Work and Travel in Niue

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN NIUE FOR TRAVELLERS

Niue is an interesting place to visit because it’s not quite an independent country and not quite a territory of New Zealand. This remote coral island offers a chance to enjoy a Pacific island paradise and be as far off the beaten track as you can get.

It’s not cheap or easy to get to Niue. You’ll have to put in a lot of effort to get here, but it’s worth it.

So if you want to travel to Niue you need to be equipped with the right information. Our travel guide to Niue is going to provide you with everything you need to know about an adventure here.

1. Protect the Coral Reefs of Niue

Niue is a coral island and has some of the most pristine reefs in the world. Much needs to be done to make sure that global warming and overdevelopment doesn’t wipe it out.

Join an organisation dedicated to protecting the coral reefs of Niue. As you work and travel in Niue you’ll be spending your time preserving the reef and aiding scientists in studying it.

2. Defend the Whales in Niue

One of the reasons why travellers come to this part of the world is for the whales. Niue has some of the best whale watching opportunities in the world.

You’ll get the chance to protect these majestic creatures from both land and sea. Whether it’s aiding in scientific research or simply making sure that poachers and fishermen don’t kill them, you’ll be preserving the whales for future generations.

You usually don’t need any qualifications to get involved in these projects.

3. Join the Tourism Industry in Niue

Niue gets a lot of high-value tourism every year. This is a difficult island to get to and there are no a lot of options when it comes to where you can stay on the island.

There are some resorts, but they’re certainly not of the size you would find in other parts of the world.

During the main tourism season, you can find work in both resorts and guesthouses. Depending on how professional the venue is, you may or may not need to show evidence of prior experience.

The larger the resort the further in advance you should apply. The majority of professional resorts want to be established staff before the season starts. They don’t like to hire volunteers at short notice for work in Niue.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR NIUE

Niue may have its defence and foreign affairs managed by New Zealand, but they have an independent visa policy for visitors.

Niue is an extremely welcoming island because it’s one of the few places in the world where anyone can enter without worrying about their nationality.

Anyone can work and travel in Niue for a maximum of 30 days without doing anything else. People who want to stay for longer should look for an extension after they arrive.

It’s possible to visit a New Zealand embassy to obtain long-term visas prior to your travel, but this can take a while. For more info click here. Travellers will find it far easier to pick up one of the volunteer opportunities in Niue and then get an extension when they land. They’re relatively easy to secure within a day.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN NIUE

SPRING WORK

The spring time is just after the main wet season. You’ll find that the temperatures and humidity drops at this time of year.

But it’s an ideal time to come to the country. We recommend opting for jobs like conserving the flora and fauna of the island. You’ll get a chance to work outside without suffering from any environmental hazards.

SUMMER JOBS

The summer season is the main whale watching season. The majority of tourists will hit the island in summer. This is why you might want to consider working in a resort or guesthouse.

Combining this type of work in Niue with a homestay is an excellent option. You’ll be able to discover more about the culture of the island and make real connections. Some guesthouses are in local areas and may also have farms attached to them.

Another option for summer work is working with the whales. The humpback whales arrive at the island to nurse their young, One of the exciting reasons to work with the whales on Niue is there are few other places in the world where you can legally swim with whales.

AUTUMN

The autumn season is largely a replay of the ‘Spring’ section. It’s the shoulder season until November. The temperature does start to increase, though.

You should refer back to the ‘Summer section because that type of work is still available up until the end of October.

WINTER

The winter season is the worst time of year to visit the island. It’s the rainy season and the humidity rises to unbearable levels.

Furthermore, this is the cyclone season. There’s a high chance of cyclones hitting the island. They’re rarely threatening to life, but it’s worth bearing in mind.

There are also few volunteering opportunities in Niue in winter. You may be able to work with young people in education, but that’s about it.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN NIUE

Travel in Niue and you’ll be able to connect with the local culture of the island. It’s not as pronounced as on some of the other islands, such as Tonga, due to is colonial history. But it still retains much of its original culture.

There’s a long history of travel to the island, so you’re not going to stand out as a foreigner here. You should bear in mind that whilst there are a lot of rich people making the island their home, there’s also a lot of poverty.

Remember this if you ever have the opportunity to pick up paid work. You could be taking a day’s work away from someone who really needs it.

Sustainable volunteering on Niue will see you enjoying the best the island has to offer, though.

Are you ready to work and travel in Niue?