Naturally Niue

Naturally Niue

Naturally Niue

With its dramatic ring of raised coral cliffs and lush rainforest, Niue is the ideal spot for nature lovers and eco adventurers. From swimming with the whales and diving with turtles and reef sharks, to exploring jungle trails, this Polynesian paradise has something for everyone.

Explore the rainforest
Niue's pristine rainforest covers nearly a quarter of the island, providing a home to many native plants and wildlife – and best of all, there are no poisonous or harmful creatures to watch out for. Nature tours are a highlight for many visitors to Niue, and one of the best places to go exploring is the Huvalu Forest Conservation area.

This dense tropical rainforest offers a fascinating window into native wildlife and plants, and local guides are able to share a wealth of traditional knowledge with you. It's best not to explore alone as it's easy to get lost! Bookings for guided nature walks can be made at Niue Tourism Office in Alofi. Email [email protected]

Dive into adventure
Niue's warm deep waters offer divers superb visibility – as much as 80m when conditions are at their best.  Once underwater, you'll get to observe a fantastic array of marinelife, from turtles and playful dolphins to friendly Niuean sea snakes.

Fish such as barracuda, reef sharks, lionfish, sea perch, trevally and huge moray eels also make regular appearances, along with a multitude of colourful tropical species such as parrot fish.
Local dive operator Niue Dive dives at about a dozen sites, taking in caverns and beautiful stretches of hard coral reefs. Visit www.dive.nu

Watch the whales
Humpback whales visit Niue's deep waters between June and October to breed
and calve, and the island is one of the few places in the world where you can swim, dive and snorkel with these gentle ocean giants. Pods of humpbacks can often be
found in the bays around Avatele and Tamakautoga, and if you're lucky, you might see one of these majestic giants breaching the waters as little as 50 metres from
the shore.

In season, the Cliffhanger Bar at the Matavai Resort is the perfect spot for whalewatchers who don’t want to get wet, but those of you with an adventurous streak can get up close and personal with Niue Dive.
You may even have a chance to swim with some of the friendly spinner dolphins as well. The three-hour trips run in the afternoons and require a minimum of 4 people.
Visit www.dive.nu

Fact File

  • Sunday is a day of rest - fishing, diving and boating are not available.
  • Swimwear is not acceptable in villages and in town – best to wear a pareu (sarong).
  • Niue Tourism Office is located in Alofi, phone 683 4224, email [email protected]
  • Air New Zealand services Niue with weekly flights from Auckland. The flight time is 3.5 hours. Hanan, the international airport, is less than 10 minutes from the main town of Alofi.
  • The local currency is the $NZ dollar.

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