About Aitutaki

Aitutaki is located 230km north of Rarotonga, an unspoiled landscape of lush vegetation, swaying palms, friendly faces, all ringed by one of the world’s most beautiful blue lagoons.

A South Pacific vacation to Aitutaki is the stuff dreams are made of. Aitutaki lagoon is a postcard brought to life and a must for anyone planning Aitutaki travel! Prepare to slow down, relax and enjoy Aitutaki travel on “island time”. The locals are wonderfully welcoming, open and friendly people. You can make many new friends!

This magnificent and remote island has a triangular-shaped 'almost'-atoll rising up 4000 meters from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of three volcanic and 12 coral islets (motus). The main island is where most of the Aitutaki accommodation is located, the smaller islands mostly uninhabited. See this Google Map.

- Geographic coordinates of Aitutaki   18 50S, 159 46W
- Wet season, hot months, November - April
- Dry season, cooler months May - Oct
- Summer (Dec, Jan, Feb) high 29°C, low 22°C
- Winter (Jun, Jul, Aug) high 25°C, low 19°C
- Aitutaki population, approx - 2000 - 2200
- Official language - English, but most people on Aitutaki speak Maori as well
- Aitutaki measures just 20 square kilometers
- The Aitutaki Lagoon measures 45 kms in circumference and is approx 3-25ft deep

- International dialing code for Aitutaki 682
- The currency used in the Cook Islands and Aitutaki is the New Zealand Dollar.
- There are 2 ATMS on the island
- There are only a few places that have satellite TV
- There is one Internet Cafe
- Religion - strongly Christian.

A highlight: Go to one of the many Island church services to experience the amazing singing!

What to do in Aitutaki

Aitutaki provides plenty of activities on land or sea, to keep you busy. The Aitutaki lagoon is the highlight of any Aitutaki travel. Water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and Aitutaki lagoon tours comprise most of the Aitutaki “To Do” list. When you imagine a South Pacific vacation, chances are it involves crystal clear water and brightly coloured fish; look no further than the Aitutaki lagoon! You can easily snorkel the magnificent, turquoise water just off the beach but you won’t want to miss taking an Aitutaki lagoon tour and a chance to swim, snorkel, and explore one of the many motus (small islands) of Aitutaki. If your Aitutaki travel dreams include a chance to catch the big one, Aitutaki has several deep sea fishing charters. Aitutaki Cook Islands is also fast becoming known as a world class spear fishing destination in the South Pacific. And for those who want to see Aitutaki Cook Islands on a “deeper” level, then there are scuba diving tours that can take you outside the Aitutaki lagoon for a chance to see below the surface of Aitutaki. Kite Surfing has also become very popular.

Back on land, the Aitutaki Lagoon has lots of opportunity for fun, adventure and sightseeing. Island Nights on Aitutaki are a must for any Aitutaki travel. From the hypnotic hips of Aitutaki’s beautiful women, to the raw power of the men, the succulent local buffet, to the soul-stirring drumming and singing, Aitutaki Island Nights are what travel to the Aitutaki lagoon is all about.

Dining on Aitutaki offers you enough variety to keep your vacation interesting. You can grab a takeaway burger or fish and chips for less than $10, or a nice meal for $12 - $15 - $20 at a cafe. There are some four or five star hotels and you are welcome to visit their restaurant - those meals are approx $45 per person, upwards. If you choose to cook for yourselves or want a barbeque Petero's Place offers a bbq and kitchen facilities so you can dine in.

Aitutaki has several small food stores, (to buy very basic items,) and some of these are within walking distance of your acommodation. You need to be aware that the range of foodstuffs are limited and expensive, as there are no real "supermarkets" on the island. Therefore, bring your meds and dietry specialty foods with you.

When it's time to shop for a souvenir or a gift to take home from your Aitutaki travel, then you can find shops in Aitutaki with hand painted pareaus and tropical shirts to remind you of your Aitutaki lagoon vacation. You may even come across a coconut bra or a ukulele while shopping in Aitutaki Cook Islands, so you can show the folks back home what an Island Night is like!