The Complete Guide to Water Taxis in Aitutaki
Dreaming of island hopping on the azure waters of the Aitutaki Lagoon? Unlike a lagoon cruise, the boat simply drops you off at your chosen island and returns at an agreed time, leaving you to explore, snorkel or do absolutely nothing.
Water taxis in Aitutaki give you the unique experience of relaxing for a day or half-day on a deserted islet along with the hermit crabs. You can also catch a water taxi to one of the lagoon's popular kitesurfing islands or join the lagoon cruise passengers for a paddle around One Foot Island.
Plan your "motu" (island) day trip with this complete guide to water taxis in Aitutaki and the Cook Islands, including which islands to visit, what to take with you, costs and more.
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Table of Contents
Water Taxis in Aitutaki
There are several water taxi companies in Aitutaki, including:
- Wet & Wild - Transfers to any island.
- Mona's Lagoon Charter & Water Taxi - Transfers to Honeymoon Island, One Foot Island, Akaiami Island and Moturakau Island, with flexible departure times.
- Silent One Lagoon Charters - Water taxis to Honeymoon Island and One Foot Island, with morning and afternoon time slots.
- Marino Tours - Private water taxis to Honeymoon Island and One Foot Island with flexible itineraries and snorkelling gear included.
- Bishop's Cruises - Transfers to One Foot Island. Could be dropped off via private water taxi or cruise, depending on the time. Lunch is an optional extra.
- South Pacific Kiteboarding - Transfers to Honeymoon Island.
Learn more about how they operate and the cost of their water taxi services in the guide below!
What are the Water Taxis Like in Aitutaki?
Water taxis in Aitutaki are operated by boat and lagoon tour companies. Because of this, water taxis require a little booking in advance (a day before at the very latest), as these tour operators often have other tours and water taxi services that they need to work around.
You'll be riding on a small motorboat with a skipper who is also a tour guide, so they often have interesting stories to tell about the lagoon.
How Does an Aitutaki Water Taxi Work?
Unlike a lagoon cruise where you stay with the boat and group for the day, a water taxi is primarily a drop-off and pick-up service. Choose which island you want to visit, arrange your return time with the operator, then the skipper drops you off and comes back for you later.
Some operators work with set morning or afternoon windows, typically from 9 am to 12 pm or 1 pm to 4 pm, while others are more flexible. Some trips can also be shared with other passengers to keep the cost down, while others operate as private charters.
How Long Do Transfers Last?
The journey on a water taxi on the Aitutaki Lagoon lasts approximately 15 minutes on the water (and 10 minutes by car if your water taxi includes land transfers). Water taxis typically depart from Ootu Beach or the Arutanga Harbour.
Most of the operators we checked include hotel pickup and drop-off in the water taxi price, so you usually don't need to make your own way to the wharf. Anyhow, confirm this when booking.
How Long Do You Stay on the Island?
Times offered are usually flexible, although some operators use set morning or afternoon time slots. Stays typically range from around 3 to 7 hours. You will arrange a time with the skipper for pick-up - you will have no opportunity to change this time once you're on the island (with the exception of Honeymoon Island in the kitesurfing season), so you'd better be sure of how long you want to be marooned!
What to Take With You
As you're going onto an island with no facilities (other than a Post Office on One Foot Island or kite centres on Honeymoon Island during the kitesurfing season), you need to be prepared with a day bag. Take a sunhat, reef-safe sunscreen, reef shoes or flip-flops, and plenty of drinking water and food.
Snorkelling gear is not necessarily included in water taxi fares, so check with your operator before you go. If it isn't provided, you'll need to hire some or bring your own.
The Best Islands to Get a Water Taxi
The beauty of a water taxi excursion is that you get to experience islands that few people have. Here are some of the highlights, including the most popular islands and the most deserted yet fun to explore.
Honeymoon Island (Tavake)
In the kitesurfing season (May to October), this sandy islet surrounded by shallow water and holding a tuft of coconut palms in its centre is a hive of activity with kitesurfers showing off their skills. The island has some comforts from the hut that is used as a kite centre in the kiting season. Outside of the season, Honeymoon Island (Tavake) is a stunning place to be marooned for the day.
