As we were travelling in a group, Jackie decided to summon the village together and host an ‘Island Night’ at our dining area, where over 40 people came to sing and dance for us – a fantastic experience. Our small donation made a huge difference to them and it was incredibly heart-warming.
While visiting Atiu, I highly recommend the cave tour, a super visit to discover some stunning caves in the interior. This is also the only place in the world where you can see the Kopeka bird, a small, dark bird in the swift family. These birds live in the dark in the caves and navigate by their own sonar.
While in the cave, you can also go cave swimming. Be warned, this trip can only be done with reasonable levels of fitness: we were clambering over rocks and vegetation, with some small climbs too. Closed shoes and insect repellent are a must.
In the evening, you should ask to be invited to a local Tumunu. This is the local meeting house where men (women are also allowed) gather to discuss events and have a drink of their own brewed “Bush Beer”, a two-century-old tradition that used to be illicit. It was a great experience, but I’ll keep the secret as to what the drink is made from or tastes like!