5 Best Caves on Mitiaro

The only sulphur pool in the Cook Islands, Vai Marere is known among the locals for its healing minerals. Bathe in the healing waters yourself by finding this easy-to-miss cave pool after a 10-minute walk from Mangarei village.

It looks small from the roadside, but as you go down the concrete stairs, the cave opens up into a relatively large cavern with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The water is a little murkier than the other cave pools mentioned on this list of caves on Mitiaro, but that might just be the sulphur content.

Location: Just off the cross-island road, approximately 200m/219 yards (10-minute walk) from Mangarei. It's on the eastern side of Mitiaro.

By far the best swimming cave in Mitiaro (and the Cook Islands), Vai Nauri holds a deep pool with clear deep blue waters and striking limestone features.

There are a set of steps down to the pool or you can clamber around the pool and jump off a 3 m (3.3 yards) outcrop into the deep waters. Try to get there on weekdays when the kids are in school to experience the eerie silence of this cave as you're floating under a canopy of dripping stalactites.

Location: West side of Mitiaro. A short dead-end road to Vai Naui can be found a few hundred metres north of the Lake Rotonui turnoff.

While still a must-visit, Vai Tamaroa requires a short walk to reach. It's easy to spot the white-painted sign and commemorative marker for the 1985 Boys' Brigade project that established this trail to the cave.

The trail is easy enough to follow without a guide if you pay attention as you scramble over grassy makatea inland. Allow around 20 minutes of walking to finally reach Vai Tamaroa, a 10 m (10.9 yards) deep circular hole with a deep pool filling most of it. Be prepared for a bit of climbing in and out.

Location: Along the east coast road, spot the Vai Tamaroa sign a few hundred metres south of the Lake Rotonui turnoff.

Moving onto the much lesser-visited caves of Mitiaro, Vaia'i is known as the "Sandalwood Cave" as the makatea on the way to the cave is covered in sandalwood. The cave is another one on Mitiaro that you can swim in. It's very difficult to find, however, so a guide is required.

Location: Inland, approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) on the road from Mangarei to the Atai plantations (northern inland road). A guide is needed to find this cave. Ask at your accommodation if they know anyone who can take you.

Inland from Te Unu Beach, the freshwater of Tepito o Kare was once used as a drinking hole by fishermen returning to the beach. Nowadays, it is one of the less-visited caves on Mitiaro.

Location: Southeast side of Mitiaro. From Te Unu Beach, take the cross-island road for a few hundred metres to where the rough trail starts. Although it's a short trail, it requires local knowledge to find, so ask at your accommodation if they know anyone who can take you.