What Services are Available on Aitutaki?
Aitutaki is the second-most visited island in the Cook Islands. Although there are 15 islets within its lagoon, the largest and main island of Aitutaki is the only island providing shops and services (with the exception of a novelty post office on One Foot Island). Although the island is well stocked with food, with plenty of imports from Rarotonga and New Zealand, it is best that visitors come prepared with their own medication and pharmaceutical supplies. Otherwise, services are available for banking, postal and an internet connection (even if the latter is unreliable and overpriced). Find out more about the information, shops and services on Aitutaki in this guide.
Useful Services for Tourists
- Cook Islands Visitor Information Centre – Corner of Sir Albert Henry Drive and the Main Road, Arutanga
- Car Rentals – See The Best Car Rentals in Aitutaki for listings
- Scooter Rentals – See Scooter Hire in Aitutaki for listings
- Taxi Services – See Taxis in the Cook Islands for Aitutaki listings
- Restaurants – See The Food Guide to Aitutaki for recommendations
- Police Station (for a scooter licence) – Inland road opposite Sir Albert Henry Drive, Arutanga
- Ports Authority – Arutanga Wharf, Arutanga
- Aitutaki Airport – North of the island, Ootu Peninsula, see Airports in the Cook Islands.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comFood and Groceries
While there are no large supermarkets on Aitutaki, there is certainly no lack of convenience stores across the island. The majority of stores can be found along the main road on the west coast, with a couple of exceptions.
Unlike in more developed countries, Aitutaki’s stores don’t stock “everything”, so if you’re looking for something specific, chances are you will have to visit three or four stores before you find it.
Most stores close on a Sunday with the exception of Neibaa’s Store and Payless.
Supermarkets/Grocery Stores on Aitutaki
Some of the convenience stores on Aitutaki include:
- Aquila Store, Amuri
- Tina & Co, Amuri (open 24/7)
- Heineken Store, Amuri
- Maina Superstore, Arutanga
- TNM Store, Arutanga
- Neibaa’s Store, Vaipae (open Sundays)
- Baxter’s Waterworld, road between Arutanga and Vaipae
- Spiders Petrol Station, opposite the old airport runway.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comMedication, Toiletries and Pharmaceuticals
While we always recommend having all the medication you need with you for your stay in the Cook Islands and Aitutaki (see What to Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for the Cook Islands for advice), if there is anything you end up needing, you have limited options for purchasing medication and health care products on Aitutaki.
Light medications (like painkillers), baby products and toiletries are sold in supermarkets on Aitutaki, as listed in the section above.
Pharmacy and Hospital
There is no pharmacy on Aitutaki. However, those in need of pharmacy medication can order from the pharmacies on Rarotonga and have it sent to Aitutaki via express delivery, which costs only around NZ$5.
For more serious illnesses and injuries, there’s the Aitutaki Hospital located approximately 1km (0.6 miles) behind Arutanga. The hospital is well signposted.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comFuel Stations, Banks and Communication
Aitutaki’s other essential services, such as banks, ATMs, fuel stations, phone stores, etc. are available in the villages scattering the east coast, as well as by the airport.
Fuel Stations on Aitutaki
There are four fuel stations on Aitutaki, which are:
- Spiders Petrol Station, opposite the old airport runway
- Aquila Petrol Station, Amuri
- TNM Store, Arutanga
- Vaipae Wharf Petrol Station, Vaipae
Phone Network on Aitutaki
There’s only one cellphone network provider in the Cook Islands, Vodafone, whose office you can find on Aitutaki at the crossroads in Arutanga town centre. Learn more about the network and prices in The Best SIM Card in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands for Travellers.
Post Offices on Aitutaki
Next door to Vodafone is the Aitutaki Post Office, offering all of the usual post office services from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. More famously, One Foot Island (Tapuaetai) has a small post office where you can get your passport stamped and send letters. Opening hours tend to coincide with lagoon tours.
Internet and WiFi on Aitutaki
Free WiFi is practically unheard of on Aitutaki (and the Cook Islands) so be prepared to pay for each Mb you use. Accommodations typically offer Vodafone or Zenbu WiFi vouchers, while Vodafone WiFi hotspots can be found all around the main island of Aitutaki. Learn more about how to use Vodafone WiFi hotspot vouchers in How to Get Internet & WiFi in the Cook Islands.
Vodafone WiFi hotspot vouchers can be purchased from the following locations on Aitutaki:
- Neibaa’s Store, Vaipae
- Baxter’s Waterworld, road between Arutanga and Vaipae
- Vodafone Store, Arutanga
- TNM Store, Arutanga
- Aquila Store, Amuri
- Matriki Beach Huts
- Etu Moana
- Aitutaki Escape
- Spider Petrol Station, opposite the old airport runway
- Koru Cafe, Ootu Beach
- Popoara Ocean Breeze Villas, Ootu Beach
- Ranginui’s Retreat, Ootu Beach
In addition to the hotspots provided by the Vodafone resellers stated above, there are various Vodafone WiFi hotspots across Aitutaki. Check out the map of the wifi hotspots for locations.
Banks on Aitutaki
There are two banks found on Aitutaki, as well as a couple of ATMs. Banks are open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and include services including foreign exchange. Banks include:
- BCI (Bank of the Cook Islands) – Arutanga
- BSP (Bank of the South Pacific) – Arutanga
ATMs are available at the BSP Bank in Arutanga, as well as at Aitutaki Airport.
More About Information, Shops and Services on Aitutaki
Now that you know about the Aitutaki shops and services available, here’s more advice to help you plan a smooth trip to the island:
- The Complete Travel Guide to Aitutaki
- Aitutaki Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Aitutaki
- The Food Guide to Aitutaki: Places to Eat & Food Tours
Finally, plan your whole trip to the Cook Islands using The Best Cook Islands Travel Guide. Plus, find more helpful tips in the 30 Tips for Travelling in the Cook Islands.
