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Atiu lies 135 miles North East of Rarotonga and is about half the size of the capital island. It's also known as Enuamanu which means land of the birds. More species live there than on any of the other islands, and they include some of the worlds' rarest.

The Rarotonga Flycatcher(Pomarea dimidiata) - pictured here on a Cook Islands stamp - is officially classified as an endangered species. But a few years ago, it was on the verge of extinction. Then between 2001 and 2003, 30 of the remaining birds were transferred from Rarotonga where they were prey to the ship rat, to Atiu where the predator doesn't exist. Thanks to careful conservation management, there are now thought to be about 200 birds in existence. Latest news from Atiu is that eight fledgings have been reported from the 2003 hatching and three pairs have taken up residence around Atiu Villas. Find out more about the birds themselves from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource

The kopeka is Atiu's signature bird with a habit of never landing outside its cave and then not even landing in its cave but hanging upside down instead, like a bat. It builds its nest deep in between the stalactites of the Anatakitaki Cave and navigates in total darkness guided by the echo of its clicking sounds.

Birdman George (left) will show you these and all the other birds of Atiu in a 2 hour tour costing NZ$20. He's employed by the Takitumu Conservation Area to look after the birds.

Legend says Tangaroa, the divine god of the sea, was the first inhabitant of Atiu. Captain Cook was the first European to sight the island on 31 March, 1777.

Atiu was once a volcano which sank leaving a coral reef around a low plateau. 100,000 years ago, volcanic action pushed it up killing the reef and creating a razor sharp band of coral called a makatea. The makatea runs around the island ranging in width from 50 to 100 metres. Low cliffs, 3 to 6 metres high surround the island, but there are many recesses in which small sandy coves are found. There are limestone caves all over the makatea and some are used as ancient burial sites. Tourism is still in its infancy, but the island is easily accessible now by air.

The people of Atiu have created their own web site which tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the island, the residents and their lifestyle. There also plenty of pictures, details of accommodation and an airline timetable. Highly recommended! The pictures on this page - other than the one of the stamp - are courtesy of the site.

Click on the logo to visit the island and explore it through the eyes of the people who live there (opens in new window)

Or click here to visit the sister island of Takutea