Aitutaki

A perfect getaway for those who want to have some fun in the sun, Aitutaki is a great place to vacation in. An extremely beautiful island, this ‘almost atoll’ is home to some incredible diving and snorkeling opportunities, as well as fishing and a host of water sports. Far away from the humdrum of city life, Aitutaki is a wonderful place to relax your cares away.

Getting to Aitutaki is pretty easy with Air Rarotonga offering four flights here daily from Rarotonga, except on Sundays. All flights depart between 8 am and 4:30 pm. A 45-minute journey, traveling by air to Aitutaki is both easy and convenient with your round trip fare costing roughly NZ$ 316. However, before traveling here make sure you speak with your travel agent to confirm fare rates. Super Saver fares are also available, which are a cheaper option if you are traveling on a budget.

A good idea when traveling to Aitutaki is to use a Rarotonga-based travel agent as they offer good package deals for inter-island flights. Air fare, transfers and accommodations are all included in these economical packages.

Another way to get to Aitutaki is by cargo boats which depart from the Avatiu Harbor on Rarotonga once or twice a month. It is a long 18 hour journey, with no proper boat schedule.

Organized tours are also a great way to see Aitutaki. Air Rarotonga and Island Hopper Vacations both offer day trips which depart on a daily basis from the Rarotonga International Airport. These organized tours cost around about NZ$ 400 and includes your air fare, a lagoon cruise, snorkeling gear and a barbecue lunch. Flights are from 8 am to 6:30 pm, Monday through Saturday.

When you arrive on Aitutaki getting around is pretty simple as the island itself is quite small. You can tour the entire of Aitutaki in just a few hours! The airport sits roughly 7 km from most of the hotels and accommodations on Aitutaki Island, which usually offer to airport transfers for free. Air Rarotonga also provides airport pick and drop facilities, but it will set you back NZ$ 10 each way. As there is no public transportation system on Aitutaki, you best bet to get around is to rent a car, scooter, or bicycle. If your budget allows, you can call for a cab from the Pacifica Taxi cab company.