
Getting around in
Niue
You'll
need wheels in Niue, that's
for sure. There are no public transports due to the
small population besides the fact that many locals
have their own car. The Island is much bigger than it
seems to be and the attractions are distributed in many
different parts of the Island. We had an air
conditioned sedan for two straight weeks, and it was
the best thing we did in Niue.
A
Niue Island Driver's License
will be a must if you're planning to drive a car or motorcycle
in Niue. All you have to do is pass by the Police
Station in Alofi, show your driver's license from
your country of origin, pay NZ$ 10 cash, and
take this fantastic souvenir home. At the police
station, you'll recognize many people you've met
before, because some police officers also doubles as
Immigration Officers, Customs, Passport control,
etc... So don't expect to be stopped on the road and
be asked for your Niuean drive's license, except if
you're driving and didn't have yours made. The
Police know's you from the day of your arrival till
the departure day. They are very professional and
nice guys.
Before
you rent anything, here
are some facts. The first one is that Insurance
companies don't notice Niue as a viable commercial
place to invest, in other words, they DO NOT insure
car, motorcycles or bicycles. This means that car
rentals companies in Niue don't sell you insurance
on the vehicle you're renting, but at the same time,
they place a limit on the amount you have to pay if
something happens with the vehicle. The amount
varies depending upon the vehicle you're renting,
and each rental company has a different procedure.
Anyway, some travel insurances can cover this
amount, so it's best to talk with them both (the rental
company and your insurer).
The
good news is
that the roads in Niue are good. There aren't many
cars on the roads, and Niueans drive in Uga's pace,
most respecting the speed limit which is 60 Km/h on
open roads and 40 km/h in build up areas. Many times
we drove for more than 20 minutes without crossing one car. The only thing we recommend is that
the roads are narrow and there are some blind
spots on some bends which can put adrenaline
into you if you suddenly meet a vehicle coming
in the opposite direction, especially if you are
appreciating the beautiful panorama and aren't too
concentrated on the road.
Niue
has something
around 90 Km of paved roads and 150 Km of unpaved
ones. Both are in good condition of traffic despite
the fact we had to deal with many pot holes. When we
were there, we saw a maintenance truck topping up
some of these holes with gravelled limestone, which
solves the problem temporarily. The gravel roads are
also in good shape. Some are accesses to
attractions, such as the road to Liku Cave or
to Anapala Chasms. The grass on the middle of
these gravel roads was a bit high, giving the
impression we were riding a lawn mower instead of a
car. Anyway, we had no problem at all on the roads
we took. Some attractions such as Matapa Chasm, Liku
Cave and Limu Pools have toilets, and near all
attractions have a parking area. Just make sure you
park out of the line of fall of coconuts. (which
kills much more people in the tropics than sharks).
-
Car,
Motorcycle, Bicycle, Taxi, Transfers:
-
Car : Definitely
for us was the best bet. We could carry lunch,
drinks, snorkelling gear, cameras, walking sticks
and many other things without problems around the
Island. If rains a bit, no problem, and the air
conditioning was a savier especially after hard
tracks and tracks up the cliffs. Because the speed
limit in Niue is low, the fuel consumption was also
low. We spent 1 1/2 tank of petrol in two week and
we did lots and lots of mileage on the island.
Before we went to Niue, we were in doubt whether to
get a motorcycle (cheaper and I have one home) or a
car. The decision for a car demonstrated to be a
wise one. The rental cost per week is around NZ$ 280
(with further discounts for two weeks hire - we paid
NZ$ 463 for the 2 weeks).
-
Motorcycles
/ Scooters:
Around NZ$ 25 per day with discounts for long term
rentals. Well, it is another good option, but be
aware that when the maintenance truck tops up the
pot holes on the roads, there will be lots of loose
gravel around, so, I would say it is very safe to
ride bikes in Niue but you must take care and keep
the speed down. Helmets are supplied by the rental
companies and are a must to wear. (While we were
there we heard of a very serious motorcycle accident
which almost killed a young lady supposedly not
wearing helmet). She was transferred by special air ambulance
to Auckland on her family's expenses and the last
notice we had was that she survived). You are an
experienced motorcyclist, I don't see any problem of
renting a motorcycle, as soon as you keep your speed
down, wear the helmet, and have an insurance that
pays your repatriation by air ambulance if something
happens.
-
Bicycles:
Matavai Hotel and some guesthouses have bicycles
for the guest (don't know know many available or if
they are in good working order). Some rental
companies also rent them for a very affordable
price. Having a bike ride in Niue can be very
pleasurable activity, but not all the time. In the
hottest times of the day it can be a torture. Winter
time (June- September) is much cooler.
-
Taxis and Airport transfers:
if you don't drive (or don't feel like) know that
there are no Taxi services in Niue but you can
arrange a car with a driver. from the Tourist
Information in Alofi of with Alofi Rentals.
Regarding Airport Transfers, usually the Hotel or
accommodation you're staying will charge a very
reasonable fee to do your transfer and will pick you
up and drop you off at the airport. Alternatively it
can be arranged with the Tourist information or
Alofi Rentals. The email of Niue Tourism Office is [email protected]
Note:
Niue has a very good hospital but it has its
limitations. Niueans when in need of special medical
care are sponsored by the government to have
treatment in New Zealand. Anyway, New Zealanders
visiting Niue don't have this benefit and as far as
I know ACC (accident compensation from New Zealand)
will NOT pay anything in case something happens. The
conclusion is...If you are not a Niueans, don't
travel to Niue without a good medical Insurance that
will pay an air transfer and treatment in case a
accident happens.

Note:
There aren't big difference in prices between car
rental companies in Niue, but one may have the class
of car you want and some other not (peak season can
be quite busy and cheapest car may be already
rented). Book in advance may be a good idea. The
biggest ones do accept credit cards which are one of
the few places in Niue where you'll use it.
-
Alofi
Rentals : This
is the company we had our car from. No problems in
dealing with them. The car was nice, good service,
good discount, very happy with it. They bring the
car to you at your door and drop you off at the
accommodation after you give the car back at their
place. Some people we knew in Niue dropped the car
off at the airport without extra charge. Their
place is located South of Alofi, almost opposite to
the petrol station.
- Niue
Rentals : Another person we knew in Niue
got his car from them and was very happy too. They
are located a little bit North of Alofi.
-
Heahea Rental :
Located at Pelenis Travel in Alofi. Don't know much
about them but if someone knows any more information
we will be glad to place it here. Their email is: [email protected]
- Driveway
Rentals : The
same as above. Don't know much more information
about them. Their email is: [email protected]

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