The Guide to Cycling & Mountain Biking in Niue

© Niue Tourism

Are There Any Mountain Biking Trails in Niue?

Unfortunately for keen mountain bikers, the lack of “mountains” in Niue means that it’s not a place for downhill fun.

On the other hand, the island has five official bike trails where the majority take you off the main road and onto some exciting bush trails.

(c) niuepocketguide.com

The Bike Trails in Niue

Although there are around 190 km (118 mi) of bush trails and a total of 123 km (76 mi) of paved roads in Niue, there are many possible routes to enjoy by bike. But to make things even 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) – 11.5 km (7.1 mi)
• Bike Track 2 (Keleola Bush Road) – 21 km (13 mi)
• Bike Track 3 (Makefu Bush Road) – 7.5 km (4.7 mi)
• Bike Track 4 (Falepipi Bush Road) – 20 km (12.4 mi)
• Bike Track 5 (Vinivini Bush Road) – 13.3 km (8.3 mi)

Passing by unmissable coastal attractions and eateries, Niue’s bike trails have plenty to discover as you go. Check out such discoveries in a description of each bike track in The 5 Best Bike Trails in Niue.

Guided Bike Tours in Niue

At present, there are no guided bike tours in Niue. This page will be updated when tours become available.

© Freedom Bikes Niue

Where 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 rentals for guests.

Bicycle Rental in Niue

• Niue Visitor Information Centre, Alofi – A high-quality range of mountain bikes for hire
• Niue Blue, Tamakautoga – A mix of pushbikes and e-bikes for hire
• Freedom Bikes, Alofi – E-bikes for adults with the option for resort delivery.

More details on each of these bike rental companies can be found in Cycle Niue: Where to Rent Bikes in Niue.

Accommodation with Free Bike Rental

Accommodations in Niue that include bike rental for guests include Namukulu Cottages 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.

© Michelle Hight

Bringing 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 Auckland Airport for around NZ$30.

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 200 kPa (kilopascal) or 29 PSI (pounds per square inch)
• Make sure that any cartridges for inflating tyres are less than 50 ml (1.6 oz) and contain 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.com

Cycling Events in Niue

Niue loves a good excuse to throw a party and there are even events for cyclists that have become iconic on the island’s event calendar.

Ride the Rock

For cycling enthusiasts, there’s an annual event that has you racing the bush tracks and quiet sealed roads of Niue on either a 60 km (37 mi) race around the island or in short bursts in speed races through the bush. The race has been called different things in the past, including “Round the Rock” and “Rally of the Rock” but most know it today as “Ride the Rock“.

Check out the latest dates for Ride the Rock on the Niue Tourism events page and see more events to take note of in The Top Events & Festivals in Niue.

(c) Michelle Hight

Essentials to Know About Cycling in Niue

Although cycling is a fun, not to mention, more sustainable way to travel in Niue, it does come with some slight pitfalls. You can still have an enjoyable time cycling in Niue as long as you are prepared for the following situations.

Cycling in Niue and Dogs

Although dogs have owners, dogs are left to roam free in Niue. While most dogs are relaxed and as cute as ever, there are the occasional guard dogs that will have a whale of a time chasing you down the road. This can be pretty scary and dogs have been known to bite cyclists on rare occasions.

The best thing you can do if a dog is chasing you is to stop cycling and get off the bike. If that doesn’t calm the dog down then shoo the dog in an assertive manner. If the dog is overly aggressive, scream at it and pretend like you’re about to throw something at it.

Prepare for Cycling in a Tropical Climate

Although you might be used to riding long distances, take into consideration the extra exertion it takes to ride in the tropical heat. Niue has a warm climate all year round, with temperatures at 21-27°C (70-81°F) in the “winter season” and at 22-29°C (72-84°F) combined with high humidity in the “summer season”. With this in mind, pack plenty of drinking water and snacks and you might want to plan to ride a little shorter than what you’re used to. See Niue Weather, Seasons & Climate + Weather by Month for more information on the weather.