WHEN’S THE BEST TIME TO COME TO AITUTAKI?

This is our most-frequently asked question. Of course, the popular time of year for Aussies and Kiwis escaping winter at home is to come during June – October, which is a great time of year to come, as its much nicer and warmer here in Paradise than it is back home.

Many people though seem to think it’s best to avoid the months from November through to April, yet by doing so they’re avoiding some of the very best months of the year to come! Despite ‘island myths’ that you may have heard, these months are by no means uncomfortably hot nor wet.   There are ‘seasons’ even in Paradise, and by avoiding these months travellers miss out on some wonderful, seasonal aspects of life on Aitutaki, such as fresh, succulent mangoes (the best in the Cook Islands!) and the haunting beauty and aroma of the stunning frangipani (or tipani as it’s known locally).

If you’re a summer bride back home, then a tropical island honeymoon here at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa will be an absolutely ideal exotic escape, a wonderful way to begin married life.

If you’re planning on saying ‘I do’ on our secluded champagne sands on your own private island, Motu Akitua, here at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa with the world’s most beautiful lagoon as your backdrop, and you have your heart set on a frangipani bouquet, do make sure you set the date for when frangipanis are in season, and your wedding day will be perfect in Paradise! (One bride who had her seasons mixed up ended up with artificial frangipanis to make her dream of a frangipani bouquet come true!)

These months are also sometimes called, inappropriately, the ‘rainy season’, but they’re actually only slightly wetter than the ‘dry season’. The Cook Islands doesn’t have a wet season as such, nothing like India or Asia have with their monsoon seasons, or some Pacific islands closer to the Equator have with their afternoon tropical downpours that you can almost set your clock by. By contrast, the climate here is very similar all year round, with relatively slight variations in temperature and rainfall.

Any tropical showers – whether during the ‘rainy’ or the ‘dry’ seasons - are usually warm, short-lived, and generally occur at night in any case.  Don’t miss coming to Aitutaki any time from November right through to April / May – it’s a great time to be here. Having lived here in the Cook Islands for over a decade, my favourite month of all is actually January – just gorgeous. And another thing, because these are our ‘summer’ months – the days are longer, so you get to enjoy more sunshine hours on your vacation or honeymoon – and very often, stunning tropical sunsets too!

Of course, around January / February is when many Aussies and Kiwis head to the beach at home. But in Aussie that often means ‘no swimming’ due to deadly jellyfish, sharks etc. In New Zealand it can often mean very long, hot rides in the car to get to a final destination. Instead one can hop on the plane and be in Aitutaki within a few hours, and kicking back on a secluded, pristine white sandy beach minutes later, with the world’s most stunning lagoon at your feet.  So this year, why not do the unexpected and head to Aitutaki when all the throngs are heading to a beach back home. That way you’ll get to take advantage of great accommodation rates AND some of the best weather, fruits and flowers the island has to offer! Clever you!

So the answer to “When’s the best time to come?” is this: absolutely any time of year is a wonderful time to visit Paradise here in the Cook Islands. Whether January or July, you’ll always receive a genuinely warm welcome here at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa.

This year, why not consider CHRISTMAS IN THE COOK ISLANDS? Or better yet, do the unexpected and steal a summer away from endless traffic queues and the same old, same old, and head off for your SUMMER IN THE SOUTH SEAS! What a wonderful way to stop and smell the frangipanis – perfect in paradise! >

WHERE’S THE BEST PLACE TO SNORKEL ON AITUTAKI?

The whole area around Motu Akitua, the private island on which rests The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, is a good place for snorkelling because it’s a traditional Lagoon Marine Reserve (Raui) where no fishing or disturbance of any marine life is allowed.

A good self-guided snorkelling tour option is to walk down to Uritua Beach at the north-eastern end of Motu Akitua and snorkel with the current down along the O’otu (Full Moon) Channel, towards the breadth of the lagoon. You can emerge wherever you fancy, anywhere from Bligh’s Beach opposite the pool right along to Kuriri Point. Ensure you wear reef shoes (this is a must in the Channel), and please observe the Golden Rule of the Raui (Reserve) which is – Look but Don’t Touch any fish, coral, shells, crabs or other marine life.  This rule is a win-win one because it means you are ensuring your own safety at the same time as preserving lagoon life.

