Takutea

Takutea is a low sand cay about twenty kilometres northwest of Atiu, uninhabited, held in trust by the people of Atiu since 1903 and managed as a wildlife sanctuary. Seabirds nest on it in numbers, including red-tailed tropicbirds and frigatebirds, and turtles come ashore on the beaches. Coconuts were harvested there periodically in the past. Landing requires permission from the island council and is rarely given.

What you actually see

• The seabird colonies - tropicbirds and frigatebirds nesting on the cay.
• The turtle beaches - the sand the animals come ashore on.
• The trust arrangement - the island held collectively by the people of Atiu since 1903.
• The uninhabited state - a cay with no permanent population at all.

When to go

May to October is the calmer season for the crossing. Seabirds nest through much of the year. Landing depends on swell and on permission.

Honest expectations

Landing requires council permission and is rarely granted; most visitors do not get ashore. There is no water, shade or facility on the cay. Swell frequently prevents the crossing.

Nearby

Atiu is southeast, and Mitiaro is east.