A Cook Islands paradise – blissing out in Aitutaki!
Last updated on June 15th, 2026 at 07:08 am
Can I tell you a secret?
Aitutaki is beyond stunning!!
Well, It’s not actually a secret, but most people haven’t heard of the place so it’s still quite a secret on global terms.
Aitutaki is the kind of destination people spend years dreaming about. With its unbelievably blue lagoon, tiny tropical islands, and slower pace of life, it’s the sort of place where plans quickly disappear and days become very chill. Aitutaki is a quieter, more remote side of the Cook Islands that simply does feel a world away from everyday life.
And Aitutaki’s lagoon is up there with the best I have seen in the world – and from my sailing I have seen some stunning ones. Its often called one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, so I know I am not wrong!
So, its very laid back, it’s very beautiful, and there is plenty to do other than beach combing and swimming to keep you occupied for a few days or more! This guide uses the following sections to tell you all the things you can do on the island, answer your questions and give you local tips to make the most of your holiday in paradise!
What are the best things to do on Aitutaki?
Where is Aitutaki?
It’s right there ↓ – the green blob!
Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands. It is about 260 km (160 miles) north of Rarotonga. The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean roughly halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii.
How do I get to Aitutaki?
First fly to Rarotonga.
The main hub for flights is from Auckland, New Zealand, with 1-2 flights per day with Air New Zealand or Jetstar. You can also fly from Sydney, Brisbane, Honolulu, or Papeete:
– Sydney or Brisbane to Rarotonga with Jetstar
– Honolulu to Rarotonga with Hawaiian Airlines
– Papeete, French Polynesia to Rarotonga with Air Tahiti.
Find your flights and check prices on skyscanner or booking.com.
Then fly from Rarotonga to Aitutaki with Air Rarotonga. There are usually three flights a day.
Tip of the day – Ask for a window seat!
What are the best things to do on Aitutaki?
So without further ado…..
…these are the best things you can do in Aitutaki. I can highly recommend them all!
1. Take a lagoon tour
Absolutely without a doubt go on a lagoon day tour. Your accommodation should be able to help you here.
Do try and go on a small and individual tour if you can – its easier if you are staying in a guest house rather than hotel, or if you take one of these fabulous trips:
- Private Shore Tour: Aitutaki Lagoon Full-Day Island Cruise
- Private Shore Tour: Aitutaki Lagoon Full-Day Charter
But whatever way you go about it, it’s a definite must do! You will see…………
- Stunning One Foot Island – get your passport stamped
- Maina and Honeymoon Island – check out the kiting set up and see red tailed tropic birds nesting up close (amazing for wildlife freaks like me),
- Another island (I have forgotten the name!) with nesting boobies and a little walk through the trees
- Giant trevally and giant clams – you can snorkel with
- Beautiful lagoon vistas all day!
2. Get on a scooter
Hire a scooter and circumnavigate the island, then cross the island on the smaller roads and trails. It’s so much fun! Take the smaller roads and tracks when you are around the coast too – mind the crabs though. They are super cool, they are everywhere, and you don’t want to run them over!
The locals drive safe and slow so its all easy. The speed limit is mostly 40km/hr.
3. Go kite surfing
If it’s the season (May to October), go kite-surfing. Perfect for beginners to advanced, with 15-30 knots trade winds. Not only is the set up on a stunning offshore island with all you could want, you get to kite in one of the world’s most beautiful lagoons – wins all round.
Wet and Wild Aitutaki organise kite hire, kite lessons, and water taxis to the place to be in the lagoon.
4. Check out the crab colony
On that note, make it a point to check out the crab colony! Along the road that runs alongside the eastern coast of Aitutaki’s main island, not far from Aitutaki airport, there is a beach with thousands of colorful crabs to visit at low tide. You will see them in other places too – just try not to run any over.
5. Climb Mt. Maungapu
Take your scooter or walk up Mt. Maungapu to take in the views of the island. We (my daughter and I) scootered – its a bit off-piste which made it even more fun! There is a lookout near the peak.
There is another lookout further south in the island – the Piraki Lookout – which is also worth going to while you are exploring the island.
6. Drive through a natural tunnel
Drive through a huge natural tunnel created by a banyan tree growing over the road. Its near the village of Vaipae. We stopped and climbed around in it too. Yes, I am a big kid!
7. Go biking – even on the airfield
Hire a pushbike for some fun exercise – there are plenty of flat roads and you can bike down the extended runway of the airport!!
8. Visit the clam farm
Its near the end of the runway (Marine Research Station) and its a bit run-down. It really could do with your support! Even if you go for a short time it will help locals realise how important it is to not take all the clams and keep some for future generations. It’s simple but interesting all the same!
9. Get in the water – swim, snorkel, dive….
Paddleboard, swim, snorkel and just enjoy. There are plenty of options and you could spend days just doing this and….lying in a hammock by the beach. Meditate, read, or snooze. Perfect!
10. Visit an old church – made from white coral limestone!
The Arutanga CICC (Cook Islands Christian Church) is the oldest CICC church in the Cook Islands. It was constructed from coral limestone in 1828. Its just a pretty building worth visiting in its own right, but if you time it for Sunday, then go to a service whether you are Christian or not. You will be treated to magnificent singing.
