What to Pack for Niue: FULL Niue Packing List

Clothes Packing List for Niue

It’s hot in Niue, real hot! With temperatures almost never below 24°C (75°F) during the day or 21°C (70°F) in the evening, there is little need to pack a ton of layers. Still, being a South Pacific island, the country can experience unpredictable weather so we’ve thrown a few extra items on the list, “just in case”.

Also, note that there are local customs when it comes to clothing, i.e. not wearing anything way too revealing such as swimwear in villages, which is why we have included clothing items to “cover-up” in the below packing list. Learn more about the local customs regarding clothing in What to Wear in Niue: Clothes Packing List and Niuean Etiquette: Niue Customs & Traditions.

What Should I Pack for 5 Days, 1 Week, or 2 Weeks in Niue?

Clothes-wise, we advise you to only pack what you need. For instance, if you are travelling for a week, only pack for seven days and if travelling longer, consider using the laundry facility of your accommodation to reuse some of your outfits and keep your suitcase or backpack light.

Niue Casual Clothing

• 4 Singlets/T-Shirts
• 2 Light blouses/shirts to cover the shoulders for church and sun protection
• 2 Shorts/skirts which are not too short so you can enjoy wearing them at both your resort and when out exploring
• 1 Light evening dress to impress at dinner
• 1 Dress/skirt below the knee for church, spending time in villages, etc. We recommend light fabrics such as the sustainable bamboo dresses and skirts by Moso Morrow
• 1 Sarong (paleu) will be your best friend for hitting the swimming holes and covering your swimwear in between. You can bring your own or there are plenty for sale once you arrive in Niue
• 1 or 2 Light sleepwear if you’re against sleeping in your undies
• 1 Light Cardigan/pashmina/poncho for cooler evenings
• 1 Sports shorts/leggings for active activities
• 1 Sports T-shirt/singlet for active activities
• 1 Outfit to travel between Niue and home
• 3 Bras including strapless, sports and comfort
• 6 Underwear
• 4 Socks.

Niue Swimwear

• 1 Bikini
• 1 One-piece for watersports
• 2 Boardshorts for guys
• Mask and snorkel
• Beach/travel towel (some accommodations like Scenic Matavai Resort and Lau’s Getaway have beach towels to borrow)
• Rash vest
• Beach bag/Day pack – we usually travel with Herschel‘s backpacks and tote bags
• Dive gloves (optional – recommended to us by older travellers in case you fall on the sea tracks and to be able to hold onto rocks while snorkelling).

Niue Protective Clothing

• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Light shirt to cover arms and back
• Light rain jacket/small umbrella (some accommodations like Scenic Matavai Resort and Taoke Fales have umbrellas to borrow).

Niue Footwear

• Flip-flops/sandals (optional, some people find that they stick to the next two options due to the varying nature of Niue’s terrain)
• Walking shoes/sneakers
• Reef shoes/water shoes
• Snorkelling fins (available to hire from Niue Blue if you don’t have your own).

For a more comprehensive packing list for Niue, refer to our article on What Clothes to Pack for Niue. Plus, there are a few more handy hints and suggestions in the 10 Essentials You Need to Pack for Niue.

Travel Accessories Packing List For Niue

From the absolutely essential travel documents to the not-so-essential-but-good-to-have e-reader, this list of travel accessories has something for everyone but not necessarily everything for everyone. While we all have our preferences, here are some ideas on what travel accessories to pack for Niue. Pick and choose what applies to you!

Travel Essentials Packing List

• Passport
• Visa (if you need one)
• Boarding pass/booking paperwork
• Travel ticket/booking paperwork for travel out of Niue
• Accommodation booking paperwork for your stay in Niue (plus, you will need to write the name on your Passenger Arrival Card)
• Credit/debit card
• New Zealand Dollars
• Driver’s license (if renting a car)
• Medical prescription
• Travel insurance policy (optional).

Head to What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Niue? for all the details on this all-essential paperwork.

Niue Travel Accessories and Electronics

• Snorkelling gear (if you prefer your own – some accommodations provide complimentary hire or you can rent from Niue Blue)
• Beach/Travel towel
• Waterproof camera
• Books/e-reader
• Phone
• Chargers for electronic devices
• Type 1 travel adapter 
• Lifestraw water bottle

Some of these items fall under the “essential” or “highly recommended” category, which you can read more about in the 10 Essentials You Need to Pack for Niue.

Niue Travel Accessories for Kids

• Baby mosquito net
• Waterproof kids camera
• Go!: Kids Interactive Travel Diary
• Reusable Swim Diaper Training Pants
• GPS tracker/child locator
• Travel games
• Baby carrier
• Portable steriliser
• Baby formula
• Inflatables

Check out our list of 25 Tips for Your Family Niue Vacation with Kids for more advice.

Niue Food Packing List

While we don’t generally recommend that you pack food for Niue, if you have dietary needs that are often hard to cater for abroad (such as vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free – we’ve got you covered), then you may want to bring a few essential ingredients. See what you can and cannot take in Taking Food to Niue: What You Need to Know.

Toiletries and Medication Packing List for Niue

Everyone has their own morning routine and different toiletries they use, so this list may well have a few things you don’t use, as well as a few things missing.

If you’re trying to pack light and are staying in resorts and hotels, know that many accommodations in Niue provide shampoo, conditioner and soap in ensuite bathrooms.

A first aid kit is also important to address medical problems that commonly occur when holidaying in Niue, such as sunburn, heatstroke and mosquito bites. For more information on packing your own first aid kit, see What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Niue.

