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See why so many travelers make Coral Gardens their motel of choice when visiting Alofi. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a charming setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you.
The rooms offer a kitchenette and a refrigerator, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease.
Coral Gardens Hotel features room service. In addition, as a valued Coral Gardens Hotel guest, you can enjoy a lounge that is available on-site. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking.
While in Alofi be sure to experience local crab favorites at Hio Cafe.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Coral Gardens as you experience all of the things Alofi has to offer.
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We visited Niue and stayed at Coral Gardens last year, loved it so much we vowed to return (and we're not the types to revisit places when there's so many places on Earth to explore!).
Last year the whales blew us away - imagine the 'hassle' of being woken up at night by whales exhaling at the base of the cliff your fale sits on! Wow. They aren't circus beasts though, so no guranatees you will see them, which adds to the excitement whenever you do. Few around on this trip (apparently the water is 2 degrees warmer than usual - global climate change??) and they may be staying further south.
So we had to 'settle' for the other delights Niue offers - dramatic coral pinnacles, caves, a reef alive with coral and rock pools like aquaria, swiming with dolphins (and sea snakes, creepy but fascinating!), and getting to know the locals.
We stayed at Coral Gardens again because it was so perfect for us. Five fales, self-contained so you can cook your own food (Nuie is great, but don't expect gourmet restaurants!). The gardens are pretty, two fales look directly out to sea, the others across a short stretch of garden and coral cliffs to the sea. As I mentioned, the ocean is so close you can hear whales if they are around.
The owners are really friendly and generous, happy to chat if you feel like company, happy to leave you alone if you want your own space. Salome took me to her woman's weaving group down the road, wonderful way to get to know the locals.
Coral Gardens has no swimming pool (it does have a natural swimming hole if you are confient to climb down to it), but with the snorkling on the reef we didn't miss one, and doesn't take kids under 12. Its a bit close to the road, but the traffic is pretty light.
We have found the locals to be very laid back, friendly and so generous.
This place is genuine, not a lot of facilities, but no pressure either. Tourists are treated like locals, like one of the family. if you want fast pace, shops, nightlife, and someone else to organise everything for you go to the Gold Coast. If you want a relaxed place with lots of passive activities (walks, snorkling, reading, gazing out to sea, whale-watching if they are there) go to Niue. You have to be pretty self reliant - get a car/bike - no public transport - take plenty of cash - no atms - take some food from NZ - limited supplies, and take an open mind and go with the flow.
Note this is a raised coral island, so don't expect a lagoon or long sandy beaches. But there's great snorkelling in the rock pools - take an underwater camera.
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Date of stay: July 2010
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coral Gardens Motel is situated about 5 minutes drive north of the main town of Alofi. 5 self-contained units located right next to the road, but with good sea-views from most of them. Not being located in town or a village means NO ROOSTERS waking you up at all hours. (Roosters are the bane of many a South Pacific Island holiday-maker!) The road traffic can be a little noisy early in the morning, or late at night when the boys from the pub head home, but there's not much of it so it's not a problem. And give me cars over roosters any time! The units are clean and tidy, although a little dated. The kitchens are well equipped for the occassional meal you might like to prepare. There is a well stocked supermarket in town, plus you can bring in most food-stuffs from New Zealand - but watch your weight as Air NZ is VERY strict on luggage allowances these days, and charge $10 per kilo once you tip over your allowance. (As I found out to my cost!) Stafford and Salome are friendly hosts, and Stafford can usually be found serving the beers at the motels 'Sails' bar, overlooking the ocean - a great whale-watching spot. They used to operate this as a restaurant, but it is just a bar these days, serving a good range of drinks. New Zealand beer is a bargain on Niue - NZD$3.00 a can was the most we paid anywhere. They have a weekly Quiz night, patronised by locals and visitors, and also have regular Sunday afternoon petanque competitions.
Make sure you book a rental car or motorbike as part of your package - Alofi Rentals have a good selection. Your own transport is essential for getting around as there is no public transport, and so many great spots to explore, and Coral Gardens is a good base for doing just that.
