Some people just like to go for sightseeing and explore when they visit new towns and cities while others along with these like to shop and buy local crafts. Vacation shopping is a lot of fun and most people love to go on a shopping spree while on holiday. The Pacific is increasingly becoming a shopping hub across the world with shopping festivals in major cities. Niue is no exception when it comes to shopping culture!
Nearly everything on the island is more expensive than on the mainland as so many goods must be imported from New Zealand. The notable exceptions to the rule are tobacco items and fresh produce. The Customs and Bond Store sells the island’s cheapest alcohol to visitors who bring their boarding passes, but is only open on weekdays and closes at noon.
Kumara, passion fruit, taro, and cassava are just some of the tropical fruits frequently sold at Alofi’s twice-weekly market, the island’s only supermarket, and roadside stalls throughout Niue. The Double M Butchery sells spices, vanilla beans, and fresh cheeses alongside meats, while the Garden of Nur Bakery provides two pool tables alongside its freshly-baked bread. Coconut porridge is the preferred breakfast at Alofi’s market, held adjacent to the travelers’ center on Tuesday and Friday. Freshly-caught coconut crab and tie-dyed handicrafts are among the market’s most known items.
Niue’s only shopping mall is the Alofi Commercial Center, which is also home to the country’s only bank. This small shopping mall contains an art gallery, a souvenir shop, a butcher’s shop, and a stationery shop. Visitors can purchase local stamps next to the commercial center’s post office, at the Niue Philatelic and Numismatic Bureau. The Alofi Commercial Center also has Hinapoto Handcrafts, which sells hats and baskets that local women have woven from pandanus.
The island’s many village show days offer the widest variety of souvenirs outside of Alofi. Most shops open an hour earlier on Saturday than on weekdays, but are closed on Sunday. However, even the tiniest of Niue villages usually has at least a handful of small shops which open outside of regular business periods. Many rare shells and types of coral can’t be exported off the island.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
