The Luxury Guide to Aitutaki

© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

How to Get to Aitutaki

Aitutaki lies in the Southern Group of the Cook Islands, some 220km (137 miles) from Rarotonga and the Cook Islands’ only international airport. Flights are available to Aitutaki from Rarotonga either on the domestic schedule or by private jet.

Regular flights are available between Rarotonga and Aitutaki multiple times a day, six days a week and once on a Sunday. Flights take approximately 50 minutes. Codeshare flights are available from New Zealand and Tahiti. Learn more about flying to Aitutaki in our guide, Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands: Your Guide to Interisland Flights. Private jets are covered in our Aitutaki Transport Guide.

How to Get Around Aitutaki

The main island of Aitutaki has a road around the island that’s approximately 18km (11 miles) with plenty of inland roads to cut across the island. The main ways to get around include car rental, scooter rental and cycle rental. A couple of taxi services are also available. Water taxi services and lagoon cruises are the main ways to get to the other islands in the lagoon. Find out more about transport in our Aitutaki Transport Guide: 5 Ways to Get to (& Around) Aitutaki.

© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

Luxury Tours and Activities on Aitutaki

While the menu of luxury experiences doesn’t extend too far from simply staying in luxury resorts and villas on the island, Aitutaki offers a couple of extra experiences that are a cut above the rest when it comes to luxury.

Private Lagoon Charters

Swap group lagoon cruises and rushed schedules for a private charter to experience the famous Aitutaki Lagoon your way. There are several lagoon charters to choose from, with the most luxurious boat offered by Platinum Cruising. They host private half-day and full-day charters for two people, the latter including lunch on the beach at One Foot Island. Alternatively, Teking Lagoon Tours provides private charters on their small boat for up to six and their large boat for up to 10. Both feature a barbecue lunch and plenty of snorkelling time and island-hopping.

An alternative way to see the lagoon is on a late afternoon/sunset cruise. Snorkel among beautiful coral, enjoy a relaxing float on a water hammock, and indulge in a private sunset picnic with Kutekute Island Tours & Transfers – the only tour to return to land after dark. Alternatively, Teking Lagoon Tours offers a shorter sunset champagne tour. Either way, the Aitutaki Lagoon at sunset is sure to blow you away.

Compare cruises further in the 10 Best Lagoon Cruises in Aitutaki.

Spas on Aitutaki

Take the relaxation that Aitutaki effortlessly enforces to the next level with a massage at one of the island’s spas. Aitutaki is home to several resort spas, with a top contender being Tiare Spa at the Pacific Resort Aitutaki with hot stones massages and Balinese massages among several indulgent options for singles and couples. At SpaPolynesia of the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, a must-try is their traditional Cook Islands massage known as the “roromi”. Alternatively, guests at Etu Moana or Tai Roto Bay can enjoy in-villa head-to-toe massages.

Discover which spa is right for you using the 5 Best Spas in Aitutaki.

Other Things to Do on Aitutaki

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to experience Aitutaki that might not necessarily fall under the “luxury” category but are still well worth pursuing. Kitesurfing, scuba diving, whale watching (July-October), golf, snorkelling and more are on the agenda. Learn more about each experience Aitutaki is famous for in the 20 Best Things to Do on Aitutaki.

© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

Luxury Dining on Aitutaki

Turn tastebud satisfaction into an elevated experience with fine dining or a private dinner on the beach. Aitutaki offers a small but delightful selection of upscale restaurants, as well as private dining experiences. Don’t forget that many full-day and sunset cruises include dining experiences too.

Fine Dining on Aitutaki

The adults-only Pacific Resort Aitutaki‘s fine dining restaurant, Rapae Bay, amplifies a sophisticated atmosphere to go with their fine dining plates. Watch the sunset from the restaurant’s elevated position overlooking the lagoon and indulge in an ever-changing menu to reflect seasonal ingredients.

Take the ferry from Ootu Beach to Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort to dine at their casual Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill on the beach. The resort welcomes visitors to share in the Pacific revelry among resort guests. Enjoy a casual lunch or fine dining for dinner.

Private Dining

Private dining is a must for couples at least once on their luxury getaway. Choose a candlelit dinner in a private pavilion on the edge of the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort or dine under the stars on a secluded private deck at Aitutaki Escape. A private barefoot beach dinner can be organised at Etu Moana with local flowers decorating the area and Pacific cuisine served at sunset.

Of course, that’s just the cream of the diverse dining scene of Aitutaki, so be sure to explore the variety of eateries the island has to offer in The Food Guide to Aitutaki: Places to Eat & Food Tours.