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Date of stay: August 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My partner and I went to Niue on 24th August for a week. Best time of year to go. HumpBack whales are there. Coral Gardens has 5 separate units/fales, all very clean and well maintained. If you want total seclusion, unit 5 is the one - all have sea views! We stayed in unit one, closest to the Sails Bar. Every late afternoon we would return back from snorkelling, sitting with a beer or wine outside Sails bar, and we had a free show from the whales - tails pounding, soaring out of the water crashing down! Stafford and Salome are fantastic hosts and always helpful. Niue is not for the normal tourist - if you love snorkelling, diving or fishing this is the place to be or doing nothing. One flight a week into Niue so never overcrowded. Really friendly people, be warned, everyone waves to you - pretty neat. There are no real sandy beaches, a couple of tiny beaches to sunbathe but prodominately coral. Clearest water I have ever seen. Remember to take your reef shoes with you everywhere. Forest walk was fantastic. Niue is not a rich island but there is no poverty and virtually no crime rate. We felt really safe and everyone so helpful. There is no public transport but we hired a car (cheap as chips) we didn't even use a full tank! And I got a Niuean license for about $13NZ So much to explore. We took a lot of our own food into NIue as Coral Garden units are self contained with basic cooking facilities. Shops are open at random times (Island time) and if you can, go on the Uga hunt (coconut tree crabs) amazing colour! and do not forget to go the Wshaway bar on Sunday evening (only one open on a Sunday) you serve yourself and pay as you leave - such a great way to meet others. Absolute gem in a great location with a unique atmosphere of south pacific charm and tranquility. The host and owner Willie exudes a sense of adventure,action and passion for Niue which as a traveller reaffirms your decision to visit this isalnd paradise. Just ask for Willie when you arrive in Alofi (the main village) and mention the Crazy Uga or Washaway bar. Kia monuina -which translated means good luck. 99% of the time wherever we went snorkelling or swimming we were the only ones at that reef - so refreshing. No night life - so don't ecpect any flashing disco's etc. We saw whales everyday somewhere around the island. And at night we called here them swimming past. Its an experience as well as a holiday. Weather was glorious - first night it rained but it was warm and we decided to walk into the Alofi the main village (before we got a car) - no idea how far it was but car stopped and one of the local guys offered us a lift and gratefull accepted. Found a curry house, so ordered takeout - by this time it was pelting down and the owner offered us a ride back, which we took and expecting no cash for his service - thats how friendly these guys are. I like the fact that it has no real mod cons - no cellphone, one tv channel and one radio station both in english and niuean. We took out laptop to download our photo's but had internet access as well. It is basically a cash only place - one or two businesses take credit card but always best to have cash on you. No ATM's or eftpos - one major supemarket and a bank with loads of wee stores, and cafe/restaurants. And try to go to ne of the Villages Show Days to ecperience the real Niue and stop at one of the Villages weaving days and talk to the women there. Also have a market day - be early! I could go on and on. Thanks Stafford and Salome for your wonderful place and no roosters! Enjoy Niue as it is - natural and basic .
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Date of stay: August 2009
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
During my recent first holiday in Niue from the 07/02/14 to 21/02/14 I would enjoy driving around this beautiful Island of Niue daily, one particular afternoon I decide to call into Coral Gardens Motel for a cool drink & introduce myself to the owners and hoping to take some nice photos of the scenery at the back of the Motel, when I arrived I'm given the cold shoulder from the owners and didn't seem interested in making conversation or when I asked if I could take some photos I'M ASKED WHY ? Therefore with their cold arrogant attitude I didn't want to stay or even purchase a cool drink, appears the owners aren't interested in outsiders calling in unless you are staying at the Motel. I called in again on 2 different days & times giving them the benefit of the doubt thinking they may have had a bad day !!! When I called in for the second time I can't find anyone even calling out HELLO HELLO and knowing the management were around, the third time I called in with some English tourists hoping for a coffee or a cool drink & again we are calling out HELLO HELLO and no response, I personally felt the management were around and deliberately avoided contact with us. Can't understand how any business operator can continue running a business with this kind of rude attitude towards outsiders let alone the guests staying here & never went back for a fourth attempt. We continued to a large resort on the island & made VERY VERY WELCOME for those well deserved cool drinks.
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Date of stay: February 2014
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from coralgardens, Owner at Coral Gardens
Responded 23 Mar 2014
Thanks for your interesting and pathetic review Stephen.. As a photographer and amateur reviewer I thought you would have observed that our bar was closed as the sign on the front door said.. And secondly Sails Bar a separate entity to Coral Gardens Motel. And thirdly if you're from the Oz tourist police next time wear a uniform. You didn't come to our lovely little island for a holiday.. you obviously have a lot to learn about small island states in off season.
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Coral Gardens was the perfect choice for our Niue holiday. OK, it's not new, but more importantly clean, spacious, peaceful and really friendly, including the two sweet cats! We like to be self-sufficient, and this is a great island for it. We made all our own breakfasts, with a rental car and packed lunches we could just head off for the day. So much to explore on this island, with only one week we hardly had time to return to our favourite reef pools or caves. Next year! Snorkeling in the cave on the property is really cool and well worth the effort, even though crashing waves and sharp rocks can be a bit intimidating if you're not a confident swimmer. At the end of the day it was fun to hang out in "our" Sail's bar, have a drink, gaze the views (dolphins), amazing sunsets, chat with Stafford who is a great character, or other guests or any of the many locals who had Sail's as their bar of choice. Everyone was really friendly.
