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Atiu Island
Cook Islands
cook islands travel guide
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atiu pictures map
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Atiu is the most developed of the outer Southern Islands, but tourism is still quite limited with just six places to stay. The island is mostly flat and the coast wild and rugged with beautiful cove beaches that are rarely visited.
The island, an eroded volcanic island, is slowly rising again due to tectonic plate movements and over the past 100,000 has risen 70 feet. This has created the wild rugged rocks and cliffs on its coast (which at one time was the reef). This dead reef encircles the island up to a mile inland where it has created a second set of cliffs, some as high as 100 feet. The cliffs are known as makatae. Another result of this uplift was the creation of limestone caves. Anatakitaki cave, the most famous of the caves, is home to a unique species of black swiftlet called the kopeka and can be visited on a guided tour. Other caves scattered around the island were used as burial caves in times of old.
All villages on Atiu are located in the central plateau inland from the coast. There are lots of good bush trails for exploring and over twenty beautiful deserted sandy cove beaches around the coast - most are unsuitable for swimming but you will find large pools you can dip in. Although all beaches are pretty secluded, they are easy to find on your own - most have small trails leading down to them from the coastal road - and you will be guaranteed the place to yourself.
Atiu is renowned for its bush beer, a tradition from the days of old when the drinking of Kava was banned by the missionaries. Tumunu are traditional gatherings when the men of the village get together in a small hut and spend the evening drinking the sweet alcohol brewed from oranges, telling stories and singing songs. Tourists are welcome at these gatherings and is a must do.
Atiu Tours
Atiu has several excellent day tours. Atiu Tours offer an Atiu Day Tour and the Anatakitaki Cave Tour with the Humphries family. Birdman George offers excellent Eco Tours of the island as well as specialist bird watching tours to spot the rare kakeori bird and others. Whales can be spotted off the reef (which in places is less than 20 metres from the coast) during the months of July to October.
Getting Around
Roads and bush tracks lead in almost every direction. Although there is no public transport on Atiu, hiring a moped is cheap and easy and you will soon find your way around.
Getting There
Atiu is serviced five times a week by Air Rarotonga - one of these flights connects on to Aitutaki and vice versa. Air Rarotonga offer an excellent deal to visit both islands on a round trip.
Takutea
The tiny uninhabited island of Takutea lies just 9 miles off the coast of Atiu and is a sanctuary for nesting tropic birds and boobies. Atiuans visit the island every so often for copra cutting and egg collecting and it is possible to join them if you're there at the right time.
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Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Tahiti Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Guide
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