Visiting Tokelau

I am thinking of visiting Tokelau this year. Anybody been there like to share some information about traveling there, people, accommodation, food, souuvenirs, that type of stuff.

Hi there. I was there a few years ago. Happened to be in Samoa when the boat was going so went on the spur of the moment. The trip was for a week. It takes about 2 days to get to the first atoll. They unload cargo and people and then continue on until all is unloaded. The boat stayed a night off Atafu and then back down the line picking up people etc. The boat will only be at Nukunonu and Faleofo for a few hours but if the surf is ok you can go ashore and look around while the unloading is being done etc. We had to wait an extra day at the last atoll until the surf came down enough for the small loader boat to come out. The cost is low but accomadation is on the deck with everybody else. You need to take a sleeping pad of some kind and a pillow and sheet. The ones on the outside get wet sometimes. I hear it can get really crowded sometimes and the men have to sleep out on the hatch covers in front. Food was provided, mainly mutton flaps unless they caught a fish. The atolls are not really made up for tourists. I heard that Nukunonu does have a place where visitors can pay to stay. I was told they only get about 12 tourists to Tokelau a year. Visitors are usually govt. or relatives. There were no stores selling souvenirs etc...only just a small village store with a few provisions. If you were staying on after the boat you might want to take food with you. I really enjoyed the trip and would do it again. Did take some anti-seasick pills so that I was not throwing up over the side like some. The islands are very interesting....real atoll living...but do not expect to see any "grass huts" . Cement brick homes mean you can have a cement water tank underneath. A big part of the trip is watching the work on the boat which I really enjoyed. Still....I recommend taking a good long book to help the hours go by. The Tokelau govt. has an office and compound in Apia, Samoa who you need to contact about the boat. I do not think there is any strict shedule.....maybe a few times a month. We were lucky to have a stop for a few hours at Swains island on the way to Tokelau but this is not the usual. Aloha

Quite an experience. Thanks for the info. I shall have to make further enquiries re a trip to the Pacific and Samoa and then see if that fits in. It would be interesting from the logisitics of how they handle life so remote and so awkward to arrive at. Thanks again.

Hi, We are going in Oct 07 and taking the family. We are staying with friends on Atafu for a month. Taking our own food. Go here for a boat schedule. http://www.tokelau.org.nz/

im actually surprised there are onl 2 posts for tokelau. been there during late 90s and 2 yrs ago. its still by cargo from apia, samoa. i really hope it stays that way. this atoll chains are really one of a kind and still untouched by tourism. you get to meet the entire islanders sooner or later (depending on your personality). people are generous and hospitable. you need to have a min of 2-3weeks so you can visit 2-3 atolls there.

it only receives no more than 1000 tourists / yr!