What Clothing to Pack for a Holiday in Niue
The biggest chore of any traveller is packing. When it comes to staring down at an empty suitcase or backpack and wondering what will make the cut and what won’t, the least experienced travellers will feel overwhelmed while the most experienced ones will have their routine down to a T.
Luckily, you are going to Niue where the temperature rarely goes below 24°C (75°F) during the day and 21°C (70°F) at night. This means you’ll dress lightly and therefore, pack lightly. If you are looking for an accurate weather pattern for your travel month check out our article about the Weather in Niue.
But let’s get back to what clothes to pack for Niue with our list below, as well as a few packing tips to help you along the way.
Tips for Packing for Niue
- Don’t overpack. If you are in Niue for a week, pack clothes to wear for each day. If you are in for a couple of weeks in paradise, pack for a week and pick an accommodation that provides laundry facilities.
- There are a few things that you need to declare when entering Niue. Make sure to declare anything you may have doubts about – more info can be found at What to Declare When Arriving in Niue
- If you are taking more than one flight to Niue, make sure to check the baggage allowance of all your flights and take the strictest one into consideration. Otherwise, an excess may apply
- Pick your most versatile clothing like a village dress that can also be a dinner dress, for example
- Packing cubes are a great way to organise suitcases. Consider getting some, plus check out more handy things to pack for Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comCasual Clothing
What else? It’s not like you will need formal wear in Niue. Because of the climate, you are likely to only want to pack light fabrics such as linen, cotton and bamboo. Those are great to keep you cool yet covered. It is likely that you will visit a village or two in Niue, should it be for one of the famous show days or simply because you are passing by. In that case, you will want to pack a few more conservative items of clothing, such as a longer dress for the ladies and a pair of shorts that cover the knee for the gentlemen. Tourist areas, such as central Alofi and your hotel, will allow more relaxed clothing. We also recommend a light cardigan, jacket or jumper to enjoy the cooler evenings outside.
Casual Clothing List for Men
- Light shirts
- T-shirts
- Shorts/lightweight pants
- Light sleepwear (if you are against sleeping in your undies on holidays)
- Light jacket for cooler evenings
- One or two smarter holiday shirts to look sharp at dinner
- Underwear
Casual Clothing List for Women
- Singlets/T-Shirts
- Light shirt/T-shirt to cover the shoulders for village visits
- Shorts/skirts/dress
- Dresses/skirts below the knee for village visits (We recommend light fabrics such as this sustainable bamboo dress by MosoMorrow)
- Sarong (paleu) to cover up in public areas after swimming
- Light sleepwear
- Light jacket/cardigan/pashmina for cooler evenings
- Light evening dress to impress at dinner
- Underwear
(c) niuepocketguide.comSwimwear
Let’s be clear, you will spend a lot of time in the water in Niue. The underwater world surrounding this tiny island is out of this world! With no natural runoffs, the water clarity is amazing while the coral and marine life are superb. Plus, you’ll get to swim with whales if you are travelling there at the right time. However, because Niueans are pious people, it is advised to keep the tightness of your mankini to a minimum. Men should prefer boardshorts and ladies should avoid thong bikinis and both genders should cover up swimwear when walking through villages. Aside from that, UV-protective clothing and rash vests may be a good idea to fend off the sun.
Swimwear List for Men
- Boardshorts
- Rash vest (for sun protection)
- Beach/travel towel
- Snorkel gear (if you prefer your own. Otherwise, some accommodations and tours will provide them)
- Day pack
Swimwear List for Women
- Bikini (for beach/pool)
- One-piece (for water sports/swimming near villages)
- Rash vest (for sun protection)
- Beach/travel towel
- Snorkel gear (if you prefer your own. Otherwise, some accommodations and tours will provide them)
- Day pack/large travel purse
(c) niuepocketguide.comSun, Rain & Insect Protection
With UV levels ranging from 8 to 11 (which is extreme), short yet powerful rainfall, and mosquitos that hang by puddles, the elements can sometimes look like they are trying to ruin your holiday to Niue. Don’t fret, the sun can be countered with regular sunscreen application and a few extra items, the rain often only lasts five minutes, and the mosquitoes are really not that bad. But still, it is worth packing a few extra items just in case. For the sun, for instance, make sure that everybody has a sunhat and sunglasses. For the mosquitoes, pack a light long sleeve layer so they have no skin to access. Insect repellent is also useful. In fact, check out our article on the best ways to avoid mosquito bites in Niue.
Finally, if you are travelling to Niue during the wet season, which runs from November to April, you will need a rain jacket. However, there is a risk of showers all year round in Niue, so that it is a good idea to pack a rain jacket for any time but have found that, quite often, we did not have time to unpack our rain jacket before the rain was already gone. So, make of that what you will.
Protective Clothing for Men, Women and Children
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- UV protection top
- Light cotton shirt to cover arms
- Insect repellent top
- Light rain jacket/small umbrella
(c) niuepocketguide.comShoes
The last item on our list is your footwear. This depends on what you plan to get up to in Niue but it’s fair to assume that a good pair of flip-flops (or “jandals” if you are Kiwi) or sandals would be a good starting point. We’ve established above that you will be spending a good amount of your time in the water so investing in a good pair of reef shoes for Niue’s rocky coastline may be a good idea too.
There are really no parts of Niue where you will be required to wear formal footwear, so your only other item to consider is our walking shoes. There are a few walks especially around the caves and the forest of the island that will require you to have decent footwear. While you might see some locals venturing in these areas barefoot, trust us, you can’t!
Footwear for Men, Women and Children
- Flip-flops/sandals
- Reef shoes
- Walking shoes
More About Clothes to Pack for Niue
