Anatakitaki Cave
A limestone cave on Atiu holding the kopeka, a swiftlet that navigates by echolocation.
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Anatakitaki is a cave in Atiu's makatea, the raised coral platform that rings the island, and it is home to the kopeka, the Atiu swiftlet, a bird found nowhere else that nests in the dark and finds its way by a clicking echolocation that can be heard as you go in. The walk to the cave crosses sharp coral through bush, and the chambers inside hold stalactites and a pool.
What you actually see
- The kopeka - the swiftlet found only on Atiu, navigating by audible clicks.
- The dark chambers - the sections where the birds nest beyond the light.
- The formations - stalactites and a pool in the deeper parts.
- The makatea walk - the route across sharp raised coral to reach the cave.
When to go
May to October is the drier season. Tours run daily on arrangement. The cave is cool inside year round.
Honest expectations
The walk in crosses sharp coral and proper shoes are essential. Guides are required and tours must be booked. The cave is dark and involves some scrambling.
Nearby
Lake Tiroto is nearby, and Atiu's villages are inland.
What to pack for Anatakitaki Cave
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
