What is the Weather Like in Niue in July?
July and August are the two months in the heart of the dry season in Niue. This means that you can expect low precipitation and “cooler” temperatures (note the quotation marks) but this comes at the cost of slightly shorter days. To be quite fair, losing about one hour of daylight is not a big deal. In fact, in this kind of tropical climate, it can sometimes feel like a godsend! July also benefits from relatively low UV levels making it a better experience for kids and pale-skin travellers alike! In short, the Niuean winter is no winter at all and will only require you to add an extra cotton layer to your tropical attire and laugh to yourself that you wish you had this kind of winter back home… Let’s go over the temperature, precipitation, UV index and more from the Niue weather in July.
Before we dive into this weather guide to Niue in July, be sure to bookmark Niue Weather by Month: What is the Weather Like in Niue? and The Best Time to Visit Niue for more climate advice.
5 Tips for Travelling Niue in July
- Book ahead! July is the busiest season in Niue (not that the country ever gets crowded) but you should plan ahead to make sure you get your dream accommodation and activities in the bag. We recommend booking your trip about six weeks (or more) in advance
- Don’t be fooled by the statements about “cooler climate” you will still need to apply sunscreen regularly
- Niue is still a South Pacific island so rain can happen any time. Enjoy the warm shower or pack a light rain jacket
- Village show days are a big thing in Niue where each village spends one day celebrating its culture. July falls right in the middle of the show day season, so be sure to check out one of those festivals!
- With a dryer climate comes longer nights and clearer skies. Don’t miss out on one of the other marvels of Niue, which is an International Dark Sky Reserve!
Typical Temperatures in July
Not too hot and not too humid, July is pretty much a perfect time to visit Niue. Although not cool per se, the weather becomes extremely bearable or at least just hot enough to justify a cooling cocktail or two. In short, July is often claimed as the most comfortable month to travel to Niue. During the day, the average temperatures should be around 25°C / 77°F and the nightly average temperatures should be around 20°C / 68°F.
Temperatures in Alofi
- Average maximum temperature: 25°C / 77°F
- Average minimum temperature: 20°C / 68°F
Sea Temperature in July
Just as July offers the perfect weather on land, it also provides in the water with an average water temperature of 25°C / 77°F. Believe it or not, this perfect sea temperature will last for the whole dry season to only increase during the wet season. Does it get any better?
Hours of Sun in July
July being “winter” in Niue, you are right to expect shorter days than during the “summer” season. However, since Niue is a tropical country, in most cases the evening comes right on time to cool you down after a hot day exploring this paradise island. Don’t panic, you will still have plenty of daylight to pack your day as much or as little as you want and still have some spare time to unwind. July in Niue brings about 11 hours of daylight each day with 5 hours of bright sunshine. Ah… Winter in the tropics.
UV Levels During July
July gets a silver medal when it comes to UV index in Niue. It has the second-lowest average with a UV index of 7. It is still a pretty high score so you will still need to lather sunscreen regularly to make sure you avoid burning. At this level, experts still recommend using SPF 30+ protection.
Because Niue harbours some of the most amazing underwater worlds, we’ve created this list of the Best Reef Safe Sunscreens for Niue so you can protect your skin and the fragile Niuean seas. For the families, we’ve also prepared a list of the Best Sunscreen for Kids in Niue.
Sunrise and Sunset During July
An average day in July in Niue experiences 11 hours of daylight.
- Sunrise: 6.55am at the beginning of January and 6.50am at the end of July
- Sunset: 5.55pm at the beginning of January and 6.05pm at the end of July
Rainfall in July
July gets a gold medal when it comes to rain! That is right, it is the month with the lowest amount of precipitation in Niue. You can expect a few rare short showers, which tend to clear up quickly. In fact, on some occasions, you will find that by the time you take your rain jacket out of your bag, the rain has stopped… This is because Niue is so flat (its highest point is only 69m / 226ft) that the weather passes right over it. There is not really any reason for you to take the rain into consideration when planning your activities – it’ll come and go it if comes at all.
The average rainfall in Niue in July is 90mm / 3.5” spread over an average of 5 days. It means that out of the whole month of July, only 5 days may experience some showers.
Rainfall in Alofi
- Average rainfall in July: 87mm / 3.4″
- Average rain days: 5
Tropical Storms in July
July is extremely unlikely to bring any major weather event to Niue. The cyclone season is months away and the weather pattern is simply not providing the conditions necessary for a major weather event. However, in the unlikely event that a warning is issued, you will be able to rely on your accommodation or tour staff to bring you to safe zones established in the highest points of the country. Niue is very well prepared and has an excellent record in dealing with such events.
Check out How to Prepare for a Cyclone in Niue for more advice.
Best Places to Visit in July
There’s no place that won’t blow your mind in Niue in July. Selecting where to spend your days will come down to preference and maybe a bit of crowd management. Not that we ever experienced any crowds in Niue to be fair. Best of all, the whale swimming season kicks in in July. This leaves you with more choices than you have time for!
Best Things to Do in July
Swimming with Whales – The feeling of peacefully swimming with some of the planet’s largest mammals is hard to describe but we give it a good go in our article about Whale Swimming in Niue. Simply put, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will humble and amaze you all at the same time!
Experience a Village Show Day – There are 14 villages spread around Niue’s coastline. Each of them gets to showcase its colourful culture during its own show day. July falls right in the middle of the show day season so, with a bit of luck, you will be able to see one for yourself.
Road Trip – Niue is pretty small. When was the last time you drove across an entire country in less than 30 minutes? Getting behind the wheel of a rental car is a great way to make the most of your time on the island. There are plenty of coves, caves and reefs to check out. We recommend planning your trip alongside tide’s time and heading to the popular Limu Pools as soon as the tide is in before everybody else arrives!
July Packing List for Niue
We have a full packing list for Niue ready for you, so you don’t forget anything. In the meantime, here are a few essentials that you would hate to forget for your trip to Niue in July:
- Sunscreen (high-factor protection)
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket (just in case)
- Light clothing layer, cotton or linen preferably so it is super light!
- Light long-sleeved top (for both sun protection and for those cooler evening looking at the stars)
- Light pants/trousers
- Sunhat/sunglasses/swimwear (and whatever else you need in your “summer holiday kit”)
- Flip-flops/sandals
- Sarong or other light clothing to wear over your swimwear when passing through villages.
More About the Niue Weather
Author
Robin C.
This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Niue Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. He is also consulting regularly with Niue Tourism to ensure content accuracy. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.