When to Visit Niue
When is a good time to visit Niue? Well, we all have different things we want out of a tropical getaway. It could be to escape the winter at home, it could be to escape people at home, it could be to fulfil your dream of swimming with whales, or it might not matter as long as you get some tropical sun! Niue has only two seasons, so choosing a time to visit Niue isn’t too complicated. This guide to the best time to visit Niue should help you make an informed decision.
4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Time to Visit Niue
1. The Weather
Let’s be honest, you’re not planning a tropical getaway to be cold and miserable. Luckily, Niue is warm all year round, but the winter season tends to have cooler evenings while the summer has higher rainfall and humidity. Therefore, the season for your desired weather might be worth thinking about before you book your flight.
2. How Busy it is
Ok, so Niue never has more than 200 tourists on the island at one time to it certainly never really feels “crowded”. That’s also helped by the fact that the accommodation across the island is boutique and tours are only in small groups. While that’s definitely one of the charms of Niue, it also means that accommodations and tours can book up quickly for the high season! Check out the guide below to see when the tourist high and low seasons are.
3. The Cost
Some accommodation providers know when most tourists want to visit Niue and they are not afraid to take advantage of this with their prices. If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider visiting Niue in the low season.
4. The Activities
While many activities can be done year-round in Niue, there are times of the year that are better than others for a selected few. For instance, whale watching and swimming tours only operate from July to September. There are times when particular fishing is better too, for instance, fishing for mahimahi is better in winter while yellowfin tuna is best targeted in summer. Village show days are also definitely worth catching.
(c) PixabayThe Wet Season (Summer)
Months: November, December, January, February, March and April
Tourist Season: Low Season
Weather in the Wet Season
Temperature: 22-29°C (72-84°F)
Rainfall per month: 156-300mm (6.1-11.8″)
Find out more about the weather for each month in:
- Niue Weather in November
- Niue Weather in December
- Niue Weather in January
- Niue Weather in February
- Niue Weather in March
- Niue Weather in April
About the Wet Season in Niue
The “wet season” can’t help but conjure up images of a damp and drizzly holiday, but that’s really not the case in Niue. Rainfall is typically heavy but swift, passing quickly over this remote island in the Pacific Ocean. One thing that some visitors find uncomfortable, however, is the humidity. However, this can be easily remedied with all the swimming most people usually do on a getaway here, as well as accommodations being kitted out with ceiling fans and/or air conditioning.
The summer season in Niue is also when you will find accommodations and sometimes flights at their cheapest. What’s more, there are fewer tourists visiting the island throughout this season, meaning that you can often find yourself experiencing Niue’s most popular natural attractions all to yourself!
One slight objection to the wet season is that a limited number of activity providers close down for the season, meaning you have slightly fewer options when it comes to choosing experiences.
(c) PixabayThe Dry Season (Winter)
Months: May, June, July, August, September and October
Tourist Season: Shoulder & High Season
Weather in the Dry Season
Temperature: 21-27°C (70-81°F)
Rainfall per month: 90-160mm (3.5-6.3″)
Find out more about the weather for each month in:
- Niue Weather in May
- Niue Weather in June
- Niue Weather in July
- Niue Weather in August
- Niue Weather in September
- Niue Weather in October
About the Dry Season
Like the wet season, the “dry season” isn’t exactly as it sounds. While the weather most of the time is indeed dry, sunny and far less humid than the wet season, rain showers can wash over the island at any time. However, it tends to happen less frequently than in the wet season. As for the rest of the weather, temperatures are hot throughout the day but tend to be cool enough on an evening for some travellers to want to put on a light sweater.
The dry season is also the season with the most events, especially village show days, which are a must-see for visitors. One of the most noteworthy seasonal events in the dry season is the whale season, where Niue offers one of the only opportunities in the world to swim with whales (with licenced operators). The dry season is also a good time for fishing Wahoo and Mahimahi.
One drawback to the winter season is that it’s the most popular time for tourists to visit Niue, meaning that airfares and accommodation rates are at their highest. A bit of forward planning is also needed for booking accommodation and car rentals during the busier months (June to September) as they book up quickly.
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