Niue

Niue or formerly known as the Savage island is an island self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. It is situated in the southern Pacific Ocean to the east of the Tonga Islands. It shares its water border with American Samoa, the Cook Islands, and New Zealand. The capital city is Alofi.

There are no mountains on the island so the climate is virtually the same everywhere: it is hot and a bit humid. The average temperature in summer is +26°C and in winter, it is +30°C. Precipitation usually occurs in the period from January to March. We recommend traveling to Niue from April to November.

The majority of the population are the people of Niue, the Europeans, and the Asians. The predominant religion on the island is the Christianity.

The tapu forests perfectly suit for hiking. The tourists can take a canoe trip along the Avatele Bay or go fishing. The Coral Gardens Motel district is good for diving and snorkeling. The unpredictable conditions for snorkeling are in the Snake Gully.

Those who prefer beach holidays should go a famous resort Avatele. And if you like golf, you can participate in golf competitions in Mutalau in June.

Alofi offers many city entertainments and a good shopping. Do not forget to visit a mall Swans.

In Niue, every tourist must see with his or her own eyes a part of the oldest tropical forest in the Huvalu Conservation Area. The Nukai Peniamina’s Grave and the Marine Reserve Anono are must-see places.

Everyone will be delighted with the Avaiki Caves and wonderful stalactites. The protected area Thaug-Peck will surprise you with the rich diversity of the fauna.

Get in

By Plane

The fastest and the most convenient way to get to Niue is a flight. There are no direct flights between EU and CIS countries and Niue so the tourists have to take transit flights, Air New Zealand offers flights to Niue from Auckland.

CIS citizens can get to Auckland with a transfer in hub airports of Asia. For example, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, or Tokyo.

European citizens can get to New Zealand with international flights from any European capital

There is a flight to New Zealand through Dubai.

Visa

The travelers from EU and CIS countries do not need a visa to travel to Niue and stay there for 30 days. As one has to get to Niue through Auckland, a tourist will need a transit visa.

When crossing the border, the tourists must have the following documents:

• a valid international passport;
• booking confirmation (fax or e-mail);
• return tickets or tickets to another country if you travel further;
• confirmation of financial sufficiency.

Customs

The tourists planning to travel to Niue should learn more about the things which are allowed or prohibited for import and export.

It is allowed to import and export any currency (national and foreign) without restrictions. Items from precious metals must be declared.

Adult tourists are allowed to bring in the following goods duty-free:

• tobacco and alcohol;
• personal hygienic items and souvenirs (the price must not exceed 700 US dollars);
• radio, photo camera, notebook, and binocular.

It is not allowed to bring in:

• pets;
• foods.

It is prohibited to export:

• samples of plants, animals under protection and control of the government;
• objects made of the skins of animals and reptiles, birds’ feathers, bones and corals.

Cuisine

Niue is known not only for its amazingly beautiful nature but by a very good cuisine. The staple food is seafood, fish, and coconuts. What peculiar about the traditional cuisine is the absence of meat. Pork dishes are made only for holidays. Instead, vegetables, greens, sweet potato, paw paw, bananas, breadfruit, pepper, and yam are very popular.

A specialty in Niue is Uga or Unga (coconut crabs). The lovers of seafood will be delighted by the fish Ota marinated with coconut water and lemon juice.

If you want to try something even more exotic, order the dish Luku (baked or boiled fern) and a sweet drink Ti made from a local root plant.

Those who have a sweet tooth can treat themselves to the local dessert reminding of candies. These sweets are made from a plant Ti.

Money

The national currency in Niue is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).

On the resorts, USA and Australian dollars are accepted.

The tourists can exchange currency in any hotel or at a bank and in exchange offices. One can exchange Australian and US dollars only in the offices of Bank of South Pacific and Westpac in Alofi. But we recommend exchanging currency beforehand in New Zealand.

In Niue, you can pay with the cards American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and Visa.

Traveler’s checks are accepted at any bank.

Details of interest

Customs and traditions

Almost all holidays and celebrations in Niue are devoted to food. For example, a solemn ritual of processing the root Ti and edible fern Luku.

Every year, each village on the island holds its own festival where the tourists can learn more about the culture of the island and its people.

Every year, there are sports competitions on the island such as volleyball, rugby, darts, golf, canoe and football.

Sightseeing in Niue

The capital city of Alofi is in the western part of the island. The travelers can take a walk along the only street in Alofi and reach the Opah Landong Berth. Near Alofi, there is the Hannan International Airport. Those who are interested in the history should visit the Museum of Huanuco and the Huanuco Cultural Center. On the Tomb Point, anyone can take a picture of the Ekklesia Church and take a walk to the Alofi Women’s Club, a souvenir shop and the market.

Not far from Alofi, there is the Alofi Experimental Farm where new technologies in animal and crop production are tested.

Lima Pulse is a good place for diving near the coral reef with the caves. The divers like the Maman Chasma cave and the Talava Cave Complex. In the Lakepa district, anyone can dive into the underwater cave tunnels.

In your trip to Tamakautoga, you will see the War Memorial erected in honor of a soldier on the First World War.

Souvenirs in Niue

The tourists buy magnets with the images of the island and souvenir coins with the images of the coral islands.

Anyone can buy jewelry and crafts made from wood and sea shells.