Tourist Information for Holidays on Aitutaki Island
We have provided here some frequently asked questions about your holiday on Aitutaki Island. If there is a question not answered here please feel free to drop me an email.
Flights to Aitutaki
Air Rarotonga is the only airline servicing Aitutaki Island. Most flights arrive from Rarotonga although there are some flights also connecting to/from Atiu. There are around six flights per day with a reduced service on Sunday. Please book flights via the Air Raro website.
Aitutaki Airport & Transfers
Aitutaki Airport may be one of the smallest airports you'll ever visit. There's a small café, toilets and an ATM. Our villa manager meets all guests at the airport with a welcome lei (flower garland) and transfers guests in our air-conditioned van to the villas with a quick island orientation along the way pointing out local shops and restaurants.
Accommodation on Rarotonga
If you are looking for accommodation on Rarotonga, the owner has a tranquil garden bungalow a few minutes' walk inland from the beach at Titikaveka on the south side of Rarotonga. See: Bach on Raro
Can I leave luggage?
If your flight arrives before check-in time of 1pm /departs after check-out time of 10am, you can leave your packed bags in the office until your villa is ready / the time of your flight departure. For afternoon flights we recommend purchasing late check-out so you can use the villa until you leave. Our office is small and does not have a sitting area, nor bathroom, but there is an outdoor shower you can use to wash off.
Villa Allocation
We will try our best to accommodate any special request for a specific Absolute Beachfront Villa #1 or #2 . However, it can only be considered a request and cannot be guaranteed due to logistics of other guest check-in / check-out dates.
Air conditioning
We do not have air conditioning as the villa design has high ceilings which is the best design for air-flow in the triopics. Villas have powerful wall fans to assit the air flow (like commercial fans) and large screened windows to let in the cool ocean breeze. Our villas are well positioned to allow the ocean trade winds to flow through the villas, and in most cases that is all what you'll need.
Electricity & Plugs
Electricity is 240v with plugs the same design as New Zealand and Australia. We do not have USB charging hubs so please bring your own.
Kitchen Utilities
Cooktop Stove, Fridge/Freezer, Electric Kettle, Toaster, Rice Cooker, Blender, Coffee Plunger; Pots & Pan, Dinner Plates, Side Plates, Cereal Bowls, Cups, Wine Glasses, Cutlery Can opener, Kitchen Knife, Potato peeler, Potato masher, Tongs, Spatula, Cooking spoon, Serving spoon.
Toiletries Supplied
Hair-dryer, Soap, Conditioner, Shampoo, Hand towels, Bath towels, Beach towels, Umbrella.
Water
Drinking water straight out of the tap is not recommended in Aitutaki or Rarotonga. We provide filtered and UV treated water in the villas and guests can refill bottles themselves from a large water bottle outside the office (or from the various water stations around the island). Otherwise, if guests wish to buy bottled water, these are also available from shops close by.
Laundry
Housekeeping can provide guest laundry on request for $15 / load. There is an iron available but this needs to be organised in advance with the villa manager.
Safe
Our villas do not have room-safes, but the villa manager can lock away small valuables in the office safe if guests request. The Villas are safe, we have not had any experience with break-ins.
Are windows and doors screened?
All windows and doors have screens to keep out insects. However, we live in the tropics so gecko's can be seen inside the villas. Geckos are harmless, unless you are a mosquito in which case you'll be eaten!
Mosquitoes
Like all places in the tropics mosquitoes are present, most notable after periods of heavy rain. However, they are not abundant like some places on Raro as Aitutaki does not have much swampy land for them to breed. For those keen to avoid bites we recommend the use of mosquito spray in the evenings. Mosquito coils are provided, and can be bought at local shops, but bring your own repellent.
Internet
Starlink: $5/d for up to 7days, over 7 days to 14d - $50 (prices 2025) Tourist SIMS: Available via Vodafone at Rarotonga Airport WiFi signal is accessible from the villas with a pre-paid Vodafone voucher available from local shops
Card payments
Cards are accepted at most of the shops, restaurants and tour companies, although a few are still cash only. Please check in advance. Any sundries at the villas (laundry, internet, mopeds etc) must be paid in cash only (there is no eftpos processing at the villas).
Infants
We can provide a porta cot with bedding. Please request this in advance as there is only one cot. We do not have a high-chair, and there is no infant car seat available anywhere on Aitutaki.
