Mauke
A makatea island east of Rarotonga, known for a church divided down the middle.
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Mauke is a low island of raised coral east of Rarotonga, and its best known feature is the church at Ziona: two villages built it together in 1882 and disagreed so completely about the decoration that they finished their own halves separately and put in two doors, and the interior is still divided down the middle in two different styles. Caves in the makatea hold freshwater pools, and Vai Tango is the best known.
What you actually see
- The divided church - the 1882 building finished in two styles with two doors.
- The cave pools - the freshwater chambers in the makatea, including Vai Tango.
- The makatea - the raised coral platform covering most of the island.
- The coastal beaches - the small sand pockets between the coral outcrops.
When to go
May to October is the drier season. Flights from Rarotonga are infrequent. The cave pools are usable year round.
Honest expectations
Flights are infrequent and cancellations are common. Accommodation is a handful of small guesthouses. The makatea is sharp and shoes matter everywhere off the roads.
Nearby
Mitiaro is north, and Atiu is west.
What to pack for Mauke
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.
