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Voykit pocket guide · Cook Islands
Aitutaki
Spend 3 days on Aitutaki to explore the lagoon, motus and village life; fly in from Rarotonga (50 min) and stay 3 nights in a mid‑range lodge.
Aitutaki’s 50‑minute flight from Rarotonga lands you on a small island with a large lagoon, several motus and a handful of villages. Most attractions fit into three days: a lagoon cruise, island‑hopping by kayak or boat, and exploring the villages and beaches. Accommodation ranges from budget hostels to over‑water bungalows, so a 3‑night stay covers the main experiences without rushing.
- Country
- Cook Islands
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NZD
- Money
- Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD), alongside local Cook Islands coins and notes, which are not exchangeable outside the country.
- Daily spend
- Budget NZ$70–100 excl. bed · Mid NZ$120–180 excl. bed · High NZ$200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodafone Cook Islands sells prepaid SIMs and data packs at the airport and in Avarua.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Ambulance 998 · Fire 996
- Plugs
- Types I · 240 V · 50 Hz · Same angled three-pin plug as Australia and New Zealand.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Not expected.; Tours: Not expected; thanks and a review are appreciated.
- Water
- Rarotonga's supply is being upgraded; many hotels filter it. Drink bottled or boiled on outer islands.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; public ones at Punanga Nui market and beaches.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | NZ$3–5 |
| Meal (local restaurant) | NZ$15–25 |
| Taxi (short trip) | NZ$10–20 per person |
| Car hire (per day) | NZ$65–85 |
| Scooter hire (per day) | NZ$30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AIT · Aitutaki Airport
- Daily Air Rarotonga flights, 50 min from Rarotonga
Typical fares
- Rarotonga → Aitutaki flight
- NZ$200–300 one‑way, 50 min (check)
- Car hire (per day)
- NZ$65–85, deposit NZ$40 (check)
- Lagoon cruise (full day)
- NZ$120–200 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car and scooter hire are the main options; rentals cost $65–$85 NZD per day (car) or $30 NZD per day (scooter) with small deposits. Taxis charge NZ$10–20 per person; book ahead. Boats connect the main island to Akaiami and One Foot Island (≈20 min).
See and do
Known for
- Aitutaki lagoon and motus
- Lagoon cruises and kayaking
- Scuba diving and fishing
- Small‑village charm
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Akaiami Island | Boat from Arutanga wharf, ≈20 min | ≈30 min total |
| One Foot Island | Lagoon cruise stop, 10–15 min walk | ≈1 h round trip |
Sleep
- Josie's Lodge
- Budget dorm, $26 NZD per night
- Matriki Beach Huts
- $120–$180 NZD, beachside cabins
- Gina's Garden Lodges
- Mid‑range self‑contained lodges, price check
- Paradise Cove
- Beach bungalows, price check
- Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa
- Splurge over‑water bungalows, price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Kia ora |
| Thank you | Ka kite |
| How much is it? | E hia tēnei? |
| Where is the toilet? | Kei hea te whare paku? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Kia orana and a handshake; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Church: Dress neatly, women in dresses, men in long trousers; avoid: Beachwear and photos during worship
- Villages: Ask before walking on family land; avoid: Picking fruit from trees
- Food: Accept food when offered; avoid: Refusing hospitality flatly
Scams and watch-outs
- Car/scooter deposits and licence fee ($2.50 NZD) at the police station in Arutanga.
- Taxi rates vary; confirm price before boarding.
- Lagoon cruises can be fully booked in peak season; reserve early.
Aitutaki is very safe for tourists; the main risks are stonefish in the lagoon (wear reef shoes) and mosquitoes (no malaria). Tap water is filtered but not UV-treated; bottled or station water is recommended.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aitutaki yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Aitutaki lagoon and motus
- Lagoon cruises and kayaking
- Scuba diving and fishing
- Small‑village charm
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Official Aitutaki tourism website: cookislands.travel/islands/aitutaki
- Wikivoyage: Aitutaki, revision 5132277 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5132277
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/aitutaki). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.