Atiu Villas

Myself my daughter and her partner stayed at Atiu villas and were greeted by our host at the airport. We were also given a tour of the island upon arrival, in the most relaxing way possible. Island style! Our host Roger, reception staff Jackie, and the caterers all made us feel welcome nothing was an issue. Our accommodation also was an experience situated in amongst the most beautiful bush, and you really felt at one with nature with a song or two in the morning to remind you where you are. No rubbish, no noise, no stress! Paradise.

As part of a three week trip to the Cook Islands we decided to stay at the Atiu Villas for a couple of nights all arranged with a package offered by Air Rarotonga. Jackie is the lady who manages the Villas for a nice older couple who live next door. Jackie picked us up from the airport and gave us a quick tour of the local area and small village. We settled into our villa which was was nice. You have everything you need plus food in your villa. If you wish for a cooked supper let Jackie know early in the day. The meal cost 40NZD but was a tasty plate full of good food. Soft drinks and beer was available for a reasonable price. Breakfast can be had in the village about 5-10 minute walk from the villas, or you can cook in the villa. After we settled into our villa we asked if we could use the old 4x4 and have a look around. It cost 30NZD for half a day and we drove the small coastal road completely around the Island seeing jungle and all the remote beaches. It was wonderful. We got back for supper and a couple of beers plus a nice chat with the owners and then slept. We had a Cave tour to see the Kopeca bird that lives in the caves and its behavior imitates bats by sounding to fly and only land in its cave. I believe this bird only exists on Atiu. The tour and its walk over ancient corral is a serious walk especially if it has been raining. Very slippery on ancient very sharp corral. So be prepared with good boots and protective clothing.

Visited in August 2023 but never got round to reviewing.
Visited as part of our honeymoon on a trip to the Cook Islands. Everything about the accommodation and island was fantastic. Met by jackey at the airport and taken to the accommodation after a small tour of the island.
The private bungalow was clean tidy and had a well stocked fridge.
Food at the onsite restaurant was great and we really enjoyed the group meals!
Jackey also helped to organise multiple trips including a trip to the caves and also a tour with Birdman George.
A fantastic stay overall and we were very sad to leave the amazing island of atiu! Already planning our next visit!

The Cook Islands are probably best known for Rarotonga and Aitutaki. If you really want to experience island life then head to Atiu for several nights. It's a 40-45 minute flight further east from Raro. This beautiful coral island has rainforest, secluded beaches, caves and abundant birdlife.
If you expect a choice of restaurants and bars then you will be disappointed. Atiu Villas will provide everything you need. Each room has a well stocked fridge and larder. An evening meal can be booked — this is communal so you enjoy the company of the island hosts and other guests. There are only 6 rooms so it is very special. You can cool off in the well maintained swimming pool, surrounded by gardens that have been nurtured over many years.
There is one local cafe that serves breakfast and lunch. Dinner has to be booked in advance. There are three stores with very basic supplies and if you want fresh bread (which is delicious) then you have to get up early before it sells out.
From our arrival, throughout our stay, right until departure, Jackey and team made us feel so welcome and comfortable. Islanders that we met, thanked us for visiting their home.
There must be so few places left like Atiu. This gives you a truly unique experience.

Highly recommend for you to stay in Atiu Villas when you visit Atiu.
Roger (owner) and Jackey (manager) picked us up from the airport with Leis. Roger drive us around the island and told us about its history before dropping us off in Atiu Villas.
Our entire stay was very relaxing. The villas were comfortable. No aircon but it was cool enough to sleep at night. They had a supply of grocery items in the room which you can use throughout the stay and pay for later. Contrary to most accommodation, we found that their grocery prices in the room were cheaper or equal to the grocery in town.
Jackey I think deserves special mention in this review. She was such a jolly and accommodating host. She was very attentive to our needs, responsive to messages and went above and beyond her host duties.
We had “island night” while we were in the island. It felt like a fun town party. The island night was not only for us, but the town people seemed to have enjoyed it as much as we did.
Surprisingly, Atiu was my favourite island out of the Cook Islands I visited.