Because of the dynamic flow of water through the Full Moon Channel this creates a rich food source for marine life, making it a rewarding area for snorkelling. It also means it’s one of the most likely places to see such predators as moray eels or stonefish, attracted here by the same thing that’s attracted you – a predominance and variety of reef fish. And if you stick to the Golden Rule – Look but Don’t Touch (which also means, don’t tread or stomp on corals etc) – you’re all set for a wonderful snorkelling escapade.

Before embarking on your snorkelling exploration of the Full Moon Channel please check with the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa’s Activities Team for advice on the current, tides and weather conditions on the day.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays our friendly Activities Team takes an off-site Guided Snorkelling Safari Tour within the Marine Reserve not far from the Aitutaki Marine Research Centre and the old Aitutaki airstrip. The time of the tour varies with the day’s sea and weather conditions; please check with the Activities Team regarding the time scheduled for that day’s tour.  Bookings are essential.

Another snorkelling opportunity is during one of the Aitutaki Lagoon Cruises where you can snorkel off-boat and see tropical reef fish and giant clams in the open lagoon or near some of the motu (isles). Our friendly and knowledgeable Front Desk staff will be pleased to share their local knowledge and make reservations for you aboard a scheduled tour or for a private charter.

WHO WAS THE FIRST MAN TO DISCOVER AITUTAKI?

According to legend the great Polynesian navigator, explorer and warrior chief, Ru, was the first man to discover Aitutaki in the 12th Century AD. He and his party, which included his 4 brothers, his 4 wives, and 20 royal maidens, arrived in a massive, double-hulled ocean-going vaka (canoe) and landed at Motu Akitua (where The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa is today), a name which recalls that Ru then settled in Aitutaki and ‘turned his back to where he came from.’

WHAT CAN WE SEE WHILE IN AITUTAKI?

This is a frequent question posed to our Front Desk and Activities teams, and here are some of their recommendations:

AITUTAKI LAGOON.

See Aitutaki Lagoon from every angle and drink in views to die for of the world’s most beautiful lagoon. Take a tour of Aitutaki Lagoon as soon as you can because it’s likely you’ll want to repeat it before you leave. There’s even a glass bottom boat tour if you don’t want to get wet.

HIGHEST PEAK WALK.

For superb views across Aitutaki island and out across Aitutaki Lagoon and the South Pacific Ocean, take the easy 30 minute walk up to the top of Mt Maungapu (124m).  Legend has it that Aitutaki warriors, jealous of Rarotonga’s high peaks, journeyed across the sea and stole the top of one of Rarotonga’s mountains, Raemaru (situated not far from The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa), and brought it back to Aitutaki where it became Maungapu! Hence Raemaru is today Rarotonga’s flat-top table mountain! As our guest here at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa feel free to join our friendly Activities Team every Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 8.30am for our Guided Highest Peak Walk of Maungapu.

ANCIENT MARAE.

In ancient Polynesia marae were sacred areas of ground bordered by stones and containing a platform or terraces used for ceremonial, sacrificial and religious purposes. For example, early Cook Islanders ceremonially raised aloft their king on the marae and called upon Rongo to bless him.  Historical marae on Aitutaki include Te Poaki o Rae (The Stone of Rae) and Mata o Tane. Marae are located on private land. Go with a knowledgeable guide who can explain the significance of what you’re seeing to get the most out of your visit to these sacred sites. Even today, hundreds of years later, you are bound to have an eerie, palpable sense that you are walking among the ancients as you stroll around a marae.

OLDEST CHURCH.

Visit the Cook Islands’ oldest church, the Arutanga Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC), made of stark white coral and limestone and located in the village of Arutanga. Other beautiful old churches can be seen in the villages of Vaipae and Tautu.

LOCAL SPORT.

