Aitutaki (Aye-too-tah-ki) is an island in the Southern Cook Islands, a 45 minute flight from the capital island of Rarotonga.
Aitutaki lagoon and its islands are breathtakingly beautiful. The classic picture postcard of small palm tree fringed tropical island, with shallow, warm turquoise waters, corals, tropical fish and blue skies is taken here. The lagoon is large, taking about an hour to cross in a boat. Tourism facilities are well developed, but are still low key enough not to intrude on the nature of the island.
The larger island is split into different villages, Vaipae & Tau'tu are the largest and are located on the south east side of the island, Arutanga is often referred to as town and is on the south west side of the island. Arutanga has a center area for shopping, and the Telecom Office (also the Post Office), the Westpac Bank and the Bank of the Cook Islands are located here. Here you will also find the Blue Nun and Wharf. Amuri is a general term for the north end of the island which contains most of the tourist accommodations and less population. The other villages on the island are Uriea, Rearea, Rama, Vaipeka and Nikaupara.
There are several smaller island in the lagoon Akaiami is a small, elongated islet at the opposite end of the lagoon from Aitutaki's main island around 20 minutes across the lagoon from Aitutaki. Akaiami is remote, quiet, charming, unspoiled and surrounded by pristine turquoise lagoon and coral reef, and there is a small lodge there. One Foot Island is a popular stopping spot for lagoon cruises.
During WWII the island was host to American forces who outnumbered the local population of the island at the time. The Americans built the airstrips which are still in use today. The island was built to be the last point of defence in the Pacific, but Japanese advance was reversed and the island never saw action. Some descendants of the American troops stationed there remain on the island.
The lagoon was a stopover point for the TEAL (later to become Air New Zealand) flying boats, which operated to between Tahiti, Fiji and New Zealand until 1960. The remains of the wharf where visitors would disembark for a two hour stopover, often including a swim in lagoon is still in place today on the island of Akaiami in the lagoon. The rocks are slightly submerged.
- One-Foot Island is a must see with blue lagoons and white sandy beach. There is a post office (box), one of the most remote in the world. There are beaches for swimming, you can walk around the island. Best snorkelling seems to be around the island past the rock ledge, towards the reef.
Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa located on its own private island Akitua which is directly on the fabled Aitutaki Lagoon offering the best views from the Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill. Day passes available for visitors not staying at the resort that allow access to water sports equipment, activities, beaches, bars, restaurant and Spa Polynesia. Romantic Candlelit dining with degustation menu in the evening on the beach.
- Take an island, safari, & walk about tours
- Ministry of Marine Resources. Open weekdays only. Learn about the sea life in the lagoon. See baby sea turtles and giant clams.
If the weather is nice, or even if it's not too bad, a lagoon cruise is near idyllic. Aitutaki's lagoon is supposed to rival Bora Bora in French Polynesia for beauty, and all of the lagoon operators are reputable and offer excellent trips. There is not a best operator on Aitutaki for Lagoon Cruises so look around and decide what kind of a cruise you are looking for - smaller more intimate cruises which stay away from One Foot Island during peak periods, or larger slower boats with entertainment and toilets on board. Unless it's a terrible day you can't go wrong.
For those that prefer to "do their own thing" another way to enjoy the Aitutaki Lagoon is to hire a kayak or outrigger canoe from the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa and paddle out to the nearest islet "motu" a few hundred metres away and go as far as is comfortable exploring the uninhabited islands. Book a picnic lunch and find your own beach without another soul on it.
For cruises on a smaller boat try:
- Captain Fantastic's Kia Orana Cruise, +682 31442.
- Aitutaki Adventures, +682 31171.
Captain Fantastic's Kia Orana Cruise, +682 31442.
Aitutaki Adventures, +682 31171.
One-Foot Island is a must see with blue lagoons and white sandy beach. There is a post office (box), one of the most remote in the world. There are beaches for swimming, you can walk around the island. Best snorkelling seems to be around the island past the rock ledge, towards the reef.
Take an island, safari, & walk about tours
Ministry of Marine Resources. Open weekdays only. Learn about the sea life in the lagoon. See baby sea turtles and giant clams.
- Aitutaki Golf Club. The island's 9-hole golf course. Bookable via hotels. Clubs for rental around NZ$10 and green fees around NZ$10.
- Scuba diving is available
* Bubbles Below, +682 31537.
* Aitutaki Scuba Diving, +682 31103.
- Fishing (either game fishing or fly fishing inside the lagoon). There is a game fishing area by the Wharf in Arutanga where the public can compete in Fishing Contests.
