Photographs can never convey the breathtaking beauty that is Aitutaki. Warm, crystal clear waters fill a triangular shaped, turquoise blue lagoon....so blue you'd think someone had painted it that colour! (I promise you the photo above right hasn't been touched up).
Each leg of the triangle stretches more than 11 kms (7 miles). Dotted around it are uninhabited, palm filled islands or "motus", with sparkling white sand...reminiscent of the sort of a picture a child would paint of a desert island. Aitutaki is the second most visited of the Cook Islands, and particularly popular with honeymooners. Tourism facilities are well developed, but the total number of visitors a year remains a small fraction of those staying on the capital island, so Aitutaki still feels very unspoiled.
Each leg of the triangle stretches more than 11 kms (7 miles). Dotted around it are uninhabited, palm filled islands or "motus", with sparkling white sand...reminiscent of the sort of a picture a child would paint of a desert island. Aitutaki is the second most visited of the Cook Islands, and particularly popular with honeymooners. Tourism facilities are well developed, but the total number of visitors a year remains a small fraction of those staying on the capital island, so Aitutaki still feels very unspoiled.
AN ASTRONAUT'S EYE VIEW
Aitutaki and its stunning blue lagoon as seen from the space shuttle.
Image Courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory,
NASA Johnson Space Center
Aitutaki and its stunning blue lagoon as seen from the space shuttle.
Image Courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory,
NASA Johnson Space Center
Captain (or strictly speaking, Lieutenant) William Bligh was the first European to discover Aitutaki, on 11 April, 1789...17 days before the infamous mutiny on his ship, the Bounty. And he was no stranger to the Cook Islands as he was previously Sailing Master on HMS Resolution during Captain Cook's third voyage. Bligh's own log tells of how he weighed anchor off Aitutaki, a native came out in a canoe, rubbed noses with him and gave him a pearl-shell breast ornament suspended from braided human hair. Bligh visited again on 25 July, 1792.
AN HISTORIC BOUNTY
Your own blue lagoon
Aitutaki's lagoon is teeming with fish and to swim among them is like taking a dip in a tropical fish tank. The very lucky visitor might even catch a rare glimpse (as I did) of a turtle skimming through the waters. No surprise then that Aitutaki is listed in a number of books as one of the places everyone should see before they die.
STAYING: OFFICIALLY THE WORLD'S BEST!
The Pacific Resort Aitutaki has won many top honours at the World Travel Awards which are the 'Oscars' of the travel industry. And for two consecutive years it was voted the best island resort hotel in the world. The beauty of the hotel is beaten only by the beauty of the lagoon it overlooks.
These are pictures of One Foot Island which is one of the uninhabited motus or islets in the lagoon. Its beach was voted the best in the whole of Australia and the Pacific region at the 2010 and 2012 World Travel Awards
Many of the stunning photos on this page were taken by a very talented amateur photographer, Marcus Glenig who works for Air Rarotonga. You can see more of his superb shots in his own on line gallery or a selection here
It's been described as the ultimate luxury hideaway. Its infinity swimming pool (pictured above right was built by my friend Mal) and appears to merge into the lagoon. American readers might like to know it was also where presenter, Jeff Probst stayed during the filming of 'Survivor Cook Islands'
ABOUT THE ISLAND
Aitutaki is easy to get to. Air Rarotonga operates several flights a day from the capital island and some international services link up with the domestic flight so you could by pass Raro altogether (but that would be a shame). Flying time is about 45 minutes. You can even do a day trip, which includes a fabulous lagoon cruise. Its very pricey at nearly NZ$500....but I defy you not to say it was well worth the money when you retun from the trip
GETTING THERE
GETTING AROUND
Cars and scooters can both be rented; a scooter is typically NZ$25-30 a day plus petrol which is very pricey compared to the US but similar to UK and European costs. And you'll need to show the hire company and the police a suitable driving licence in English. There are some taxis too, but these can be pricey.
THE LEGEND OF ONE FOOT ISLAND
Tapuaetai is supposedly known to all as One Foot Island because, from the air, it resembles a left foot. But I prefer the legend...
A tribe once attacked the main island and a man and his son escaped by canoe to an unnamed islet. The father carried the boy across the beach and hid him in a tall coconut tree. Then he paddled all the way to Rarotonga for help. When the attackers reached the islet they saw only one set of footprints on and off the island and they left. The boy remained safely hidden until his father returned with help. And from then on, the islet was known as One Foot Island.Tapuaetai is supposedly known to all as One Foot Island because, from the air, it resembles a left foot. But I prefer the legend...
In 2020, the resort has won two more top honours at the latest World Travel Awards. It's been voted the Cook Islands leading resort and Oceania's Leading Family Resort.
ISLANDS: SOUTH Aitutaki You might also like: Some personal impressions
Population 1,941
7 sq mls/18.3 sq.kms
7 sq mls/18.3 sq.kms
161 miles/259 kms
North of Rarotonga
North of Rarotonga
Access: Frequent internal flights and international connections
