Explore: Alofi

Important Note: The end of May is a busy time here as World ARC stops over and normally moorings are restricted due to cyclone damage. Visiting here from June 1st is recommended in order to ensure mooring availability. See latest news items adjacent for the current situation.

Approach

Although there are navigation lights marked on most charts, some of these north and south of the wharf approach have not been repaired after Cyclone Heta damage. There are two red leading lights that indicate the approach to the wharf and two bright white lights illuminating the wharf area after dark which can be seen for a distance seaward.

See notes above about the FADs in Alofi Bay which should be avoided.

It is advisable to approach in daylight and, if possible, to use radar to establish distance off. Provisions have been made for a night approach – see below – however, the FADs are not lit. Depth soundings will offer no help due to the steep-to nature of the coast.

The Niue Yacht Club website has some useful aerial photographs of the mooring field, anchorage, and wharf.

Anchorages

Anchoring is discouraged because of the seabed topography where anchors can get into crevices etc.

Moorings

The Yacht Club mooring field is fully operational. Moorings are installed in April and removed in November for cleaning, checking, repairing and replacing.

During rally visits throughout the cruising season, there is limited availability. Whilst advance booking is not possible, it’s worth contacting the NYC in advance of your arrival to check no big fleets are due in.

Moorings are available at $20NZ per night.

All moorings for Niue Yacht club are regularly inspected and photographed, made even easier in 2018 with the NYC’s new ROV (underwater drone).

The moorings are approx. 5-ton concrete blocks with polyester lines and pink pick-up floats (detailed mooring specs can be found on the NYC website). The concrete blocks have been placed on sand patches between the coral outcrops, to minimize environmental impact. Pass your rope through the stainless steel eye on top of the mooring, tie off on board and put the float back in the water.

Note that the far north mooring is a privately owned mooring for a local fisherman and is not available for yacht use.

All mooring buoys have reflective tape on the pick-up float to ensure easier mooring in the dark.

There is also a large Niue Fisheries mooring available all year round that is designed for very large yachts. A $25 per night fee is payable to the Niue Fisheries Department

Contact Niue Yacht Club on Channel 16 (monitored throughout the day) for mooring allocation. You will be asked to go to CH 10 by their operator. Niue Radio also monitors these calls.

Niue is the base for a Sailmail station.

Getting Ashore

Landing with your dinghy can be an interesting experience as there is no beach, just a concrete jetty/wharf (see view from the wharf camera adjacent showing the southern mooring buoys and winch for tenders). Your tender must be lifted out by the dock crane onto the wharf, where there is a trolley for moving it clear of the landing zone. You will need a 3 point bridle for your dinghy.

Last updated:  April 2018