11. Eat sea-grapes and eat from traditional woven leaf plates
Eat them at the inland Avatea Café. Now you know I don’t typically write about places to eat, but this place was great. And you don’t have to try sea-grapes – it has a fabulous fusion menu with something for everyone. The drinks are super good too.
We also found a very locals place “Aunty Odeez” with great smoothies and fresh seafood served on traditional woven leaf plates! Cheap and more than cheerful! Its definitely worth finding this place!
12. Play a round of golf
Head to the Aitutaki Golf Club for a round of golf. You can hire clubs from the airport and play the 9-hole round.
That sums up the best things to do in Aitutaki.
Oh, of course, you can also get a massage, lounge in a hammock by the beach, swim some more, and try and make your way around all the restaurants and cafes on the island too.
Whatever you do, you are surrounded by constant beauty!
Enjoy your holiday – it would be hard not to!
Things to pack for Aitutaki
- A couple of books to read!
- Good and comfortable walking / hiking shoes.
- Sunscreen (reef safe – I like ocean potion)
- Sun hat
- A UV protecting rash suit and swimsuit.
- A sand-free quick drying towel.
- Your own snorkel and mask if you have them
- Mosquito repellent (deet free)! Also lightweight clothes that cover arms and legs as protection.
- A reusable insulated water bottle to cut down on single-use plastic waste
- Your camera/phone and power bank for day trips! Plus a water-proof pouch for your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Aitutaki
Q: Where is Aitutaki?
A: Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about 260 km (160 miles) north of Rarotonga. The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean roughly halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii
Q: Is Aituatki worth visiting?
A: If you like the sound of an untrampled paradise with one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, with a few interesting things to do when not on the beach or in the water, then absolutely – yes!
Q: What is the best time to visit Aitutaki?
A: May to October is the drier season, with cooler temperatures and better water conditions. November to April is warmer and more humid with higher rain chances and the possibility of cyclone and storms. June to October is best for kite surfers.
Q: How many days do you need in Aituatki?
A: 3–4 days is ideal to see the highlights. 5–7 days is best for really relaxing.
Q: How do you get to Aitutaki?
A: See above – but most people arrive on a domestic flight from Rarotonga.
Q: Do you need a visa for Aitutaki?
A: Not usually – you will get a 31 day visa on arrival in Rarotonga, and New Zealanders will get a 90 day stay. Check here for the latest details. You need proof of an outward ticket and of accommodation for your stay.
Q: Is Aitutaki expensive?
A: Compared to Southeast Asia, yes. Compared to Bora Bora or the Maldives, generally no. Its not cheap but it is generally considered “worth it.”
Q: Can you drink tap water in Aitutaki?
A: Generally no. It can be ok but best to use filtered or bottled water. Your hotel may provide this.
Q: Do you need a car in Aitutaki?
A: Its more fun to hire a scooter! But it is good to have a car or scooter for at least some of the time you are there so you can explore the island. Scooters are generally easy to rent from your accommodation.
Q: Is Aitutaki goo for honeymoons?
A: Absolutely yes!
Q: What is the biggest mistake visitors make in Aitutaki?
A: Not staying long enough!
Travel Tips for Aitutaki
- If you fly from New Zealand or Australia, even though its only a three-hour flight to Rarotonga and another hour to Aitutaki, you go back a day. So, if you leave New Zealand on Sunday, you will arrive in the Cook Islands on Saturday.
Be careful you book accommodation on the right days. - Ask for a window seat on the plane – trust me!!
- Do the lagoon cruise early on in your stay. You might want to repeat – and you don’t want to miss out by leaving it until the last day and having it cancelled etc.
- Bring reef shoes for coral areas and be kind to the environment – bring reef safe sunscreen! Also bring your own snorkel gear if you have it.
- Try not to think of Aitutaki as a day trip – it is so worth the time you spend here!
- You can use either the local Cook Island dollar or the NZ dollar in the Cook Islands. Note that the Cook Island coins are great collector pieces!
Where to stay in Aitutaki
Do not forget the time zone and day changes if you are coming from NZ or Australia!
Aitutaki doesn’t come cheap – but it is so worth it! Book a hotel with booking.com or Tripadvisor. These are some options to suit different budgets to get you started. Ratings given are valid at the time of writing!
High End / Luxury – Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort (adults only) or Aitutaki Escape
Mid Range – Resort Tava’e , or Aitutaki Village or Tamanu Beach
Good Value – Aitutaki Seaside or Sunset Bungalows
Budget – Matriki Beach Huts – this is where I stayed – its basic but the location was great! Other good options are Gina’s Garden Lodges, Aitutaki Budget Accommodation, or Sunny Beach Lodge which are about the cheapest you will find.
Plan your trip checklist
These are the booking platforms I personally use for all my travels. If you book through these affiliate links, it helps support this site and keeps me producing free travel guides – at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for the support! Cheers!
Money – You can use either the local Cook Island dollar or the NZ dollar. There are ATMS on the island and larger restaurants and shops accept credit cards.
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains
Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. My top picks here are:
- Private Shore Tour: Aitutaki Lagoon Full-Day Charter
- Private Shore Tour: Aitutaki Lagoon Full-Day Island Cruise
Thanks so much if you used one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!
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