Niue First Aid Kit

• Travel vaccine passport (vaccinations record)
• Paracetamol
• Antihistamine pills or cream
• Oral rehydration sachets (medical electrolytes)
• Baby electrolytes
• Antacids
• Antidiarrhoeal pills e.g. loperamide
• Nasal drops
• Band-aids/plasters
• Butterfly closures
• Disinfectant wipes
• Gauzes
• Gloves
• Tweezers
• Thermometer
• Elastic wraps
• Flight socks
• Antisceptic cream/spray
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Aloe vera soothing cream
• Hand sanitiser
• Multivitamins
• A copy of the emergency numbers in Niue
• Antibiotics if recommended by your GP.

For more information on packing your own first aid kit, again, check out What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Niue.

Niue Toiletries and Other Medication Packing List

• Reef-safe sunscreen
• SPF lip balm
• Insect repellent
• Seasickness pills
• Prescription medication
• Shampoo/conditioner (if you prefer your own)
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Feminine hygiene products
• Soap (if you prefer your own)
• Razor/hair removal
• Glasses/contact lenses
• Hairbrush/comb
• Tweezers
• Nail clippers
• Deodorant.

For more health tips for travelling, see Niue Safety Tips: Is it Safe to Travel to Niue?

What Type of Luggage to Use for Niue

Finally, what are you going to pack it all into? Everyone has their preferences for luggage, but for Niue, a suitcase with wheels tends to be the best option. Most surfaces are sealed where you’re going in Niue, with the exception of a few accommodations with grass and gravel pathways. But if you prefer travelling with a backpack; we don’t need to convince you how versatile they are that they’ll certainly work in Niue.

Luggage to Take to Niue

• Beach bag/day pack that fits within the carry-on allowance of your chosen airline (usually 55 x 40 x 23 cm / 21 x 15 x 9 in) – we usually travel with Herschel‘s backpacks and tote bags
• Suitcase/backpack
• Small purse/camera bag
• Packing cubes.

3 Tips for Picking Luggage for Niue

1. Choose According to Your Baggage Allowance

Your trip to and from Niue will be with Air New Zealand, as it is the only airline offering connections to Niue. With that being the case, ultimately it comes down to Air New Zealand’s baggage requirements. For checked-in luggage, the maximum weight will be 23 kg (that’s about 50 lb) and your carry-on maximum weight will be 7 kg (15 lb). The dimensions of your carry-on luggage should be kept within the dimensions of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21 x 15 x 9 in).

We’ve got more information on the subject in our article, Everything You Need to Know About Arriving in Niue.

2. Think About the Surfaces You Will Encounter

If you are planning to leave your luggage in your accommodation for the whole time, like most people travelling to Niue, you really don’t have to worry about this. However, if you are planning to stick around in Niue for a couple of weeks, checking in and out of multiple accommodations, it may be worth considering your method of transportation. If the plan is to get a car and load it up, then both options work. However, if you are walking, a backpack may be a better option.

3. “The Works”: A Bit of Everything

If you really can’t choose, one of the great options out there (and the one we use often) is to get both a suitcase and a backpack. We love being able to empty our backpack in our room and use it as a daypack during our adventures in Niue. It’s super convenient and may save you from having to pack yet another day pack.

Suitcases for Niue

If you are planning to only stay in one accommodation during your stay or have transportation already organised between your accommodations, then packing all your essentials into a suitcase may be a great option for you. You won’t break the wheels of your suitcases in Niue’s airport and it may make your room organisation a whole lot easier. Simply put, if you’re not moving around too much, the suitcase might be your best option.

The Pros of Taking a Suitcase to Niue

• It is easier to carry around airports
• It is easier to keep well organised when opened
• It protects your belongings better in the case of hard shell suitcases
• It often allows you to fit much more in.

The Cons of Taking a Suitcase to Niue

• It is a bit awkward to carry around when leaving the smooth-floored airports
• Wheels and handles are notorious for breaking.

Backpacks for Niue

Let’s start with a tip: get a backpack that has a “ventilated mesh” on the back. This will allow air to pass between your back and your backpack and make carrying a backpack in the hot Niuean weather much more bearable.

Now that this is out of the way, getting a backpack is a great option if you are planning to change accommodation on your own during your trip to Niue. Backpacks are also a great option for travellers that plan to get up to a lot of adventures during their holiday in Niue. Being able to use a larger backpack to carry water, snorkels, beach towels and more, might be a great idea. If travelling as a couple or a family, you may consider having one checked-in backpack and one suitcase to get the best of both worlds.

The Pros of Taking a Backpack to Niue

• Backpacks are generally more durable than suitcases
• They can be used as a daypack and are ideal for short hikes or other exploration that you are planning in Niue
• Backpacks are generally smaller, therefore forcing you not to overpack and are the best way to stick to the airline’s weight restrictions.

The Cons of Taking a Backpack to Niue

• It is not fun to carry a backpack for a long period of time in the hot Niue weather
• Backpacks are less easy to carry around airports than wheeled suitcases.

Day Packs for Niue

Sunscreen, towel, snorkel, water, money, camera and more! It’s unlikely that you will ever leave your accommodation in Niue without a bunch of essentials. For this reason, you will need a good daypack to travel to Niue. It’s up to you to decide if this can be one of your checked-in luggage, as suggested above, or a smaller carry-on bag.

Day Packs for Families

This is when we stop “hinting” and start “strongly suggesting” that you apply the tips given above to pack one suitcase and one large backpack. When travelling with kids around Niue you will quickly be overwhelmed by the number of items you will need to carry with you and a large backpack will quickly become a lifesaver. Check out more tips on our 25 Essential Tips for Travelling to Niue With Children.

Day Packs for Active Travellers

From rock pools to caves to amazing hikes, Niue has heaps to offer adventurous travellers and you will want a good daypack. Go for a small-to-medium backpack so you can fit items on top of the essential camera and snorkelling gear. Plus, a mesh ventilation system on your backpack is highly recommended.