Niue Food Guide
Who knew so much amazing food could come from the “Rock of the Pacific”? Niue, the world’s largest raised coral atoll, is home to the world’s cleanest bees, is a producer of premium organic vanilla, and has its own set of delicacies, including the local coconut crab called “uga”. Niueans are eager to show you their way of life on the island, as it has been for centuries, through extremely insightful food and plantation tours. There are also Niuean buffet nights cooked in an “umu” (earth oven), as well as spectacular restaurants cooking up international favourites with fresh local fish. You can also pop down to the market and get produce to spruce up your own creations in your self-catering accommodation. We go through all of that and more in this complete foodie guide to Niue!
Foodies Experiences in Niue
- Learn how to bait and hunt uga
- Tour a vanilla plantation
- Visit a noni farm
- Take part in a Niuean plantation tour
- Learn about the food of the forest on Misa’s Nature Tour
- Browse the Niue Market
- Pick up some clean Niuean honey
- Stop by the vanilla stalls
- Dine at the delectable restaurants
- Sample Niuean food at an umu night
For more details on each activity, learn more in the 10 Things to Do in Niue for Foodies.
(c) niuepocketguide.comHow to Get to Niue
Getting to Niue is as simple as taking a flight, a cruise or sailing in your own yacht. As for getting around, options are limited to car rentals, bike rentals, airport transfers, one taxi and walking. Find out more about each transport option in the 8 Ways to Get to Niue (& Get Around Niue). Otherwise, here’s an overview of the most popular way to get to and around Niue.
Flights to Niue
Flights have a limited weekly schedule from Auckland Airport with Air New Zealand, landing at Hanan International Airport in Niue. The flight is approximately 3h30mins long. Learn more about flights to Niue in Which Airlines Fly Straight to Niue?
Car Rentals
With attractions scattered across the island and limited public transport, car rentals are highly recommended during your stay in Niue. Rental companies offer airport drop-off, while pick-ups at rental depots in Alofi and elsewhere are also an option. A Niue Driver’s License is required, which you can learn more about in The Guide to Car Hire in Niue.
Airport Transfers
Many accommodation providers offer guests complimentary airport transfers at the beginning and end of their holiday.
(c) M. Crawford - Niue TourismFood-Related Activities in Niue
From fishing to uga hunting, gathering food has always been the way of life for Niueans. Learn about traditional food gathering methods, as well as tour more contemporary tropical plantation, on one of the amazing food tours available in Niue!
Plantation Tours
All sorts of weird and wonderful tropical fruit and vegetables are grown on the island of Niue, which you can delve a little deeper into with one of the plantation tours on the island. For instance, A5 Tours in Mutalau Village takes you on a 4WD tour of a Niuean plantation, where you’ll learn about traditional and contemporary farming methods, learn how to husk a coconut and even hold an uga (coconut crab). Alternatively, visit an organic vanilla plantation with Niue Vanilla Tours near Alofi or learn the ways of the Noni at the Noni Farm in Vaiea. Learn more about these tours and more in The Guided Tours in Niue.
Browse the Niue Market
The Niue Market in Alofi is not just a place to browse local fruit and uga for sale, but it’s a cultural experience. Mingle with the locals at this morning market, taking place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. There is also an organic market on the first Friday of the month from 5pm.
Hunt for Uga
Uga, otherwise known as coconut crabs, are a Niuean delicacy and have been hunted in the local forests for centuries. Learn about baiting uga, collect uga and even get to taste some on a uga hunting tour with Taue Uga Tours. Your guide, Ope, will show you the sustainable hunting methods used, as well as teach you more about the Niuean forests.
For more food-related activities, see the 10 Things to Do in Niue for Foodies.
(c) Niue TourismThe Best Restaurants in Niue
Niue has a small selection of delectable restaurants with a surprising array of international cuisines represented. Dine on fresh sushi, New York-style pizzas, Indian curries, Chinese cuisine, American burgers and more! Should you want to try some Niuean dishes, your best bet are the Niuean buffet evenings taking place at various restaurants.
Niuean Cuisine
Sample a range of Niuean dishes, such as takihi, povi masima, moa Niue, faikai ika and more, at one of the umu nights on the island. On Thursday evenings, book a table at the Scenic Matavai Resort for their umu night and fire-dancing performers. The resort is located in Tamakautoga on the southwest coast of the island. Alternatively, the Hio Cafe & Bar puts on a Thursday umu night including an uga show and local music. Find the bar in the village of Tuapa. See which Niuean food to look for in the 8 Unique Foods in Niue You Have to Try.
International Cuisine in Niue
Take your tastebuds all over the world with Niue’s array of restaurants. Try sushi made by a Tokyo chef at the Kaiika Restaurant, try Indian curries made with fresh local fish at Gill’s Restaurant, have a spitroast dinner or a burger on Wednesday nights at the Crazy Uga Cafe, and more – all of the above are in Alofi. Check out much more recommendations in The Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants in Niue.
Foodie and Self-Catering Accommodation in Niue
- Scenic Matavai Resort (restaurant on site)
- Scenic Matavai Apartments & Villa
- Turtle Lodge
- Namukulu Cottages
- Clifftop Fale
- Matapa Guest House
- Kumar Enterprise / Guest House
- Heleni Jessop’s Fatahega
- Stone Villas
- Lau’s Getaway
- Nic’s Bungalows
- Petite Hatava
- Kololi’s Motel
- Anaiki Motel
- Breeze
- Damiana’s Motel
- Lalopine Rockhouse
- Lanutahi Fales
- Taloa Heights
- Taoke Fales
- Yolos Accommodation
- Aleki Guesthouse
- Aliutu Guesthouse
- Bella’s Guesthouse
- Peleni’s Guesthouse
- Gabe’s Motel
- Kaliki Lodge
- Lilinya’s Guest House
- Teresa’s Guesthouse
- The Restoration Reef
- Tokuitoga Guesthouse
- Vinnie’s Guesthouse
- Joema Place
- Lolani’s Retreat
- Kaina Kaute
- Anakule
While all of these accommodations feature in our Accommodation Section, check out some of our top picks for foodies in the 10 Best Accommodation in Niue for Foodies.
