5 reasons to love AITUTAKI
Lagoon life doesn’t come any more chilled
My sister Anna’s a very busy girl, so I was thrilled to lure her way to one of my favourite getaway spots for a quick break – the stunning Cook Island of Aitutaki.
1 How to get there Aitutaki is a 40-minute flight from Rarotonga and although it’s an extra expense, I implore anyone who likes really getting away from it all (read: who doesn’t seek shopping or nightclubs) to find the additional dollars to visit this beautiful island. Time slows down, the waves lap, the locals smile ... It’s one of the loveliest places on Earth – our local version of Hawaii without the long-haul flight and overdevelopment. This was my second visit and I was worried I’d remembered it with rosé-tinted glasses, but once again, it was utterly divine.
2 The Vaka Cruise Like Rarotonga, Aitutaki sits in a lagoon protected by a coral reef. The lagoon is peppered with smaller islands and the Vaka Cruise, departing most days at 10am from Aitutaki Village, visits three of them. Akaiami is where the rich people used to come as part of the Coral Route, at the time akin to a trip on the Orient Express. Then there’s Moturakau, where Survivor was filmed in 2006 (Anna, a fan, nearly wet her pants at this one) and One Foot Island, where you can get your passport stamped. Between the islands, there’s snorkelling, a yummy barbecue lunch and floating in the clear turquoise sea. Bliss!
3 Where to stay Pacific Resort is on the sunset side of the island – perfect for cocktails – and I was delighted to see “Lynch Punch” on the menu at the poolside bar. They’d clearly heard we were coming! We loved the way the infinity pool melted into the pristine water of the lagoon (before the Lynch Punch, not after, in case you were wondering). All 27 rooms here are oceanfront and lovely, the vast surrounding gardens are lush and beautifully kept, and the staff are friendly and helpful. We were taken with executive chef Michael Fossbender’s dinner menu – he had us at the tomato relish that came with the home-made bread. The catch of the day is definitely the go and you can all but watch it being caught and delivered to your plate.
4 What to eat If you can tear yourself away from the restaurant and bar at the resort, there are other yummy options. Just down the beach, we chowed down twice at Tamanu Resort (fresh tuna and fries, anyone?) and loved catching up with manager Nick, his wife Dianne and their toddler Harry. This time around, I didn’t make it to legendary Tupuna’s café up on the hill. It’s only open Tuesday to Friday but well worth the visit if the timing’s right. Say hello to Tupuna from Woman’sDay!
5 Kicking back Internet connections in the Cook Islands are notoriously bad and/or expensive, so if you’re glued to your device, you should probably go elsewhere. Or if, like me, you need to do the odd bit of work, for $49, you can buy a visitor’s SIM card from any of the Bluesky stores. It’s worth the money, I reckon, although Pacific Resort does have a business centre with free internet – if you use their computer. But I encourage all to resist the lure of the office if possible. One of the great beauties of Aitutaki is that the real world seems a long way away – so why not keep it there?