Small southern Cook Islands island, ringed by makatea limestone around a fertile taro-swamp interior
Mitiaro is a small, low-lying island sitting between Atiu and Mauke in the southern Cook Islands. Like its neighbours, it is encircled by makatea (raised coral limestone), and the interior consists of a fertile taro swamp plateau. The population of a few hundred lives in a single village, Mangarei.
The island has two freshwater lakes, Te Rotonui and Te Rotoiti, which together cover much of the island's land area and attract migratory birds. The cave system is the island's highlight: Vai Nauri is a deep freshwater pool in a limestone cavern where small eels swim peacefully alongside bathers, and Vai Marere is the only sulphur cave pool in the Cook Islands. On the makatea, Te Pare Fort — the only known pre-European fortification in the Cook Islands — stands as a reminder of the island's history of conflict with Atiu.
Mitiaro receives very few visitors. Getting there means a small Air Rarotonga flight from Rarotonga, and accommodation is limited to basic guesthouses. It is the kind of place where a stranger's arrival is a notable event and hospitality is accordingly generous. If you are looking for a genuinely remote outer-island experience in the Cook Islands, Mitiaro delivers it.
Guide
Getting There
Mitiaro is served by Air Rarotonga, which operates small aircraft flights from Rarotonga several times a week. The flight takes about 45 minutes. Seats fill quickly, so book ahead — especially in the dry season when demand from the small but growing number of visitors to the outer islands is higher.
There is no direct ferry service to Mitiaro. The cargo supply ship that serves the Cook Islands' outer islands occasionally takes passengers, but schedules are irregular and the journey is long. Air Rarotonga is the practical option for most visitors.
Mitiaro Airport is a simple grass airstrip near the north of the island. From there it is a short drive or walk to Mangarei village, where all accommodation is located.
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When to Go
The best time to visit Mitiaro is during the dry season, from April to November, when rainfall is lower and the weather is more settled. The Cook Islands as a whole are tropical, but Mitiaro's small size means it sees less cloud cover than the larger islands. Temperatures hover around 25–27°C year-round.
The wet season (December through March) brings heavier rain and occasional tropical cyclones. Flights from Rarotonga to Mitiaro are on small aircraft and can be disrupted in bad weather; if you have a tight schedule, the dry season is more reliable.
There are no large festivals on Mitiaro, but the annual Constitution Day celebrations in August include inter-island sporting events that occasionally bring visitors from Atiu and Mauke.