The Top Places to Visit in Niue
It’s no secret that Niue is a small island. But with so much to see and do in every hidden nook and cranny of the world’s largest raised coral atoll, you’ll find that you’ll need entire days to make the most of its attractions. So, what are the best day trips in Niue?
Rent a car (or even some electric bikes) and hit the pot-holed roads to discover the island’s rugged corners of sea tracks, swimming holes, caves, a resort and even the island’s cool little capital town. We go through it all in this guide to self-drive day trips in Niue.
5 Best Day Tours in Niue
For those of you without your own vehicle to benefit from the self-drive day trips that we list below, day tours are an excellent alternative. In reality, all of Niue’s tours are half-day rather than a full day, but hey, that’s island time for you.
Some of the best day tours in Niue include:
- Explore Niue’s East Coast Tour – See the sights of the east coast like Anapala Chasm, Togo Chasm and more
- Niue Orientation Tour – Visit some of the west coast highlights and get acquainted with the island
- Taue Uga Day Tours – Set up uga (coconut crab) baits in lush Niuean forest. Join Taue Tours for their night tour too to see if your baits work!
- Niue Fishing Charters’ Sunset Coastal Cruise – A sightseeing tour from the perspective of the Pacific Ocean
- A5 Plantation Tour – A 4WD tour through a tropical plantation. Discover Niue’s tropical food crops and taste the good stuff.
Details on each day tour are listed in The Best Guided Tours in Niue and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Niue.
© NiuePocketGuide.comThe East Coast
The Best Day Trip in Niue for Couples
Travel time by car from Alofi: 30 minutes
Travel time by car from Scenic Matavai: 30 minutes
Travel time by car from Tuapa/Namukulu: 35 minutes
It might only take 30 minutes to reach Niue’s east coast from where most travellers stay but you can sure spend the whole day discovering its sea tracks. Delve down to the freshwater pool of Anapala Chasm, walk on top of the jagged pinnacles of Togo Chasm, explore the caves on the Uluvehi Sea Track and much more!
Find out about day-tripping to the east coast of Niue using the 7 Best Sea Tracks on the East Coast of Niue.
© Jonathan Irish - Niue TourismThe West Coast – Makefu to the Talava Arches
The Best Day Trip in Niue for Families
Travel time by car from Alofi: 10 minutes
Travel time by car from Scenic Matavai: 20 minutes
Travel time by car from Tuapa/Namukulu: 0 minutes
The top of the west coast offers an unmissable selection of swimming holes and caves to discover. From Makefu, swim in a sheltered cave pool at Avaiki Cave and admire the dramatic formations of the neighbouring Palaha Cave. You also have one of Niue’s only beaches, Hio Beach just north of the caves, while the Limu Pools and Talava Arches are a must-visit further north.
Find out about day-tripping to the northwest coast of Niue using the 10 Best Sea Tracks on the West Coast of Niue. Be aware that many of the sea tracks on the west coast are tide-dependent.
© NiuePocketGuide.comAlofi
The Best Day Trip in Niue for Budget Travellers
Travel time by car from Alofi: 0 minutes
Travel time by car from Scenic Matavai: 12 minutes
Travel time by car from Tuapa/Namukulu: 12 minutes
Niue’s coolest tiny capital is well worth exploring for the day. Get your dose of culture on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at The Market of Niue and watch the weavers at work on Wednesdays at the Niue Council of Women. Alofi also has a mini golf course on the clifftops, historical sites like Tomb Point and Opaahi, diverse restaurants, and, of course, plenty of sea tracks!
Make your bucket list for things to see and do in Alofi using the 10 Things to Do in Alofi.
© NiuePocketGuide.comThe West Coast – Tamakautoga to Avatele
The Best Day Trip in Niue for Foodies
Travel time by car from Alofi: 12 minutes
Travel time by car from Scenic Matavai: 0 minutes
Travel time by car from Tuapa/Namukulu: 21 minutes
Niue’s southwest coast has plenty to explore to keep you busy for at least half a day, starting with its endearing beaches. Venture down short sea tracks to Tamakautoga Beach and Pofitu Beach. Nearby you’ll find the Scenic Matavai Resort with its restaurant and stunning coastal views. Finally, Sundays are best spent at the Washaway Cafe (the only day it’s open) and Avatele Beach for a snorkel.
Check out more ways to enjoy the southwest coast of Niue in the 9 Things to Do in Avatele.
© NiuePocketGuide.comThe Pacific Ocean
The Best Day Trip in Niue for Luxury Travellers
Most boat trips depart from Alofi:
Travel time to Alofi by car from Alofi: 0 minutes
Travel time to Alofi by car from Scenic Matavai: 12 minutes
Travel time to Alofi by car from Tuapa/Namukulu: 12 minutes
We know this isn’t exactly a self-drive road trip but we can’t wrap up this list of day trips in Niue without mentioning a day on the water. Top activities on the crystal clear waters surrounding the island include fishing charters to catch huge game species, dolphin-swimming excursions, whale swimming (available July to September), scuba diving and snorkelling tours.
If you need more inspiration, check out the 9 Amazing Water Activities in Niue.
More About Day Trips in Niue
