How to get there
Air New Zealand offers weekly flights departing from Auckland, with twice weekly flights on offer during the high season (April to October).
Niue’s International Airport, Hanan (IUE), is located 5 minutes south of the capital, Alofi, and about 3km from the Matavai Resort. Most accommodation offers an airport shuttle service upon arrival and departure, but it is important to confirm/arrange this when you book.
Entry Requirements
A passport is essential for entry into Niue, but no visa is required for tourists staying less than 30 days.
Customs and Duty Free
All food items MUST be declared on arrival in Niue, and NO honey, free-range eggs, meat, meat products or home-grown vegetables, fruits or herbs are allowed into the country. Any item that poses a threat to Niue’s Biodiversity will be destroyed by the Biosecurity Officer. Receipts are most helpful for bought products from butchers and supermarkets.
All food, animal products, plant material and other goods taken from Niue must be issued with a phytosanitary certificate from the Quarantine Office, located at the Hanan Airport Terminal, prior to flight departure.
Persons 18 years and older may import the following items into Niue without incurring duty: 200 cigarettes or 227g of tobacco or 50 cigars, 3 bottles of spirits not exceeding 3.5 litres or wine not exceeding 3 litres. Beer in glass bottles will be confiscated on arrival; however cans of beer (max 8 litres) are acceptable. Duty Free within these limits can be purchased at NB Liquor (the “Bond”) within 3 days of arrival in Niue. Duty Free may also be purchased by departing passengers.
Firearms, ammunition and glass beer bottles are restricted imports. Artefacts, coral and valuable shells are restricted exports.
Departure tax
All persons 12 years and over must pay NZ$34 ($32AU) upon departure, which must be paid in cash.
Transportation around the Island
Niue’s only means of public transport is Taxis, and their hours are variable depending upon demand. Car rental is the quickest and easiest way to travel around Niue; however, you must obtain a local licence for the duration of your visit to drive a car or ride a motorcycle. It is also worth noting that there are only two gas stations on the island. Bicycles and scooters can easily be rented.
The island is essentially flat so, depending on your physical fitness and the weather, you can easily investigate the island on foot. The locals will also often stop and offer you a ride, which is perfectly safe to accept.
Best Time to Go
The best weather in Niue is between May and November when it is drier and less humid, though there are still showers of rain from time to time. Temperatures are a consistent and warm 26-28°C during the day, dropping to a mild 19-21°C at night. Most of the island’s annual rainfall occurs between December and April, and this is when cyclonic activity is more likely to occur.
Where to Stay
Niue offers a range of accommodation, from a full-service resort to smaller motels and bed & breakfasts, with most of it located in or near Alofi. See Accommodation for more details.
Things to Do
Niue is a unique, tropical island destination that offers an amazing range of interesting and beautiful natural features to explore, such as rainforests, caves, beautiful secluded coves and coral outcrops. It also offers a variety of recreation options and activities that include biking, golf, diving and snorkelling, caving, swimming with dolphins (and maybe even with whales!), whale watching, fishing, scenic walking tracks, and a range of tours and excursions.
For those wanting to explore Niuean culture, Niue has its own Art Gallery, Sculpture Park and National Museum, and there is always culture and craft on display during the 14 annual show-day festivals.
Niue is also the place to be if you simply want to relax and unwind on a beautiful tropical island where the air is clean, the people are friendly and life moves at a gentle pace.
FYI: Sunday is a special day reserved for Niue’s strong church-going population. Swimming, fishing, kayaking and diving are prohibited by law on Sundays, but you can swim at many locations away from the villages without causing any offense.
