Takutea, while an official wildlife sanctuary, is not a place you can get to without government approval. A small uninhabited island only 9 miles north-west of Atiu, it is only one-half square mile in size and has a very dangerous landing at the north-west corner of the reef.

It is home mainly for the red-tailed tropic birds and red-footed Boobies.

Copra cutters visit once a year to cut coconuts from the trees and a quantity of the tail feathers of the tropic birds.