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Off the beaten track (of which there's only one anyway), beautiful gardens filled with the scent of floral perfumes...jasmine, gardenia, frangipani...I've created a Travelogue for the flowers, all unique, all so lovely.
We took the Bishop Lagoon Cruise. It is basically all day and well worth the time and money. You get to visits some small motos, snorkel and have a great fish BBQ on One Foot Island. You spend a fair amount of time there to enjoy the food and walk around the island. They use small boats, we had eight people on our trip.Take Wet and Wild's Lagoon Cruise for something a little different. You don't go where the other tour groups go and you finish up your day with watering skiing, tubing or wake boarding. We also snorkeled outside the reef. Awesome.
A cruise on Aitutaki Lagoon really shouldn't be missed! Usually all cruises are full day and include lunch. You'll get to see some motus (small lagoon islets), like One-Foot-Island and have enough time for snorkelling (gear is provided). There are several operators, but the programs are similar. I did mine with Bishop's and was very satisfied.
Aitutaki is the 2nd most popular in the Cook Islands group - but that still doesn't mean there are a lot of people going there!If you can get there, don't miss it. The link listed below will probably answer most of your questions about getting there, history, activites, etc. far better than any of us can. It's a very handy page, put together by the Tahiti Nui Travel folks for Aitutaki.com, and it has about all the links & info you'll need.Again, photo courtesy of my friends who were recently there (see more in the Beautiful Aitutaki travelogue)
The South Pacific is known for its magnificent sunsets. To date, Rarotonga takes first prize for most consistantly beautiful sunsets. Grab a drink, plant your bunns on the beach at 5:30 facing west and enjoy the show.
You can always use other means to get out on the lagoon besides the lagoon cruise packages. If you brought your folding kayak, you might visit the fringing motus ala Paul Theroux, whose experiences are intelligently elucidated upon in his great book, 'Paddling the Islands of Oceania'. Folding kayaks are indeed a grand way toexpand your horizon here on Aitutaki and countless other destinations.
Arrival will be on one of the planes of Air Rarotonga which make the 259 km flight north from Rarotonga. The airfield is on the north end of the island and was built like many of the other fields in this region by SeeBees of the US Navy during WWII.There is a small golf course here as well, though it can get quite warm during the afternoon.
Here on Aitutaki, as throughout the Cooks, the London Missionary Society was successful at converting the population. Aitutaki was the first landfall for missionaries in the Cooks - 1821. There is a small catholic church in Arutanga, but center of predominance falls tothe Cook Islands Christian Church lying just to the south with its white walls of crushed coral limestone. Sundays are very quiet - as in much of the Pacific - except for the beautiful music being sung in the churches.Another feature on Aitutaki used to be Island Night - an event every Friday night at the Rapae Cottages. Unfortunately, the Rapae is in ruins while it waits for a buyer to rescue it. There are several other places where one can see some of the dances though.
Turquoise bath waters, dazzling white beaches, this small motu - visited by most lagoon cruises - is the epitome of a beach vacation. This will truly spoil you for other beaches. Tupaetai will become your gold standard.
Even better beaches are visited by the lagoon cruises. Here you spedn a day on the lagoon - a triangular reef of 45 km enscribed a broad lagoon. Snorkelling and lunching on some of the whitest beaches you will ever see.
Crown Beach Resort Rarotonga
213 Opinions
Etu Moana Aitutaki
1 Review and 422 Opinions This place is amazing! The service is top notch. The resort is very nice. We were greeted by...
Sea Change Villas Titikaveka
364 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Cook Islands attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Cook Islands sightseeing.
Q: Thinking of visiting Cook Islands for a 10 day break a friend and wondering if there are any better locations than others we...
A: I have not been there personally - but Aitutaki is THE island to go if you have 10 days. It surely is not a nightlife but a relax destination with sensational...
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