For the more adventurous traveller looking for traditional island culture – Mitiaro offers a trip of a lifetime
Dreaming of an escape and adventure to tropical paradise, sleeping under the stars and experiencing traditional island culture and people, Mitiaro – one of the Cook Islands most beautiful, yet relatively unknown and remote islands - offers a unique travel experience like no other.
Previously only accessible to the truly adventurous, this stunning hidden treasure trove of island paradise offers beautiful and traditional homestay accommodation. Sleeping in woven pandanus tree Kikau huts hosted by local Mitiaro families and listening to the waves breaking nearby, you step back in time and experience the customary living and kindness of the Mitiaroans. The local Mitiaroans embrace their visitors with warmth and hospitality like no other.
This is escaping to a remote island at its best and exploring the true Mitiaroan culture and island living, eating fresh fruit and fish, swimming and walking across the little beaches and coral reef and experiencing the spectacular underground swimming holes.
The islanders live in much the same way as their ancestors – farming, fishing and trading with nearby islands.
Mitiaro is only 6kms wide – small compared to other islands. Flying into Mitiaro the view of the island appears deserted only showing swamps, lakes, plantations and a craggy, rugged terrain of a raised coral reef – a makatea – surrounding the island. Physically, Mitiaro is flatter than other Cook Islands as a result of a sunken volcano forming the swamps and lakes known as Te Rotonui (big lake) and Te Rotoiti (small lake).
As the tyres of the twelve seater plane hit the tarmac airport -a barren sand airstrip with a falling down airport shed - visitors are greeted by the entire island – all 160 including the children. The excitement from the locals is pleasantly overwhelming and the Mitiaroan children rally to meet the visiting children to organise trips around the island on push bike.
Only one van exists on the island, owned by the local Missionary’s wife – Rangi. Visitors pile into the van and taken to their host and Kikau hut accommodation. Scooters are the only true mode of transport on the island and the majority of the ‘welcoming committee’ escort the visitors by trailing with the van to their destination.
The Cook Island Tourist Corporation (CITC) recently launched a new homestay programme dubbed the Itiki experience. Visitors are met by homestay host - Inangaro ‘Vivienne’ Taia – who owns the Kovea Kikau Hut nearest to the reef and coral beach. Producing a Nei (the Mitiaro version of a Lai) and a warm-hearted greeting and hugs all around, you immediately feel part of the Mitiaroan family.
All homestay accommodation offers a delicious array of beautiful fresh food from the island including fruit and coconuts for breakfast, lunch and a hearty dinner with local fish, taro and kumara.
The Mitiaroan children beam with happiness - it is infectious and wonderful to see how happy they are with their simple life on Mitiaro. Fishing is an everyday adventure and the children take visitors fishing near the harbour to catch Tuna with traditional iron tree rods and fishing lines – very simple and challenging for visitors navigating the rugged coral reef.
If you are fortunate, the local school likes to invite visitors to spend some time at the school. The school children embrace visiting families and children by showing off their skills to the visitors with a quick introduction to their version of soccer.
Exploring the island by scooter is enormous fun. Watch out for the roaming pigs and chickens as plenty live along the dirt roads and cross over in front of you. The alternative, bike riding, is a favourite past-time for the local children and visitors can hire a bike and join the children for an adventure across or around the island.
Mitiaro is now part of a ‘green tourism’ programme. For $50, visitors are invited to plant a special native or fruit tree from the school nursery and all the proceeds go to the school, the women’s association and the agricultural association.
Swimming is accessible around some parts of the island, particularly on Tia’ara Beach on the western side of the island near the Kovea Kikau Hut. The beaches are covered in beautiful white coral and the reef is ideal for walking and discovering fish and crabs. However, the most beautiful swimming is inland in the deep underground swimming holes some in the limestone caves. The best is Vai Nauri – a natural swimming pool. The water is fresh and the blue-green colours of the limestone dance on the water which makes for a magical photo.
Historical sites and Mitiaro’s marae (ancient open air meeting grounds) are one of the most interesting highlights on the island with a long history prior to the Missionaries arriving. Visitors are required to take a guide from the Ariki tribe to visit these areas as these sites are sacred territory and on private land.
Turning in at night, sleeping in our Kikau hut under mosquito nets, the island is a peaceful and quiet oasis. Take a pack of cards to entertain and the only noise you may hear comes from the many little geckos eating the bugs and mosquitoes or the disturbance at 5am by the local church bells and drums to wake the locals for their Christian service.
FACTS
Air New Zealand flies directly to Rarotonga from Sydney and Los Angeles. There are only three 45 minute flights by Air Rarotonga per week to Mitiaro and cost approximately $450-500 return.
There are three choices for the homestay experience, take a look at the offers with the CITC. The Kikau Hut homestay is approximately $176 per night including meals.
For those wanting to explore the historical sacred sites on the island and have a guide for other activities, Julian Aupuni, Mitiaro’s Tourist Officer is available and Ronald Powell the local working in the shop offers his services to take people around the island.
One little store exists on the island selling necessities, snacks and drinks and bring plenty of cash as there is little offering at the bank to exchange money.
Visit Cook Islands Tourist Corporation for further details www.cookislands.travel.ck
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