A small but beautiful private reserve, the Takitumu Conservation Area is located in the southeast of Rarotonga. Roughly 155 hectares in size, a visit to this area is a must for bird watchers and naturalists alike, who wish to enjoy Rarotonga’s wealth of natural beauty. A community based project managed by local landowners, this reserve was created to protect the endangered endemic bird species of the island as well as their habitats. A lush tropical forest filled with ferns, shrubs, trees and various flowering plants, the Takitumu Conservation Area is also home to a variety of orchid species including the rare ground orchid.

A great way to spend an afternoon hiking through the many well marked trials, the Takitumu Conservation Area offers walking tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with bird watching excursions arranged with prior approval. Here you get the opportunity to see the garrulous Rarotongan Flycatcher or kakerori in action, which was saved from the brink of extinction. A yellow sparrow-like bird, the endangered kakerori is native to Rarotonga, and is one of the rarest land birds on the planet.

Some other unique birds found in the Takitumu Conservation Area include the i’oi or Rarotonga starling, the kukupa or fruit dove, the myna and the long-tailed cuckoo or karavia. The Giant Kingfern, the Rarotonga orchid, the Polynesian Chestnut, the Pua Neinei, wild guavas and wild hibiscus are some of the many plants that grow here. A hilly region, as you climb to the top you are presented with some breathtaking views of the Pacific and the surrounding area.

When hiking here, remember to wear proper walking shoes and use plenty of sunscreen and mosquito repellant. Also carry water with you while trekking here as it can be thirsty work!