What You Need to Know About Biking in Niue
Niue is an island of adventure, especially when it comes to mountain biking (minus the mountains). With five official bike trails on the island, more than 190km (118 miles) of ridable bush tracks and 123km (76 miles) of quiet paved roads, Niue is definitely a country that enables two-wheeled fun. Best suited for mountain biking due to the state of the roads, cycling in Niue is a good way to get between attractions, as well as to explore the island’s less-visited interior. Learn all you need to know about cycling on “The Rock” with this complete guide to mountain biking in Niue.
Before we jump into our guide to cycling in Niue, remember to bookmark the 101 Things to Do in Niue: The Ultimate List for more amazing experiences.
Quick Tips for Biking in Niue
- It is not compulsory to wear a helmet in Niue, but it is recommended
- This isn’t Rarotonga, cycling around Niue is a challenge with the main road being around 64km (40 miles) and taking around 4 to 5 hours to cycle
- Mountain bikes are better for the paved roads in Niue instead of road bikes due to the potholes
- Avoid cycling at night, as there is limited street lighting in Niue
- Bear in mind the heat in Niue, which can make cycling more exhausting, when planning how long to cycle for
- The sea tracks are not suitable for cycling.
For more advice, take a look at the 9 Tips for Cycling in Niue.
(c) Freedom Rental NiueWhere to Rent Bikes in Niue
Niue has a good selection of rental bikes, from affordable mountain bikes to e-bikes suited to the Niue roads. Some accommodations even include free bike rental for guests.
Bike Rentals in Alofi
Niue Rentals, based in Alofi North, has a decent range of mountain bikes for hire. They also have a very limited number of e-bikes.
Alofi Rentals in the centre of Alofi also hires out mountain bikes as part of their large fleet of vehicles to get around the island.
Based near the airport in Fualahi, Alofi, Freedom Bikes Niue offers e-bike hire, designed for Niue’s paved roads as a more sustainable transport option.
Bike Rentals Around Niue
Niue’s only resort, the Scenic Matavai Resort in Tamakautoga, has a small fleet of e-bikes available.
Guided bike tours and mountain bike rentals are available at Namukulu Cottages, in the village of Namukulu.
Accommodation with Free Bike Rental
Accommodations in Niue that include bike rental for guests include Breeze and Damiana’s Motel in Avatele, as well as Lolani’s Retreat in Makefu. To learn more about these accommodations, see the 5 Accommodations in Niue with Bike Hire.
For more information on bike hire, take a look at Where to Rent Bikes in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comBringing Your Own Bike to Niue
It is possible to bring your own bike to Niue with the sole airline flying to the island, Air New Zealand. You will need to check your bike in as check-in luggage and pack your bike appropriately.
For checking in a bike onto an Air New Zealand flight to Niue, pack the bike in a bike box or bike bag. Bike boxes are available to purchase at the Auckland Airport for around NZ$25.
You don’t need to deflate the tyres but you do need to do the following:
- Remove the handlebars or turn them sideways
- Remove the pedals or turn them in
- Make sure the pressure of any nitrogen gas mountain bike struts is no more than 200kPa (kilopascal) or 29PSI (pounds per square inch)
- Make sure that any cartridges for inflating tyres are less than 50ml (1.6oz) and contain a non-flammable gas.
Remember to seal the box and label it with your name and phone number. It’s a good idea to place accessories in a bag within the bike box/bag.
Learn more about flying with Air New Zealand to Niue in Which Airlines Fly to Niue?
(c) niuepocketguide.comBike Trails in Niue
Although there is around 190km (118 miles) of bush trails and a total of 123km (76 miles) of paved roads in Niue, there are many possible routes to enjoy by bike. But to make things easier, there are five official bike tracks that are signposted and marked on bike trail maps available at the Visitor Information Centre in Alofi. All of the tracks are loop tracks (i.e. they can be started and ended at the same location) and take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete.
The bike tracks in Niue include:
- Bike Track 1 (Fuata Road) – 11.5km (7.1 miles)
- Bike Track 2 (Keleola Bush Road) – 21km (13 miles)
- Bike Track 3 (Makefu Bush Road) – 7.5km (4.7 miles)
- Bike Track 4 (Falepipi Bush Road) – 20km (12.4 miles)
- Bike Track 5 (Vinivini Bush Road) – 13.3km (8.3 miles)
Check out a description of each bike track in The Best Bike Trails in Niue.
(c) Michelle HightGuided Bike Tours in Niue
Admittedly, there aren’t many options when it comes to guided bike tours in Niue. Nevertheless, if you want peace of mind and the knowledgeable insights of a local guide, Namukulu Cottages offers guided bike tours.
There are three options available. One is a bike tour to some of the best snorkelling spots close to the accommodation in Namukulu. The other is tackling the more adventurous inland bush tracks. Both options last approximately two hours.
Alternatively, there is the “Wash-Away Butt-Buster” tour, where your guide will take you through the island’s plantations and tropical forest down to the Washaway Cafe for drinks and lunch. Transport back to Namukulu Cottages is included. The tour lasts approximately four hours and is only available on Sundays.
More About Mountain Biking in Niue
