Hio Beach

Hio is a small beach on Niue's western coast at Namukulu, reached down a flight of steps cut through the coral cliff, with sand at the bottom, reef offshore and the cliff wall rising behind. It is one of the few places on the island where you can get down to sand rather than onto rock platform. Sunsets over the water from here are the reason people come in the evening. Sand on Niue is coral rather than volcanic, which is why the few beaches here are so pale.

What you actually see

• The cliff steps - the cut descent through the coral to the sand.
• The small beach - one of few sand stretches on the island.
• The reef - the coral offshore in front of the beach.
• The sunset - the western aspect over the open ocean.

When to go

May to October is the dry season and calmest. Swell can close the beach entirely. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Honest expectations

The beach is very small and disappears at high tide. The steps are steep. Swell makes the water dangerous at times.

Nearby

Namukulu is above, and Limu Pools are north.