Mauke Island in the Cook Islands – 8 Great Reasons to Visit


Mauke Island in the Cook Islands was our favourite island to visit.  For a small island that doesn’t receive many visitors, there was surprisingly never a dull moment.  We always had a cave to swim in, a deserted cove to explore, a shipwreck to find, or a giant tree to swing out of.  Mauke Island is just perfect for active families that are seeking something more memorable than resorts and kids clubs.

Scroll down further to skip the reading and go straight to a YouTube clip of Mauke Island!


Here Are 8 Great Reasons to Visit Mauke Island in The Cook Islands!


You can Swing From The Roots of a Giant Banyan Tree

Calling this tree large is an understatement.  Standing somewhere in the middle, it feels more like you are standing in a forest of Banyan trees rather than one that has grown wild and unchecked for many decades.  Our guide Clem was unsure of the age of this particular tree, but he could confirm that he has been swinging from its roots for at least 50 years!

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We all had a go at swinging from the smaller Banyan Tree Roots

Every Single Beach is Stunning and Deserted

This sounds like an exaggeration, but I assure you, it’s not!  Much like the island of Atiu, the Mauke Island in the Cook Islands is characterised by a Makatea cliff (fossilised coral) coastline.  In between these rugged cliffs with overhanging greenery, is many little deserted coves waiting to be explored.  As a result of the population being only around 300 people, there is little chance of bumping into anyone even if you wanted to.

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These little coves are one of the best features of the island!

Mauke is Home to One of The Most Unique Churches on The Planet

The Island of Mauke is home to the quirky, “Divided Church”.  Built in 1882 and beautifully restored, it has an interesting history.  There was a disagreement between the villages about how the interior of the church should be finished. The solution was to build a wall down the middle and decorate it in two different styles! 

The wall has since been removed and today, the minister stands with a foot on either side of the invisible but incredibly obvious dividing line.

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This photo doesn’t show it, but the church is just beautiful in dim light with the stained glass windows casting their glow on the floor and pews

The People Are Possibly The Most Welcoming in The Cook Islands

To be fair, all Cook Islanders are friendly and welcoming.  I thought the island of Atiu was welcoming, but when we landed in Mauke, the locals took it to a whole new level. 

The welcome lei was spectacular and included both a headpiece and a neckpiece.  Our host at Ri’s Retreat visited every day with bowls of fruit and drinking coconuts. They even found us a car for the week! New friends saw us off at the airport when we left 5 days later with firm instructions to come back.  I’ve been dreaming about it ever since!

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Our beautiful goodbye Lei’s on our last day

There Are Both Freshwater and Saltwater Cave Pools to Swim in

For all the wild swimming enthusiasts, this is a fantastic opportunity for a really unique swim.  You will need a guide to find some of them, but there is one not far from the villages and if you ask around, someone will be more than happy to show you how to get there.

Check out our YouTube clip a little further down for a sneak peek of a saltwater cave pool!

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This freshwater cave pool is usually crystal clear, but a recent bout of rain made the water cloudy due to dirt run-off

There is a Shipwreck to Find

There is a shipwreck and it’s really fun to try and find it! The “Te Kou Maru” wrecked on the reef in 2010 and is now seemingly embedded into the makatea.  You will have to drive or ride along the circle island road, keeping an eye out for its hulk-like frame through the thick coastal greenery. 

I’m not going to tell you where to find it because it takes all the fun out of it!  Don’t worry, the island is only 18 km around.

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We found it!

The Island of Mauke is Completely Charming

Mauke’s charm lies in its sleepiness and beauty.  There is virtually no traffic, and the island has wildflowers and coconut trees growing everywhere.  The locals keep their gardens well kept, and all fruit and vegetables are grown locally. 

Even though the island of Mauke in the Cook Islands doesn’t receive many visitors, the accommodation options are really lovely, providing you are happy to self-cater.  Don’t worry, if you get sick of cooking for yourself, the local store cooks a great burger.

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One of the main roads in ‘town’

The Harbour is Awesome to Swim in

The harbour walls on the island of Mauke ensure you have a calm, deep swimming spot to float around in (except in the case of extreme weather of course).  There is not one spot of rubbish in sight and much like the island of Atiu, it forms a kind of natural aquarium should you wish to duck dive down and check out the small fish going about their day.

This photo was taken moments before we jumped in fully clothed!

Check out This YouTube Clip of our Adventures on the Island of Mauke in the Cook Islands


How to Get to Mauke Island and Where to Stay


Accomodation

For an island that doesn’t receive many visitors, the accommodation was surprisingly good.  We stayed at Ri’s retreat, a fairly modern self-contained unit. It’s located right next to the airport but given the limited flights in out out, this isn’t an issue.  (Book through Island Hopper Vacations in Rarotonga).

There are three units on the property as well as a house, which your host conveniently lives in.  Your host can help you out with a vehicle and often slips fresh fruit and drinking coconuts into your fridge when you’re not looking.


Resources for Booking Your Cook Island Holiday


Flights

All international flights land in Rarotonga.  Try searching on Trip.com for a great deal on flights to Rarotonga.

Internal flights around the Cook Islands need to be booked with Air Rarotonga. Mauke, Atiu and Aitutaki are less than one hour flight from Rarotonga.

Accommodation

The White House Villa is a great self-contained family-friendly apartment near Aroa Beach on Rarotonga.


Looking for More Cook Islands Inspiration?


Check out our dedicated Cook Islands page for more inspiration and information on the Cook Islands. For other destinations both in Australia and abroad, head on back to the home page.

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