In Alofi Uga Bar was a favourite, nice iced coffees. The sushi at Kai Ika was probably the best I've ever had, so fresh.
ps. Rating on Restaurant below is really not applicable, clicked it by mistake and now not possible to remove?!? Sail's is only a bar, even though Stafford had a sausage sizzle Wednesday night. No quiz night though, we were there in off-season
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Date of stay: October 2012
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Fale 4 and 5 have the best views. Fale 1 has internet access.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I jut returned from the most incredible holiday of our lives. We went to Niue not knowing much about the island but we were pleasantly surprised. Its is one the most exotic locations in the world. We spent our days discovering different areas of the island and coastline being awed by the wonderful scenery we would find! Loved snorkeling in the isolated coral reefs and tracking through the rain forest.
We arrived on Friday and were met by our hosts (Stafford and Salome) and the airport and they gave us a ride to their little spot in paradise. The Coral Gardens Motel was the most ideal accommodation for our island stay. It is located just our of the main island village Alofi and consists of 5 cottages and the main reception/bar. Inside the unit we were greeted by a lovely bottle of wine and some seasonal fruit! We stayed in unit 3 and had the most incredible view of the ocean. I savored every sunset as I sat on the deck overlooking the ocean with an ice cold beer from the bar (Only NZD$3.50!.) My personal opinion is that the unit we stayed in (3) was by far the best. The view and vicinity to the bar was perfect.
Stafford and Salome were incredibly generously. They supplied us with snorkling gear, mountain bikes and helped make our stay very enjoyable. It was enjoyable to wonder over to the bar every now and then and have a catch up about the days happening. it was a nice place to meet some locals and tourist as well. Most of the time activity in the bar ceased just after sunset and we were left to enjoying the noise of the the ocean and geckos wondering around until bed time.
The units are self contained as well which I think is a must on the island. It just provides so much more flexibility (unlike the resort on the island). The Coral Gardens also have their own natural swimming pool...its a cave with a reef down the bottom. Just so unique!
So thank you Stafford and Salome for truly making our Niue island retreat truly incredible!
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Date of stay: May 2010
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
While we didn't stay here we did check this property out just this week. This cliff top lush tropical setting is ideal for couples. The accomodation is essentually a simple room plus bathroom and basic kitchen all in the one room. But the style is nice with a village hut feel due to the extensive wood panneling. We needed more space so went for another motel offering a seperate bedroom. I strongly recommend motels over guest houses as they represent far better value and seem to be better run, more modern etc.
Also offers a bar but no resuarant.
Recommended.
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Date of stay: June 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Had a wonderful time on Niue and the Coral Gardens Motel was the perfect place to stay.
Sunset drinks with the locals in Sails bar was really enjoyable and Stafford and Salome were great hosts.
The snorkeling on Niue is the best I have experienced ever and climbing down into the cave in front of Coral Gardens was well worth it.
Will be back.
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Date of stay: March 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â They are all good
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were looking forward to having a nice cold glass of beer at Sails Bar on our way back from a day discovering the nearby chasms and seatracks. The location indeed is breath taking and the beer was cold. It was the person behind the bar which let it down. He was a rude, bitter old man. Maybe we caught him on a bad day but we spoke to many other tourists that said the same. Time to move on and get someone with a bit more personality and a smile goes a nice way. The only upside was that Mark Cross, the famous painter was having a beer there and he is a lovely man with a lot of local knowledge. We did not feel welcome there at all.
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Date of stay: August 2016
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from coralgardens, Owner at Coral Gardens
Responded 13 Aug 2016
Your review lacks credibility. There are no Sales Bars on Niue only Sails Bar. If you want to join the tourism police get your uniform from the tourism office.
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My partner and I just got back from Niue last night and I couldn't be more eager to review Coral Gardens as well as our wonderful hosts Stafford and Salome!
These aren't rooms but spacious self contained units with every thing you need plus incredible views too! They are serviced daily and you receive a lovely fruit basket and champagne when you arrive. Bigger bathrooms than you will find in many places and you can cook your meals in the fully equipped kitchen area! Sails bar which is run by Stafford and Salome is where we spent all but one of our evenings and with good reason! The view, the beer and the company is fantastic.Watching the sunset whilst enjoying a cold beer and chatting to our hosts was one of the best parts of our time at Niue.
Stafford and Salome were always incredibly friendly and helpful with anything we needed and we hope to return again some day to visit not only Niue but them :)
This was an incredible place to spend our week in Niue and the service we received was one of the highlights of our first trip to Niue!
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Date of stay: July 2014
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Alofi area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
coral gardens hotel niue
LOCATION
NiueAlofi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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