Even in the far-flung Ionian Sea, surrounded by the olive-draped cliffs of Greece, you can’t take the Kiwi out of a Kiwi. On a recent Mediterranean adventure, Colin Stone and his family found themselves anchored off Atakos, a small and largely uninhabited island in the Greek archipelago—and made an unexpected acoustic discovery that blended two cultures beautifully.
Stone, known back home as the man behind Skipperi New Zealand, was enjoying a well-earned break. But even halfway across the world, boating remained front and centre. With family onboard and a Bluetooth speaker within reach, they drifted near a towering cliff face on the island’s eastern side and fired up a classic Kiwi anthem: Pōkarekare Ana.
“We played it out toward the rocks and got this amazing echo back,” Stone says. “But the sound didn’t just come back—it came back better. It was like the whole island joined in.”
Music, cliffs and an Ionian chorus
Atakos is known to passing sailors as a peaceful stopover in the Ionian chain. It has no permanent population, only a few private homes, and offers shelter in the deep inlet of One House Bay. But its towering cliffs, carved by wind and sea over millennia, offer something far more rare: the perfect acoustic amphitheatre.
When the Stones played Pōkarekare Ana against the face of the cliff, the song echoed with surprising clarity and depth. The reverberation, unique to the cliff’s formation, added harmonic overtones that turned a portable speaker into something like a concert hall. The effect left the family stunned.
“It made us feel proud,” Stone says. “That a Kiwi waiata could bounce off a Greek cliff and sound like it belonged there.”
Not just music: swimming pigs too
Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Mediterranean cruise without a surprise or two. Down the bay from their acoustic experiment, the family spotted something moving in the water—not a dolphin, not a diver, but a pig. In fact, several pigs. It turns out Atakos has a small herd of swimming pigs, often seen foraging near the shore or even taking to the water. Whether they’re feral or semi-domesticated isn’t quite clear, but the sight was unforgettable.
“It felt like we’d found a bit of the Bahamas in the middle of Greece,” says Stone. “And then you’d hear a Kiwi song echoing off the hills. Totally surreal.”
The men behind Skipperi
Colin Stone is no stranger to innovative boating solutions. Back in New Zealand, he and business partner Eric Haagh are the new owners of Skipperi, a boat-sharing service that gives Kiwis access to a fleet of well-maintained boats without the cost or hassle of ownership. From Auckland Central to Gulf Harbour, Skipperi offers freedom on the water for everyone from beginners to seasoned skippers.
“We always say, Skipperi is for people who love boating but can’t have a boat for whatever reason,” says Stone. “And now here I am, halfway across the world, living that same freedom.”
Taking the Kiwi spirit abroad
The moment on Atakos was more than just a travel highlight. It was a reminder of how music, landscape and a love of the ocean can bridge cultures. Stone says the sound of Pōkarekare Ana echoing back from the cliffs was as moving as any concert hall performance.
“You can take the Kiwi out of New Zealand, but you can’t take New Zealand out of the Kiwi,” he says with a laugh.
He captured video from the moment, which we’ve embedded below—including that spine-tingling echo and a cameo from the local pigs.
A moment worth sharing
The Stones’ visit to Atakos is a reminder that some of the most moving boating experiences aren’t planned. They happen when the sea, the scenery and a bit of Kiwi ingenuity come together in a remote anchorage. If you find yourself cruising through the Ionian, don’t just sail past Atakos. Drop anchor, cue the music, and you might just hear the cliffs sing back.
