Besides caving, there are plenty of places to see on Atiu. The third largest Cook Island in terms of land area, Atiu is has a number of interesting sites that are definitely worth visiting. Ranging from beautiful beaches to ancient marae and coffee plantations, Atiu offers tourists ample opportunities to enjoy themselves.

Beaches on Atiu

While the beaches may not be ideal for swimming on Atiu, there several beautiful beach strips where you can sit back and enjoy the beauty around you or have a dip in the water. Most of them are quite easy to reach and lie just off the main coastal road that encircles Atiu. On the beaches of Matai, Taungaroro and Takauroa, a number of thatched shelters have been set up for people to relax under.

A wonderful place to go snorkeling and swimming on Atiu has to be Taunganui Harbor. The marine life is abundant here and the water is clear and deep. Oravaru Beach on the western coast of the island and the Taungaroro and Tumai beaches on the southern coast are all wonderful places to relax and have some fun. Along the northeastern coast of Atiu, Tarapaku is another pretty beach strip with three lovely seaside grottoes. Matai and Oneroa also have some wonderful picturesque beaches as well.

Atiu Marae

Atiu has several marae worth visiting. The most well known one has to be the Orongo Marae near Oravaru Beach. Slightly difficult to find, you will probably need a guide to take you there. The Te Apiripiri marae behind the Administration Center is also a good place to visit, as is the Te Au Tapu marae, which is still used even today! Made from 47 large limestone rocks is the impressive Vairakai Marae, nearby is the deep canyon of Vai Momoiri.

Coffee Plantations on Atiu

There are a number of coffee plantations on Atiu, many of which have been around for nearly a century now. Coffee was bought to Atiu by traders and missionaries and now, coffee is one of Atiu’s biggest exports. There are two brands of coffee available on Atiu, Atiu Island Coffee and Atiu Coffee, both of which are blends.

Atiu Fibre Arts Studio

Specializing in appliqué works, this art studio is known for its wonderful tivaevae or ceremonial cloths. Available in both traditional and contemporary designs, the tivaevae are hand sewn and can cost up to NZ$ 1500. A variety of other fabrics and quilting is also on hand at the Atiu Arts Studio.