Information, Shops & Services on Atiu

Atiu has a small number of convenience stores selling a range of tinned goods and staple foods (basically, anything that is easy to keep), as well as seasonal produce from the local plantations. Due to late shipments to the island, there’s not always the variety of foods that you might expect, so it’s best to approach grocery shopping with an open mind.

Supermarkets/Grocery Stores on Atiu

Some of the convenience stores on Atiu include:

• Super Brown (Main Road, Tengatangi, open Monday to Saturday from 6 am to 10 pm)
• Aire Mai Grocery Store (Main Road, Teenui, open Monday to Friday from 7 am to 6:30 pm)
• Ezra Grocery Store (Main Road, Mapumai, open Monday to Friday from 7 am to 1 pm and 6 pm to 8:30 pm, and Saturday 7 am to 7 am and 6 pm to 8:30 pm).

Guests of Atiu Villas

Note that guests of Atiu Villas have a pantry and fridge stocked with a variety of food and drink, most of which are at a similar price to what you'll find at the convenience stores. They provide a stock list with prices, and to mark off what you have used, just pay on departure.

While we always recommend having all the medication you need with you for your stay in the Cook Islands (see What to Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for the Cook Islands for advice), we especially recommend bringing even light medications (such as painkillers), hayfever medication, baby products, hygiene products and sun protection to Atiu.

Although some light medication and toiletries are for sale at Atiu's convenience stores, the stock is limited, and they are sometimes sold out. The only alternative option for getting medication on Atiu is the local hospital.

Pharmacy and Hospital

There is no pharmacy available on Atiu, so visitors are advised to bring any necessary medications with them. However, those in need of pharmacy medication can order from the pharmacies on Rarotonga and have it sent to Atiu via express delivery.

For more pressing illnesses and injuries, there’s the Atiu Hospital on the main road, Ngatiarua. They are open for doctor's appointments Monday to Friday from 7 am to 3 pm, Saturday from 7 am to 9 am, and Sunday from 7 am to 8 am. Medical services are available by calling 999 in the event of an emergency.

Atiu offers limited banking and communication services. Visitors are recommended to bring all the cash they need (New Zealand Dollars) and not rely too heavily on access to WiFi. Those who need a phone and internet are best getting a local SIM card.

Fuel Stations on Atiu

There are two fuel stations on Atiu:

• Super Brown (Main Road, Tengatangi, open Monday to Saturday from 6 am to 10 pm)
• Mapumai Fuel Station (Main Road, Mapumai).

There are sometimes fuel shortages on Atiu, so you may be limited to how often or how much you can fuel up. That being said, you are not charged for fuel if you are renting, for example, with Atiu Villas.

Phone Network on Atiu

There is only one cellphone network provider in the Cook Islands, Vodafone, whose office can be found on Atiu, located on the main road of Ngatiarua.

It's important to note that there is no phone signal along the southeast coast of Atiu. Bad weather can also seriously affect phone coverage.

Learn more about the network and prices in The Best SIM Card in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands for Travellers.

Post Offices on Atiu

Vodafone also offers postal services on Atiu (Main Road, Ngatiarua) and is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Internet and WiFi on Atiu

Free WiFi is practically unheard of in the Cook Islands, and the same applies to Atiu, except for the 500 MB per day that guests receive at Atiu Villas. Anywhere that does offer WiFi usually provides it through a Vodafone WiFi hotspot, for example, Super Brown and the Vodafone Office.

Learn more about how to use Vodafone WiFi hotspot vouchers in How to Get Internet & WiFi in the Cook Islands.

Banks and ATMs on Atiu

There is one bank found on Atiu, while the Super Brown store is an agent of the BSP bank. Don't expect a foreign exchange service, as the banks here only deal in local banking. The banks on Atiu are:

• BCI (Bank of the Cook Islands) (Main Road, Ngatiarua open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm)
• BSP (Bank of the South Pacific) agent, Super Brown (Main Road, Tengatangi, open Monday to Saturday from 6 am to 10 pm).

There are no ATMs on Atiu, but you can withdraw cash with a credit card at Atiu Villas for a 5% fee. Find out more about paying your way through the Cook Islands in our guide, What is the Best Way to Pay in the Cook Islands?