Alofi - Docking
Important Note: End of May/early June and early July are busy times here as World ARC and ARC Pacific stopover. There will be no moorings available from May 21 – 28 2024 while the rally boats are in town.
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.
The FADs in Alofi Bay should be avoided. See Yachting Essentials for details.
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.
Anchorages:
Anchoring is discouraged because of the seabed topography where anchors can get into crevices.
Moorings:
There are currently 15 moorings available at a cost of $30NZ per night, suitable for yachts up to 16 metres. A pre-booking system is in place for moorings – see Clearance for details. Note, if you turn up and pick up a mooring that someone has pre-booked, you will be asked to move if the existing booking cannot be re-allocated. It is highly beneficial to pre-book moorings in advance to ensure a place.
During rally visits throughout the cruising season, there is limited availability. It is worth contacting the NYC in advance of your arrival to check no big fleets are due in: email: nyc@niueisland.com
All NYC moorings have been recently inspected, new ropes and shackles fitted where required and passed as fit for purpose and safe for vessels to use pending sea conditions.
There are a mixture of single and double blocks that will all accommodate vessels up to 16 metres – pending sea conditions. Larger or heavy vessels should specifically request a double block mooring.
The moorings are approx. 5-ton concrete blocks with polyester lines and pink pick-up floats. 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 are numbered and have reflective tape on the pick-up float to ensure easier mooring in the dark. You will be given a gps position of your mooring when booking.
Getting Ashore
Landing with your dinghy can be an interesting experience as there is no beach, just a concrete jetty/wharf (see image above of wharf). 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, be sure to have this prepared beforehand.
There is a dedicated storage space for dinghies. DO NOT leave your dinghy over the access way for other boats as the area is used for launching fishing and dive boats and for emergency vessels as well.
Please read the “Do’s and Don’ts for Yachties” prior to going ashore.
Last updated: February 2024
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Port Navigation
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We were utterly delighted with the assistance and knowledge of Keith and Terry. We picked up a mooring at night, no problem. Customs maintain a 24 hour radio watch on ch 16, call when you get there. Our experience landing in a SW swell was challenging. The concrete steps and ladders were well under water each time a swell came through. You need to install a sling to hoist your dinghy onto the concrete dock and nerves of steel when loading and unloading in a swell. Once the swell moved further south it was much more manageable and according to the locals we had just come at a particularly bouncy time!
FAD positions on approaching Niue
Alofi Nth.
Long. 169°55.229296 W
Lat. 19°02.326004 S
Alofi Sth.
Long 169°55.592968 W
Lat. 19°03.244836 S
Allow for a 500 metre swing radius
Keith
Niue Yacht Club
Niue Yacht Club
“The Biggest Little Yacht Club in the World”
An incredible group of volunteers – all non-sailors – have been helping out cruisers for over 40 years on the delightful, small Pacific atoll of Niue – lying on the direct route from French Polynesia to Vava’u in Tonga. The “Biggest Little Yacht Club in the World” (or Niue Yacht Club) has provided safe moorings, shoreside assistance, a club house and the warmest welcome anywhere to visiting yachts since 1975.
Just in time for the start of Cyclone season, Niue’s Maritime Borders have re-opened after three seasons with no entry to transiting yachts. While this is great news for cruisers planning a 2023 Pacific crossing, the length of border closure now means that the Niue Yacht Club is in trouble and may well be facing closure.
Fighting to find some solution to rising Government fees, lack of volunteers due to a very small adult population on Niue and no headquarters for the Club, long-time member Keith Vial has launched a search for a Commodore at Large for the 2023 cruising season.
For Niue to remain a destination for yachts crossing the Pacific, the legendary NYC must survive and get back on its feet, so now it’s the cruising communities’ turn to support the Club that has helped them so much over the years.
If you have been to Niue and enjoyed the NYCs hospitality, please e-mail keithvial@gmail.com with your support and let’s try and keep this cruisers’ paradise on the Pacific crossing map.