 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, 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) niuepocketguide.comDay 5 – Do Some Dolphin/Whale Watching
Seen just off the coast of Niue, spinner dolphins ride the waves and leap in pods along the water’s surface all year round. Between July and September, humpback whales join in on the action, raising their young in Niue’s warm waters. Needless to say, both of these majestic creatures are exciting sights. What’s more, there are ways for all ages to enjoy Niue’s most mesmerising marine mammals.
Whale/Dolphin Tours for Children Aged 8+
Treat the family to a spectacular encounter with nature with one of the dolphin or whale-watching tours! Boat tours, such as with Magical Niue Sea Adventures and Niue Blue, offer passengers aged 8 and above to watch dolphins and whales closer than ever, or children aged 10 and over who are strong swimmers can even join whales and dolphins in their element! Learn more about it in The Guide to Swimming with Dolphins in Niue, as well as in The Guide to Swimming with Whales in Niue.
Whale/Dolphin Watching for Children Under 8 Years
If your little ones are too little or you have a tight budget, then don’t worry, there’s still the opportunity to spot whales and dolphins from the shores. While many accommodations have their own whale and dolphin-watching decks, there are signposted lookouts along the west coast of Niue which also provide fantastic viewings.
Take a picnic to lookouts, such as by the Hikutavake or Makefu sea tracks, as well as a pair of binoculars (not essential but does make the viewing better) and enjoy some family bonding time over scouting for dolphins and whales!
(c) Niue TourismDay 6 – Visit the Limu Pools, Matapa Chasm, the Talava Arches and More!
If you arrived on a Monday, then today is Friday and a plane day in Niue where many of the island’s tourists will be busy with flights. This is the perfect time to visit some of Niue’s best snorkelling and swimming spots for kids at a quieter time!
A must-do for families is the Limu Pools. Located nearby the village of Namukulu, the pools are best visited at mid to full incoming tide for older kids that want to do a bit of cliff jumping and some deeper water for snorkelling. The best time, if you have little ones, is at low tide when the pools are nice and shallow!
Travel a little further north on the west coast to the village of Hikutavake and you’ll find the Matapa Chasm and the Talava Arches. If the tide is still low or mid-tide, we recommend heading to the Talava Arches first.
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 a magnificent coastal arch. You can walk on the reef under the arch at low tide. There is also a narrow channel at the bottom of the reef, lined with beautiful coral for great snorkelling.
Return on the Talava Arches Sea Track the same way, then head down to the Matapa Chasm, just a seven-minute walk! This is another amazing swimming and snorkelling spot that can be enjoyed at any tide.
On your way back to your accommodation, stop by the 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! The cafe also does burgers, nachos and a Niuean buffet on a Thursday night (book ahead for the latter).
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 7 – Kids’ Club/Parent Day or Explore Avaiki Cave Together
Admittedly, Niue does have some tempting activities for the grown-ups to enjoy. Think: scuba diving in crystal clear waters, fishing for monsters like mahimahi and wahoo, indulging in a relaxing spa treatment, going on an epic uga-hunting tour, and more! See the 7 Adult-Only Activities in Niue should you need more inspiration…
In Niue, you can certainly make this happen knowing that your kids are in good hands and having the time of their lives at the Reef Watch Kids Club with Buccaneer Adventures. The kids’ club for ages six and above 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; and a 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 years and over.
[Update: Reef Watch Kids Club is no longer available. We will update this page when a new kids’ club becomes available].
Alternative Things to Do: Visit Avaiki Cave
If you’d rather stick to your budget and stick together, enjoy a family 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 a large sheltered pool for swimming and snorkelling. Be careful when walking on slippery rocks! Learn more about Avaiki Cave and others in The Best Caves in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comDay 8 – Departure Day
All good things come to an end, so Day 8 of your Niuean getaway is the day to pack up your bags, check out of your accommodation and start the airport departure process.
The departure process in Niue is a bit of a lengthy process 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.
After checking in your baggage in the morning. Perhaps enjoy one last round of mini golf in Alofi before returning your car rental at the “Rental Cars Only” signs at the airport, leaving the keys in the car.
You’ll then depart on your flight to Auckland.
More on Niue Family Itineraries and Day Trips
That’s it for the Niue family itinerary: 7 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.