Had the most amazing experience at Atiu at Atiu Villas. Our stay was short, but we felt immersed in the island culture.
Note, we were a big group visiting and right from the time we landed and picked up from tiny Atiu airport, we were well looked after.
The villas were home-y and we were well informed. We had the option to easily rent a truck for a day to tour the island and visit all the pristine beaches, swim the beautiful waters and pluck coconuts and guavas.
Jackey, Aaron and Roger were our primary contacts and looked after us.
Jackey even organised an island night for us — the locals made us feel so welcome!
Our hearts were full when we left! We will cherish our memories forever!
Thank you Atiu Villas!

A beautiful place to stay in Atiu. Jackey from the Atiu villas team met us at the airport and showed us around the island before taking us to the villas. She also organised our tour to the Kopeka caves (which was arranged when we booked a villa directly through Atiu villas) and for us to visit a Tumanu to meet some of the locals and try home brew.
We visited in summer and it was hot, but the villas have good air flow and there was usually a nice breeze on the porch. We even got a bit cold at night with a ceiling fan and pedestal fan on! Each villa is designed to give you privacy, even if you sleep with the doors open (under a mosquito net). There's also a pool to cool down in.
There are two cars for hire, an EV and a manual Suzuki Jimny (referred to as 'the jeep') and some bicycles. We hired 'the jeep' to drive around the island — it is an older car with a sloppy gear box but it was reliable and we were comfortable driving it.
Kura's kitchen is onsite and the chef made delicious meals for us, and many locals from the island will arrange dinners here for special occasions. There is a cafe in town, about a 15minute walk away as well. Fridges and cupboards in the villas are well stocked with items you can purchase, but alcohol is much cheaper to bring in from Raro.
We stayed here for 2 nights and wished we'd organised to stay longer. Everything was very relaxed. Thank you Jackey and the team, we will be back!

Went about ten years ago but recently saw where Jackie has taken over management. Wonderful news. We met her then and knew she would be perfect. Attentive, competent and gave the place a friendly vibe. The villas were nice and well furnished. Everything you needed. The pool was such a welcome relief.

Great experience! We were two friends traveling and since we were the only guests that weekend we got one little villa each. Yes the villas are rustic but absolutely charming. Yes there are bugs and geckos! It's the tropics so bring mosquito repellant and keep an open mind! We signed up for dinners and the host, Jackie, cooked us two wonderful meals and was great company. We made breakfast and there was a nice little café in walking distance were we had lunch. The villages and Atiu Villas are located inland from the ocean but if you don't mind walking it's a nice walk to the beach. Since the reef is very close to the beach we did not go into the water. We took the tour with Birdman George who is very entertaining and served a yummy dinner at the end. Jackie also helped us sign up for a cave tour which was a fun experience. You should be warned however that it's not an easy hike to the caves. You walk over dried coral and if you fall you can cut yourself badly. If you have problems walking or with your balance I suggest not to do it. Atiu is very lush and beautiful. It was nice to have a different experience than Aitutaki (paradise) and Rarotonga (tourists)! Atiu is the real thing! No clubs and no parties!
Thank you Jackie!

We loved the Atiu Villas! This is an old-school charming stay on a small island. Rooms are constructed with love and care and well designed — we had the family room and it was perfectly suited for us (couple + 13 year old daughter) and could have easily fit two more kids as well. The highlight was dinner each evening — served family style with delicious fresh local food, and together with other guests and some staff. The whole experience harkens back to an earlier time.
Everything is well set — up — a kitchenette stocked with provisions, swimming pool, scooters available for guest use.
Note that this is not fancy accommodation and on a small island with lush jungle, so come prepared with insect repellent and appropriate expectations.
We did the Birdman George eco-tour on Sunday which was great, especially the meal!
We loved our stay here in Atiu and recommend Atiu Villas!

