The Beaches You Can’t Miss on Atiu!
If you want to experience pristine beaches all to yourself, Atiu is your island. The 26 beaches here are utterly picturesque and endearingly quaint, far from the endless stretches of sand you’ll find on Rarotonga or Aitutaki. With the reef being so close to shore, however, most beaches are better for finding shells than they are for swimming. That’s with a few exceptions when the tide is right, of course, so we make sure to mention where’s good for swimming and where’s not in this guide to the best beaches on Atiu.
How do you find the rest of the beaches on Atiu that we haven’t mentioned on this list? Just take the coastal road and look out for trails or clearings to the coast. Chances are, it leads to somewhere spectacular.
And for more items to add to the itinerary, check out the 20 Best Things to Do on Atiu.
1. Taungaroro Beach
Atiu’s most popular beach. Taungaroro is a small picturesque beach backed with cliffs and slopes into the reef. There are swimming holes to find in the reef, while the covered picnic area here offers a welcome respite from the sun.
Location: West side of Atiu, signposted off the western coastal road, 1.5km (0.9 miles) south of Oravaru Beach.
© Daniel Fisher - Cook Islands Tourism2. Tumai Beach
Only approximately 400m (437 yards) from Taungaroro, Tumai Beach is another worthwhile beach to visit with several remote sections of beach and rock slabs to scramble over. The beach is not the best for swimming.
Location: West side of Atiu, 400m (437 yards) from Taungaroro Beach.
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism3. Orovaru Beach
For a dab of colonial history, stop by Orovaru Beach, which was the landing site of British explorer, Captain James Cook, on April 3 1777. It’s also a scenic spot to bring a picnic.
Location: Western side of Atiu, approximately 1km (0.6 miles) south of Taunganui Harbour.
© Daniel Fisher - Cook Islands Tourism4. Matai Beach
This small beach is a picture-perfect spot squeezed between two cliffs. It is possible to swim at Matai Beach in certain conditions, but the prevailing winds on this side of the island mean that it gets the roughest waves.
Location: Southeast side of Atiu, between Te Tau (the southernmost point of the island) and Takauroa Beach.
© Daniel Fisher - Cook Islands Tourism5. Vaipiake Beach
Nestled in coastal forest, Vaipiake Beach and Landing offers a vantage point of the dramatic coastline and reef. Follow the narrow steps to a sandy beach with coral banks that are possible to snorkel at during high tide.
Location: Western side of Atiu, between Tumai Beach and Te Tau.
© Daniel Fisher - Cook Islands Tourism6. Taukauroa Beach
Takauroa Beach is where you can walk to three picturesque sinkholes at low tide. When the falling tide empties through the sinkholes you’re left with all sorts of colourful fish temporarily trapped in your own natural aquarium. That’s why they also call this place the “Coral Garden“.
Location: Southeast of Atiu, west of Takauroa Beach and east of Matai Beach.
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism7. Oneroa Beach
Experience blissfully secluded stretches of beach at Oneroa Beach. A few steps in the rock lead to this piece of paradise, where at low tide, you can walk to more natural wonders at The Three Grottos. Check out instructions on how to get to the Grottos in the 10 Free Things to Do on Atiu.
Location: Oneroa Beach, southeastern side of Atiu. Walk north from Oneroa Beach to reach The Three Grottos.
© Daniel Fisher - Cook Islands TourismMore About Beaches in Atiu and the Cook Islands
Now that you know some of the best beaches on Atiu, discover more sands to explore in our other Cook Islands guides:
Finally, plan the rest of your Atiuan excursion using The Complete Travel Guide to Atiu and Where to Stay on Atiu: The Best Atiu Accommodations.
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