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Geologists estimate that Mangaia is at least 18 million years old, making it the oldest island in the Pacific. It's the second largest of the Cook Islands and the furthest south of the Group. It rises 15,600 feet (4750 m) above the ocean floor. It has a central volcanic plateau and, like many of the southern islands in the Cooks, it is surrounded by a high ring of cliffs of fossilised coral, called the makatea, in this case 200 feet (60 m) high. It looks beautiful in the picture on the right, but the coral is razor sharp.

Mangaia is renowned for its shell neckbands or "eis". These are are made from the shells of the tiny yellow snail, the pupu, which emerges only after rain. Gathering, piercing and stringing is a very time consuming business. The women of the island often give the highly prized strands away as gifts of friendship to visitors from other islands in the Group. But they are also much in demand in Tahiti and Hawaii.

MANGAIAN LIFE STYLE

No swimming on Sunday.
Dress code "conservative"
No drunkenness or being a nuisance in public.
No driving or causing disturbance to the community on Sundays.
Sabbath observance - midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday.
All businesses closed on Sunday

The Mangaia Kingfisher (Todiramphus ruficollaris) is found nowhere else in the world. Because of that it's officially classified as "vulnerable" although Birdlife International reports that there are between 400 and 700 birds on the island. The colourful bird lives high up in the forest growing on the makatea.

Taro is sometimes called the "potato of the tropics" and the finest is said to grow on Mangaia. For those who are interested, it's high in vitamins A and C, has only a trace of fat and is particularly good for anyone with digestive problems or food allergies. Lush taro plantations and other vegetation thrive in the centre of the island at the bottom of the makatea, and in the central valley.

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