If it’s a Tuesday or a Friday, ask the Front Desk staff where you can go to see the locals play sport. That’s real local flavour for you.

CLAMS & TURTLES.

Visit the Ministry of Marine Resources Research Centre to see a variety of giant clams and baby sea turtles. The Centre is open weekdays and offers guided tours.

ONE FOOT ISLAND.

See Tapuaetai Motu (One Foot Island) and hear the fascinating legend of how it came to be called that. One Foot has been a favourite location for such TV series as Shipwrecked and Survivor, which held its Tribal Council there. Most Aitutaki Lagoon Cruises include One Foot in their itinerary, or you can hire a private charter such as Captain Pan’s or Teking’s and go as you please.   

WHAT CAN WE DO WHILE IN AITUTAKI?

This is the perfect place to do it all, or do nothing at all. After you’ve enjoyed some R&R and a great night’s sleep lulled by the rhythm of the reef, dip into some enjoyable diversions, Aitutaki-style!

GO ON AN AITUTAKI LAGOON CRUISE.

You’ve come a long way to see and experience the world’s most beautiful lagoon, so make the most of it by getting out on the water. A variety of different cruise operators offer a range of scheduled and private cruises to suit your preference and style. Our Front Desk team will be delighted to assist you to identify the option which best suits you. Ensure you have your passport stamped on One Foot Island, corny but kinda cute.

GO BIRDWATCHING.

For bird lovers, there are excursions on Aitutaki Lagoon that can take you to see Red-tailed Tropic Birds (Tavake) nesting directly in little depressions they’ve made in the sand (in season). You can quietly walk right up to these trusting, beautiful birds as they tend their eggs and fluffy chicks underneath the shelter of bushes dotted around the island. The golden rule as always is: Look but Don’t Touch. On a bird-watching expedition you can also view the majestic Great Frigatebird gliding gracefully on the high, warm air currents above the small islets (motu), the comical Booby, the attractive Noddy, and the Pacific bird of peace, the white tern. If you love birds, this is one of the best places on Earth to really get up close and personal. And believe it or not, birdwatching on Aitutaki is as yet almost completely undiscovered, amazing when you think of the richness and accessibility of the birdlife here.

When you come, please remember that these are truly natural habitats for Earth’s living things, so leave nothing but footprints in the sand, and take nothing but photographs and lasting memories.

GO SNORKELLING AROUND MAINA (LITTLE GIRL)ISLAND.

This is the ideal excursion for lovers of snorkelling, and you may even get to see sea turtles basking ashore in the sun (from Nov to Feb) or Red-tailed Tropic Birds nesting, whose long, scarlet feathers were once used in traditional Cook Islands’ headdresses (hence their population decreased to very low numbers at one time, and they are now fully protected). Another good spot, Honeymoon Island, is located next to Maina.

ENJOY A HUGE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES.

Our Activities Team here at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa offers a wide variety of ways to soak up the local colours and flavas, including Fish Feeding, Highest Peak Walk, Aitutaki Island Tour, Snorkelling Tour, Kayaking Tour of local Motu (isles) floating on the horizon, Coconut Tree Climbing Demonstrations, Lessons in how to Make Your Own Fresh Flower Ei (lei) or how to Weave your own Sunhat or Basket from Coconut Fronds,  How to Make the Cook Islands National Fish Dish, ‘Ika Mata’, Crab Hunting & Crab Racing, and much more. Feel free to dip in and out of this extensive Activities Programme at your leisure, and enjoy!

FAMOUS ISLAND NIGHTS.

