Samoa, Tonga or Niue in Aug?

I'd love some advice on these islands to help me choose! I'm looking to spend a week or so on an island as I move from NZ back to the US (probably with a few weeks in West/Northern Australia first, so theoretically I could fly from there or from NZ). I've read up on all 3 places and am no closer to making a decision and the local travel agents here in NZ are all pushing their package tours...

I generally like getting off the beaten path, and my priorities would be to mix relaxing with being active. I love meeting and talking with good, down-to-earth people, learning about the culture and history as I go, exploring towns and villages as well as natural areas, photography, hiking and some diving (I'm very interested in diving with whales/dolphins now that I've read so much about humpbacks being in the area in Aug), and a bit of beach time is ok, but prob only for a day or so...

Thanks for any suggestions!

Sounds like Niue might be the best choice for you.
It is definitely the most "off the beaten path" destination, receiving just a tiny fraction of the number of visitors going to either Samoa or Tonga.
It also offers everything else you named.
It has very few beaches, and very short ones, which keeps most tourists away but should not bother you if beaches are not your priority. With no rivers flowing into the sea, the water here is among the clearest anywhere though.
People are extremely easygoing, honest, and as they all speak very good English are easy to talk to.

The one drawback (?) would be that Niue can only be reached as a RT trip from Auckland, unlike Tonga and Samoa that could be stopovers between NZ and either AU or the US. Again, this is probably another factor that keeps the holidaying crowds away.

Thanks - have you been to Niue and if so, is there also good stuff like hiking and chances to experience the local cultural side of things (i.e. daily stuff, not touristy shows)?

And which place would be the best for diving or at least snorkling with the humpbacks in Aug? I can't find much about it for Samoa, but both Tonga and Niue really advertise. The more I read up on being in the water with humpbacks, the more I can't wait to do it!

Been there.
There is certainly hiking through forest, but no mountains. There are also fascinating chasms and caves (some of them ancient burial sites) to explore.
Of course you can experience daily life, though it does not involve such exotic "cultural" things as dancing in grass-skirts which you see during tourist-oriented performances elsewhere in Polynesia.

I can't compare Tonga and Niue for the whale thing - that'll have to be someone else.

I was in Tonga in Nov. 2007 and apparently there were still sightings of whales that were lagging on their route :)

Anywho, from my own research, Niue is a lot more off the beaten path, and would work against a first time pacific island traveler. The Tongans I talked to said that it was a lot more isolated there.

The thing I found cool about Tonga is that you have 3 islands to explore there, and each one gives you a different experience without having to leave the country.
For example, the main island, Tongatapu, you'll find more English speaking folk and as close as 'city' can get over there, as well as things to see (King's palace, the market, boat rides to Eau, guest houses/hostels, tours, Mormon missionaries etc.)
In Ha'apai, it's more country and untapped. There's no town center or anything, and only 2 or 3 guest houses, and 1 or 2 resorts. The only place you'll find a foreigner (other than at the guest houses or resorts) is at Mariner's cafe which is owned by a white couple and at the bottom of the main guest house. Snorkeling is better here because it's less populated and less tourist penetrated.
Vava'u: The most touristy island. It's populated, has lots of sleep options, and houses the yacht population that travels to Tonga. It's kinda gross to see the yuppie/old money people dock up and lounge out in the bars, but when you need people to relate to, you kinda deal with it. Basically everyone who owns a business on the main road are palangi (white/foreigner).
Another cool thing about Vava'u is that it's a nice break from the isolation that Ha'apai gives you. It was quite a relief actually, to see people around after the sun went down.

I can give you more details later if you'd like on where I stayed and some spots that I found etc.

Other than that, good luck on your decision, and if I remember correctly, I had a tough choice between Samoa and Tonga as well. I chose Tonga because I knew less about it, and being that I lived in NZ for a year, met more Samoans than Tongans and was purely curious.

Oh, and Vava'u POPS and fills with tourists for the whale thing, so book fast. Another reason why I went to Tonga, off-season tickets were cheap :) The tourists leave with the whales hehe :)

mmm, more stuff to ponder.... thanks for the info - i'm frantically looking into how to get to each place within my time constraints, only one flight in/out of niue per week makes it tough :) i don't mind isolated, so that's not nec a bad thing for niue...BUT tonga is looking more appealing for its overall choices as you mentioned, but if it's touristy this time of year then that's not so cool (or maybe the economic situation is keeping people away this year?)...

any suggestions re: particular companies to steer towards or away from for the whale stuff on tonga and/or niue?

always good to hear more suggestions if anyone has any - thanks!

Niue whale info - I was there outside the season so have no personal experience.
The site does give contact details for further inquiries though.

been to both tonga and niue
Niue would be your best bet.
The whole island is off the beaten track.
It has diving, snorkelling, whales. Great viz.
Good hiking options. Caves, chasms. Bring some good hiking shoes.
There are virtually no tourist shows (none when we were there anyway).
Very laid back - I loved it.
Locals were very friendly and helpful.

We were at Niue during whale season and the whales were just off the shore and we just watched from the motel or got in the car and drove a few miles to watch them from the clifftops.
There is probably still only the one whale watch operation in Niue and they would
take you out to them but we did not feel the need to actually do that.
Niue is great and not touristy at all but it is a trip that does have to be done just by itself from NZ not as a stopover on the way to somewhere else.

great, nearly ready to book for niue now :) will have to go back with more time to explore tonga and samoa...

for those of you who have been, where would you recommend to stay on niue? for most of my week i'd be after low-key, budget, friendly, not too hard to get to, meeting other people would be great as i'll be on my own, but i'm happy with my own company as well if it's quiet :) any opinions on bella guest house?

i may splurge for a night or two at a swanky place just as a treat at the end before i go back to nz and hop over the pacific - any suggestions for that? don't need top of the line, but a bit of pampering wouldn't go amiss :)

In case anyone is looking for similar info - I did end up in Niue with a friend and it was fantastic. The people were absolutely lovely, the pace was relaxed as, and being in the water with whales and dolphins was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had. Thanks for the suggestions - I hope to get to Tonga and Samoa, etc sometime (and back to Niue too!).