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Roman Esau.
2 reviews·9 photos.
4 hours ago.
NEW.
Vacation.
Couple.
Spent 2.5 days here as a couple last week. Wanted to change accommodation quickly but little choice on the island and no earlier flights to get off. …More.
Photo 1 in review by Roman Esau Photo 2 in review by Roman Esau.
Photo 3 in review by Roman Esau.
Photo 4 in review by Roman Esau +8
Steve C.
Local Guide·23 reviews·26 photos.
6 months ago.
We loved our time here and wished we had booked for longer! Beautiful accommodation and gardens on a unique Island. Very clean and well kept. Pool and wood fired BBQ great to have. The onsite restaurant makes gorgeous seasonal food. Jackey made us feel so welcome and was amazing helping us arrange tours and car hire etc.
Photo 1 in review by Steve C Photo 2 in review by Steve C.
Photo 3 in review by Steve C Photo 4 in review by Steve C.
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Markus Preindl.
Local Guide·359 reviews·6440 photos.
3 years ago.
The village is old. The restaurant is simple and old. Only one menu for dinner and quite expensive : 32 NZ dollars without beverages.
Roman Esau.
2 reviews·9 photos.
4 hours ago.
NEW.
Vacation.
Couple.
Spent 2.5 days here as a couple last week. Wanted to change accommodation quickly but little choice on the island and no earlier flights to get off.

Spent 2.5 days here as a couple last week. Wanted to change accommodation quickly but little choice on the island and no earlier flights to get off.
Description:
The villas are relatively centrally located in Atiu, immersed in a dense, paradisiacal forest and look very beautiful from the outside. There is plenty of privacy due to the dense planting.
The villas owner, Roger Malcolm, is a very kind and intelligent man who personally picked my wife and me up from the airport shortly after landing and took me to the villas. He told some interesting things about the island and showed different places, thanks Roger for that!
Now the completely different experience as soon as you enter your villa, distribute your utensils and take a closer look at the living areas when you first entered (see photos! ) :
Animal excrements, dust and dirt are laid around in all corners of the villa. There were several insect nests on the sloping roofs, which were also actively inhabited. Colonies of ants emerged from the joints in the walls and attacked our things. Also mold in the bathroom. The kitchen was partly populated with insects that were still alive. Kettle completely dirty from the inside, dirty fridge and moldy rubber seals. Many consumables and drinks had expired (even since 2021). The garden full of cans and rubbish, some of which I had disposed by myself because I felt sorry for the beautiful plants. Stained pillows, bedding that stinks of damp and mold.

Unique kind of accomodation, even on Cook Island standards. Situated in a lush tropical garden, the bungalows are offering a shady terrace and short access to a pool. The place was build exclusively from local wood (the founder and owner had to took his own sawmill to Atiu! ). The craftsmanship which created this small paradise has definitely to be appreciated.
The fridge contains everything you need for breakfast – prices are very nearly the same as in the island supermarket. When we stayed on Atiu, beer and wine was sold out everywhere, so we were happy to get a nice wine and some beer from that fridge.
The attached restaurant serves nice meals for quite reasonable prices. Weather permitting, you can also cook for yourself by using the barbecue facilities close by the pool.
The manager Jackey will pick you up at the airport and – during the drive to the accommodation – give you a short but very helpful introduction to the island. During our stay, Jackey turned out as a goldmine of information about the island. She is extremely friendly and helpful and made our stay realy unique. For example, we asked for a guided tour around Atiu and she suggested Birdman George. As his name describes, he is normally specialised on bird watching tours. But during the trip with that gentleman we learned realy much about history, nature and society on the island.

Atiu Villas are a total experience. From the minute Jacky picks you up at the airport till she drops you back there again, it’s guest care first. I stayed 3 nights there in the low season and 2 nights out of 3 I was the solo guest, but Jacky organised a great island dinner for me, attended by Roger the property owner and Jacky. She also persuaded Birdman George to take me out on the Sunday on an interesting bird and botany ecology tour of the island culminating in a picnic dinner by the sea using again the best of island produce, most of it George’s own growing.
Recommend the Villas to anyone visiting Atiu as the place to stay. One warning… beware of Frazzle the cat! That animal practices cat zen and you’ll find yourself feeding her!

The villa was comfortable and well furnished indoors and outside. Jackey was a lovely host. She made sure that we had everything we wanted, knew all the island had to offer and always seemed to have time for a chat.
The pool was cool enough to swim a few strokes and warm enough to just sit and look out for lorikeets.
We found that the air circulated well and we did not want air conditioning.
The airport transfers were not free, but the modest fee included a mini island tour — we saw whales!