- Explore the island - rent a bicycle, scooter, or car and drive around the island. Don't be in a rush though as it won't take you long to get around the island. Take your time are enjoy the beaches, and taro on banana plantations. Of course the beach is also beckoning and the water is beautiful. The highest peak, Maunga Pu, offers good birds eye views of the whole island.
- Experience an Island night
The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa offers traditional drum dance show on Monday and Thursday nights featuring Aitutaki's best dancers. Dinner from 6:30PM and show begins at 8PM. All welcome. Bookings essential.
- SpaPolynesia Aitutaki, Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, Motu Akitua, Aitutaki Lagoon, +682 31203. SpaPolynesia Aitutaki offers profesionally-qualified spa therapists and an extensive spa menu.
- Windsurfing Aitutaki, Motu Akitua, Aitutaki Lagoon, +682 31203. Aitutaki Lagoon is a windsurfers (and kiteboarders) paradise. For guests of Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, windsurfing is included. Guests are able to purchase Day Passes which include windsurfing, snorkelling, outrigger canoes, kayaks and bicycles.
Aitutaki Golf Club. The island's 9-hole golf course. Bookable via hotels. Clubs for rental around NZ$10 and green fees around NZ$10.
[[Scuba diving]] is available
* Bubbles Below, +682 31537.
* Aitutaki Scuba Diving, +682 31103.
Fishing (either game fishing or fly fishing inside the lagoon). There is a game fishing area by the Wharf in Arutanga where the public can compete in Fishing Contests.
Explore the island - rent a bicycle, scooter, or car and drive around the island. Don't be in a rush though as it won't take you long to get around the island. Take your time are enjoy the beaches, and taro on banana plantations. Of course the beach is also beckoning and the water is beautiful. The highest peak, Maunga Pu, offers good birds eye views of the whole island.
Experience an Island night
SpaPolynesia Aitutaki, Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, Motu Akitua, Aitutaki Lagoon, +682 31203. SpaPolynesia Aitutaki offers profesionally-qualified spa therapists and an extensive spa menu.
Windsurfing Aitutaki, Motu Akitua, Aitutaki Lagoon, +682 31203. Aitutaki Lagoon is a windsurfers (and kiteboarders) paradise. For guests of Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, windsurfing is included. Guests are able to purchase Day Passes which include windsurfing, snorkelling, outrigger canoes, kayaks and bicycles.
There is a small store for supplies in town, and two ATMs. The selection is very much what is available at the time, and is quite limited. Sea cargo can arrive in Aitutaki every 3 months, and supplies can be limited before resupply.
On Sundays there is only one store open, the Neibaa Store in Vaipae, and there is only one petrol station next to the airport.
- Try the island's Ike mata (raw tuna) with coconut milk. It is delicious! And Poke a Cook Island Banana pudding which usually comes baked in the Earth oven or "Umu" Try not to eat snapper as they may give you ciguatera.
Reservations for dinner are a good idea on Aiutaki, as periodically the more popular restaurants will book up during tourist peak periods.
The Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa has views of Aitutaki Lagoon and offers Pacific cuisine between 11AM and 9PM. The Bounty Brasserie offers casual dining and regular live entertainment.Candlelit dining with a degustation menu and private waiter under the stars is available for a limited number of couples each evening.
- Te Vaka Bar & Grill. An excellent option for meals with possibly the largest menu on the island. Good quality and price, but sometimes the service is on "island time". Something travellers will likely experience, positively hopefully, anywhere in the outer islands. Te Vaka does have limited kitchen hours for meals, but the bar is also your best bet for any live sports, as they have a plasma TV hooked up to satellite. Friday nights are popular rugby nights for locals to cheer on the All Blacks. If you are Australian you can expect some good natured ribbing when any Wallaby match is on.
- Cafe Tupuna, +682 31678. Not open on Sundays. Reservations are required. The food and service on the island is as good as you will find on the island and is on par with other a-la-carte dining experiences travellers will be used to.
- Rapae Bay Restaurant, The Pacific Resort, +682 31720. Open 7 days a week. Reservations are required. The best food and service on the island and on a par with other a la carte dining experiences travellers will be used to.
The following all serve decent quality food but it definitely leans more to a take away style menu, with hamburgers being a big staple.
- Samade's Bar. Great BBQ on Sunday.
- Puffy's, For the Best Fish and Chips on the Island..
- Koru Cafe. Serves Espresso coffee and has WiFi internet.
