Tokelau

Travel tips for Tokelau: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Cash is essential. Tokelau operates on a strictly cash-only basis with no banks or ATMs on the atolls; visitors must bring all the New Zealand Dollars they need from Samoa before boarding the ferry.

Try the food

  • Ota: Fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juice and served in rich coconut milk.
  • Palusami: Young taro leaves wrapped around thick coconut cream and baked in an earth oven.
  • Fāi'ai eleni: Canned mackerel mixed with coconut cream and baked in a half coconut shell.

Essentials

Voltage
230V, 50Hz
Driving
Left side
SIM tip
Mobile data is virtually non-existent for visitors, so you will need to purchase Wi-Fi vouchers from the local Teletok office upon arrival instead of a traditional SIM card.

Etiquette

Tipping is not customary or expected; always dress modestly in villages, with women wearing skirts that cover the knees and men wearing shirts.