Babysitter
The villa manager can arrange a babysitter for you for the day or just for the evening (cash payment).
Accessibility
The villas are not accessible by wheelchair and the guest will have to walk up steps to access the villa. The Lagoon View Villa has the fewest steps to climb (3). Alternatively, the Absolute Beachfront V#1 has wider steps than the Absolute Beachfront Villa #2.
LGBT+
Although the Cook Islands is a very religious country, it is also very open and accepting of all cultures and peoples. You have our assurance and LGBT+ guests will not be treated any differently from any other guests.
Our Beach
The beach is predominantly sandy. There are beach chairs and reclining sun loungers on the beach but no beach umbrellas. However, there are lots of shady spots around the beach and two hammocks under palm trees. The beach is not raked daily but it is routinely cleaned of washed-up stones and coral pieces.
Our Lagoon
There is all tide swimming in the lagoon right in front of the villas. There are coral heads in the lagoon, and these sometimes break-off leaving debris in the water, so we recommend guests wear reef shoes when entering the water.
Snorkelling
There are random coral patches within the protected lagoon directly infront of the villas which are decent for snorkelling as well as schools of small fish darting about. Snorkelling gear is not provided at the villas but sets can be purchased from Vonnias in town (as well as reef shoes). The best snorkelling in Aitutaki is accessible on day cruises in the middle of the main lagoon and all cruise companies provide snorkelling gear.
Getting Around
Aitutaki is a small island and there's no regular public bus (a minibus travels along the main road twice a day only; $5pp one way). There is a taxi service (2 companies; 20-25 to town or to Ootu point which is the farthest for restaurants. They also do transfers for restaurants between $15-25pp return. Different rates for groups/seniors. All local tours and lagoon cruises offer free pick-up. Most people get around by mopeds and we recommend you hire one for your stay so you can enjoy the local scenery and get to the shops and restaurants easily. If you find yourself needing transport the villa manager may be able to assist.
Shops & Restaurants
There are a handful of restaurants, cafés and grocery shops a short walk from villas. See the page Aitutaki island for detailed information on where you can eat and buy groceries.
Renting a Moped
We have a handful of automatic mopeds at the villas for guest use. Cost is $25 per day and can be reserved with your accommodation booking. Helmets are not required in Aitutaki (they are on Raro). We have a couple of helmets if guests want to use one. Any damage to the moped and/or to other people or property etc is the guest's liability (travel insurance is recommended but not compulsory). You will need to obtain a local driving license from the police station in town (you can drive yourself to the police station). The cost is $2.50 and the process quick and simple (you need to show a valid driving license from your home country). Opening hours are Mon-Fri 9am to 11.30am. If guests arrive on Friday afternoon or the weekend you can still use the mopeds and then do the paperwork on Monday morning. For up-to-date detailed information on driving license requirements please visit: https://www.transport.gov.ck/corporate/licensing/drivers-licence/
Renting a Car
There are a handful of car rental companies. Aquila's and Rino's are local to us; or you can book online via Aitutaki Car Rental. You will need to bring a valid home driving license to rent a car in Aitutaki.
Bicycles & E-Bikes
The villas have two bicycles for rent. You can also rent e-bikes from next door, but the price is the same as our mopeds!
Activities and Lagoon Cruises
Please see our page Aitutaki Island for information about restaurants and shops and tours on Aitutaki; or the page Aitutaki Lagoon Cruises for detailed info about the different day trips and water taxis on the lagoon.
SUP & Kayaks
One- and two-person sea-kayaks and SUP boards can be rented by the hour from the villa manager (guest use only).
Windsurfing & Kite-surfing
Available for rent via Aitutaki Kiteboarding School
Fishing & Game Fishing
You can fish in the lagoon right in front of the villas, just the sea birds do (basic rods and lures can be bought in town from Vonnias). There are several private game fishing charters on Aitutaki as well as bone fishing specialists.
Scuba Diving
Provided by Bubbles Below
Whale Watching & Turtles
Humpback whales pass the outer reef of Aitutaki during the months of July to October and can be seen breaching from the villas. Green turtles are often seen in the lagoon taking a rest from the perils of the deep sea although dolphins are only seen beyond the reef. Whilst it is always fantastic to encounter these marine species in their natural habitat we do not recommend any tours that specifically seek them out as it disturbs their natural life patterns.