The island is only visited occasionally by a couple of lagoon cruises. It's also one of the easiest islands to arrange a straightforward water taxi to, with several operators offering transfers.
Learn more about kitesurfing in The Guide to Kitesurfing in Rarotonga, Aitutaki & the Cook Islands.
Maina Island
Maina Island sits just behind Honeymoon Island (Tavake) and can even be walked to from Honeymoon Island at low tide. But if you don't fancy walking, you can take a water taxi there to experience life on a deserted island (apart from the very occasional small-group lagoon cruise that stops by). There are lots of shady coconut trees and places to explore.
One Foot Island
One of the most popular islands to visit in Aitutaki, One Foot Island (Tapuaetai) certainly won't feel too deserted, as it is the highlight of most lagoon cruises. Nevertheless, getting dropped off here for the day by water taxi means that you will also get to experience the island when it's quiet. If you get dropped off here with Bishop Cruises, you can also join them for their island barbecue lunch.
There is a lot to explore on this island with its picnic areas, famous coconut tree and the walk over to The Sandbank - see Sightseeing on Aitutaki: Top 10 Sights on Aitutaki for more details.
Moturakau Island
For the true "marooned on a deserted island" experience, head to Moturakau. The island was used in the filming of Survivor: Cook Islands and Shipwrecked - see the 10 TV Shows Filmed in the Cook Islands.
Nowadays, however, you will just share this island with the array of tropical seabirds and hermit crabs. You'll find cute picnic areas, volcanic rock formations and a walking trail through the bush.
Learn more about the latter in the 5 Best Walks on Aitutaki.
Akaiami Island
If you want to stay the night on an island, make it Akaiami. It offers two basic but perfectly comfortable accommodations,Akaiami Paradise, which provides water taxi services to its accommodations.
The island is also rich in history, which you can learn more about in the 10 Best Historical Sites on Aitutaki.
Other Islands to Visit in Aitutaki
All of the islands are pretty stunning to be honest, so the best of the rest include:
- Ee - Has a long white-sand beach with great snorkelling and rock pools where the passage ends at the reef.
- Mangere - Has a beautiful sandy beach to the south.
- Papau - A rarely visited island that is easy to walk around.
- Tavaerua Iti and Tavarua Nui - Unspoiled islands with good snorkelling in the channel between the two.
- Muritapua - Another dreamy island close to Akaiami.
- Tekopua - The largest island on the lagoon (after the main island, of course), it is covered in lush rainforest.
- Motukitiu - Also known as Bird Island, which is amazing for birdwatchers, not so much for sunbathers.
- Rapota - An island with volcanic rocks, a beach and the occasional pig that the landowners leave here.
How Much Does an Aitutaki Water Taxi Cost?
So, how much does it cost to be stranded on a deserted island for the day? Check out the water taxi prices below!
Aitutaki Water Taxi Fares
- One Foot Island return - NZ$80-$125 per adult, NZ$40-$80 per child
- Honeymoon Island return - NZ$60-$125 per person in the kitesurfing season, NZ$60-$125 per adult and NZ$30-$80 per child outside of the season
- Maina Island return - NZ$70-$80 per adult, NZ$35-$40 per child
- Other islands return - NZ$80-$125 per person.
You'll notice that One Foot Island can cost more than Honeymoon Island with some operators, which is largely down to the greater travelling distance across the lagoon.
Check out more costs to budget for your trip using our guide, Rarotonga & Cook Islands Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to the Cook Islands Cost?.
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More About Boat Transport in Aitutaki and the Cook Islands
That's it for our complete guide to water taxis in Aitutaki! Check out alternative boat transport methods in the guides below:
- 10 Best Island-Hopping Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- Cook Islands Cargo Ship Guide: How to Use the Ferry for Interisland Travel in the Cook Islands
- Aitutaki Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Aitutaki
Finally, plan the rest of your excursion to Aitutaki using The Complete Travel Guide to Aitutaki and the 20 Best Things to Do on Aitutaki.