Aitutaki’s best island nights, the ‘Legends of Polynesia’ Island Nights, are held at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa. At 6.15pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays our Aitutaki Warrior will call you with the sounding of the Conch Shell to view the Uncovering of the Umu Ceremony, where such traditional foods as succulent coconut-fed pork along with tender lamb, beef, chicken and local vegetables such as taro (considered the world’s most nutritious staple food), kumara (sweet potato) and maniota (arrowroot) are uncovered from the earthoven, where they have been slow-cooking to perfection for hours. Food cooked in this authentic way has a very distinctive smoky flavour and aroma, something quite unique. And don’t forget that some of the world’s most powerful athletes such as Jonah Lomu were brought up on taro! After your mouthwatering Umu Feast you then witness the spectacle of Aitutaki dance, the riveting hura (or hula), often held directly on the sand and performed to the unforgettable sound of the Aitutaki drums. Aitutaki dancers and drummers are considered among the very best in the South Pacific, their songs, beats and moves providing inspiration to many other South Pacific nations. A ‘Legends of Polynesia’ Island Night will undoubtedly prove to be one of the highlights of your stay in the Cook Islands.

CONVIVIAL COCKTAILS.

Join us at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa for the Resort Manager’s Sunset Cocktail Party where you get to mix and mingle with the Resort Team over convivial cocktails and nibbles, and thereafter enjoy a delicious A la Carte dinner or a Gourmet BBQ Under the Stars at the Resort’s Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill, Aitutaki’s finest dining spot.

DIVE INTO THE BLUE.

Aitutaki offers some wonderful diving in clear, warm waters where you can see a variety of tropical marine life including turtles. Our Front Desk team can assist with information and bookings for your scuba adventure.

AITUTAKI SAFARI TOUR.

If you feel more like keeping your feet on terra firma, book the Aitutaki Safari Tour for a fun way to see and experience all that Aitutaki has to offer, by 4WD!

GO FISHING.

If fishing is your game, then Aitutaki’s the name. You can fish for tuna, wahoo, marlin and barracuda in the abundant waters surrounding Aitutaki, and there are several fishing tour and charter operators to choose from. Or go bonefishing within Aitutaki Lagoon, considered by those in the know to be the world’s best bonefishing spot. The Aitutaki Game Fishing Club is open from Wednesday to Saturday, 4pm until late, and is located by the Arutanga wharves.

SOAK UP THE SPIRIT.

To get a true taste of local life, catch the transfer bus from The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa at 9.15am Sunday to the Sunday Service at the Arutanga Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC), the Cook Islands oldest church. The Cook Islands was one of the first places in the Pacific to convert to Christianity, and today the church still holds a central place in the Cook Islands way of life. The strong, vibrant hymn singing is absolutely magnificent as the male and female voices weave around each other, filling the church and spilling out through every door and window. Unforgettable.

REWARD YOURSELF WITH SOME PAMPERING IN PARADISE.

The true test of any getaway is just how really, truly, deeply relaxed you’ve become. Book yourself in for some serious pampering at SpaPolynesia Aitutaki (The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa’s on-site spa), and let those pent up workaday stresses and tensions completely melt away. There’s even a delicious couple’s Jacuzzi and sauna on offer, for the ultimate romantic evening. Now, that’s amore!

WHAT’S THE MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME ON AITUTAKI?

In the 1960s and 70s, banana and copra were Aitutaki's main sources of income, both of which were exported to New Zealand.  The banana industry declined due to shipping problems, while poor prices discouraged the continuation of the copra industry. Today tourism is Aitutaki’s main source of income.

WHERE CAN WE GET SOUVENIRS OF AITUTAKI TO TAKE BACK HOME?

Aitutaki is no shopping mecca, however you can buy some lovely mementos of your amazing Aitutaki adventure at the Vaka Gift Shop at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, at David Nicholls’ Te Munakorero Gallery across from the Airport Terminal, at Moana Creations (open 8.30am-2pm Mon-Fri and 8.30am-11am Sat) beside the main wharf at the Orongo Centre and at other little shops in the town markets. Make sure you pick up something special made of black pearl shell as these are authentic and unique, or better yet, your very own Cook Islands black pearl. Gorgeous!

AITUTAKI RESORT COMPENDIUM

Check out our comprehensive and informative online Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa Compendium section.  Any question you may have is almost certain to be answered there.

EMAIL US!

If you still have a burning question, do feel free to email us at The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa info@aitutakilagoonresort.co.ck and we’ll be happy to help.

Kia Manuia!