Whale Season in Niue: The Best Time to See & Swim with Whales

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Whale Watching from Shore

One of the amazing things about whale watching in Niue, and something that surprises many visitors, is the fact that you can see whales less than 100 m (110 yards) from shore! Niue’s surrounding reef quickly drops into the deep blue, where whales are seen as close as 20 m (65 ft) to shore in some parts of Niue. With this incredible opportunity, many accommodations on the island have their own whale-watching decks, while there are even some whale lookouts signposted along the west coast road.

The Best Time to Watch Whales from Shore

Apart from watching whales from shore in Niue during the whale season (mid-July to September), generally, the best time of day for whale watching is in the morning. That’s not to say that you won’t see whales in the afternoon or evening, so it’s always a good idea to keep your eyes on the ocean’s horizon when you get the chance.

The Top Whale Lookouts in Niue

• Tomb Point
• Makefu Sea Track
• Ana’ana Point
• Hikutavake Sea Track

For a full list of whale-watching sites and where to find them, see the 10 Amazing Lookouts for Watching Whales & Dolphins in Niue.

The Best Cafes and Restaurants for Whale Watching

• Dolphin Restaurant @ Scenic Matavai Resort
• Vaiolama Cafe
• Crazy Uga Cafe
• Hio Cafe & Bar
• Manuiz

Learn more about these eateries in the 20 Best Restaurants in Niue.

The Best Accommodations for Whale Watching

• Scenic Matavai Resort
• Lau’s Getaway
• Namukulu Cottages
• Breeze
• Anaiki Motel
• The Restoration Reef

Learn more about these accommodations and more in the 8 Accommodations You Can Watch Whales from in Niue.

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Whale Watching and Swimming Tours

Get an even closer encounter with Niue’s gentle giants on one of the whale tours available! Close encounters with humpback whales in Niue are only available with licensed operators, allowing you to not only watch whales closely from a boat but even get into the water with the whales if the conditions are suitable.

Niue has a strict set of guidelines for interacting with whales in order to keep both you and the whales safe, so while whale swimming is not always a guarantee, it’s a life-changing experience if it happens.

See this year’s licensed whale operators and who you can join on a whale watching tour in The Best Whale Tours in Niue.

How Long are Whale Tours in Niue?

Whale tours typically take about four hours. About one hour of this includes getting ready onshore with snorkelling gear and a briefing. This typically leaves up to three hours on the water.

Whale swimming interactions can last up to 30 minutes with adults and up to five minutes with mothers and calves as per the whale-watching guidelines.

How to Enhance Your Whale Swimming Experience

Like with any interaction with wild animals, you can’t control what’s going to happen when swimming with whales in Niue. Whale swimming operators have experience in finding whales in Niue’s waters, giving you a good chance of seeing whales. However, they will not persist in pursuing whales that swim away from the boat.

Considering every whale swimming tour is different and it’s not always the case where you’ll get a good swim, it’s highly recommended that you allow some time in your visit to Niue for at least a couple of whale tours in your itinerary. That way, you’ll increase your chances of having a good whale interaction.

For more tips, see How to Get the Best Whale Swimming Experience in Niue.

(c) Niue Tourism

More Tips on the Niue Whale Season

To improve your chances of a good whale interaction, here are a few tips we can share:

• Whale swimming tours are best done between mid-July and September
• The minimum age for swimming with whales is 10 years old
• Seeing whales is never a guarantee
• Plan time in your Niue itinerary for multiple whale swims to increase your chances of a good interaction
• The best time for watching whales from shore is in the morning.