Atiu

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Atiu, also known as Enuamanu (meaning land of the birds), is an island lying at 187 km to the northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago. Atiu, along with Mauke and Mitiaro, are a group of three islands 135 miles east-northeast of Rarotonga known to the native Cook islanders as 'NGA-PU-TORU' (the three roots).

Atiu is a raised volcanic island surrounded by a reef from which rises 6-m cliffs of fossilized coral (makatea). This coral cliff forms a mile-wide ring round the island, forming a virtual plateau. Erosion at the innerside of the ring has formed dip of about 30-m into fertile land, which gradually rises again to a central 70-m flat-topped hill.

31/Mar/1777 Atiu and Takutea in the Cook Islands discovered by Captain James Cook.

The three volcanic peaks form a triangle with Atiu having the least coral reef and some very interesting rock formations. Makatea is the Maori name for the fossilised prehistoric coral that surrounds the island. Over 1,000's of years bird droppings and plants have grown over the surface in sections and hence many caves, five quite unusual.

Captain Cook came ashore on Atiu at Orovaru Beach on April 3, 1777. Atiu's has five villages on the flat island center, which leaves the coastline unpopulated. There is also a coffee plantation, and a vanilla bean plantation. Captain Cook visited the island 1777 and served a ceremonial brew called 'KAVA' honoring his arrival in the islands. It is made from the root of a pepper tree called PIPER METHYSICUM. Cook took samples of the root back to England where it has been used to treat stress, anxiety and insomnia.

Atiu is home to the Kopeka bird (Atiu Swiftlet - Aerodramus sawtelli) which is endemic.

The 'TUMUNU', the bush-beer tradition, was introduced by natives from Tahiti and was concocted by hollowing out the stump of a coconut tree, filling it with oranges and pawpaw and yeast, mashing into a pulp and let it ferment for about a week. The beer was deemed 'illegal' (as was dancing) by the missionaries. The natives would cover their caches with branches from nearby bushes.

There are daily flights to and from Rarotonga and accommodations on the island.

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