- Popoara's Boathouse. The Boathouse will hopefully be more on par with the Te Vaka Bar & Grill once it is fully up and running, with more seafood on the menu. The best Ike mata on the island.
- Tauono's Garden Café. Mon-Wed-Fri 12-14 for lunch and 3-5 for tea. There's also a fruit market open Mon-Wed-Fri 10-5.. Serves delicious garden lunch and afternoon tea. All food is from their own local organic plantation and the surrounding sea. Sonja's cooking is a delight and something you must experience.
Try the island's Ike mata (raw tuna) with coconut milk. It is delicious! And Poke a Cook Island Banana pudding which usually comes baked in the Earth oven or "Umu" Try not to eat snapper as they may give you ciguatera.
Te Vaka Bar & Grill. An excellent option for meals with possibly the largest menu on the island. Good quality and price, but sometimes the service is on "island time". Something travellers will likely experience, positively hopefully, anywhere in the outer islands. Te Vaka does have limited kitchen hours for meals, but the bar is also your best bet for any live sports, as they have a plasma TV hooked up to satellite. Friday nights are popular rugby nights for locals to cheer on the All Blacks. If you are Australian you can expect some good natured ribbing when any Wallaby match is on.
Cafe Tupuna, +682 31678. Not open on Sundays. Reservations are required. The food and service on the island is as good as you will find on the island and is on par with other a-la-carte dining experiences travellers will be used to.
Rapae Bay Restaurant, The Pacific Resort, +682 31720. Open 7 days a week. Reservations are required. The best food and service on the island and on a par with other a la carte dining experiences travellers will be used to.
Samade's Bar. Great BBQ on Sunday.
Puffy's, For the Best Fish and Chips on the Island..
Koru Cafe. Serves Espresso coffee and has WiFi internet.
Popoara's Boathouse. The Boathouse will hopefully be more on par with the Te Vaka Bar & Grill once it is fully up and running, with more seafood on the menu. The best Ike mata on the island.
Tauono's Garden Café. Mon-Wed-Fri 12-14 for lunch and 3-5 for tea. There's also a fruit market open Mon-Wed-Fri 10-5.. Serves delicious garden lunch and afternoon tea. All food is from their own local organic plantation and the surrounding sea. Sonja's cooking is a delight and something you must experience.
The Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa offers the best views of the fabled Aitutaki Lagoon as it is located directly on the lagoon on the private island of "Akituta". Enjoy a tropical cocktail as the sun goes down.
Pacific or Islands Nights are also a good option to experience while you are in the Cook Islands. Islands nights usually involve either a buffet or a la carte menu and an island dancing show for a set price. Most island nights will also include a string band before the show as well. While Cook Island dancing is distinct in its own ways and definitely worth watching, it will be of a same vein as Tahitian shows for those more familiar with French Polynesia.
There is also nightlife, particularly on Friday's & Saturdays. The popular venues change every once in a while but are not typically hard to find and will usually be wherever the Island night takes place.
- Samade's Bar tends to attract more tourists than locals. You will find locals genuinely friendly and open and it is an excellent experience. The only words of caution are that periodically fights can occur after closing among those who've had too much to drink. It can be village rivalry or personal but almost never involves tourists. Closing time is always 12AM.
- Coconut Crusher Bar. A great feed, a great drink, and wonderful people
Samade's Bar tends to attract more tourists than locals. You will find locals genuinely friendly and open and it is an excellent experience. The only words of caution are that periodically fights can occur after closing among those who've had too much to drink. It can be village rivalry or personal but almost never involves tourists. Closing time is always 12AM.
Coconut Crusher Bar. A great feed, a great drink, and wonderful people
It will be a challenge, if not virtually impossible, to get into trouble in Aitutaki.
Water is filtered but not UV treated, so you may want to drink bottled water whilst on the island. There is a communal water tank in town next to the market with safe water, and it has a tap from which you can fill up water bottles for free.
There are mosquitoes on the island, but there is no malaria. There are stone fish in the lagoon, so wear reef shoes when exploring the reef.
There are hotspots from Bluesky and Zenbu scattered throughout the island. Bluesky also has a small store that is combined with the post office in Arutanga where you can buy vouchers, or just buy them online when connecting.
- Spider Co. Internet Lounge - internet cafe
- Internet access at the Boat Shed.
- Wireless access (with your laptop) at Koru Cafe.
Spider Co. Internet Lounge - internet cafe
The flying boats used on the coral route via Aitutaki are on display in Auckland.