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Aitutaki
Life on Aitutaki cruises along at a totally relaxed tempo, one of the primary reasons it is such a popular destination. Easy flights from Rarotonga for day trips as well extended stays, mean that Aitutaki is high on the list of priority places to visit. But it's not the only way to get to, or enjoy, this wonderful piece of paradise.
The spectacular lagoon can be approached in leisurely fashion in traditional outrigger canoes for quiet paddling just off the beach or you can choose to charter a launch or yacht - these are greatly enjoyed by those who love saltwater flyfishing for the fighting bonefish.
The motus (coral islets) which are mainly at the outer perimeter of the lagoon are wonderful landing places for the day cruises available for visitors. Akaiami and One Foot Island are particularly beautiful islets that should be listed on any travellers itinerary of 'must-see' places. Several charter oerators are available and most boats go to Tapuatae, One Foot Island, which is found at the far south-eastern corner of the huge lagoon.
It's a great place for a picnic lunch, a walk across to the reef side of the island or some snorkelling in the channel at its north-eastern extremity. Although if you are a keen snorkeller, there is little in the way of interesting coral heads or fish in the immediate area. You would need to go much further east towards the reef before the coral begins to compare with that in Rarotonga's southern lagoon.
However, the diving is excellent and the fish plentiful in the best spots. While One Foot Island is too small for constant habitation, there is a combination eating area, bar and souvenir shop which doubles as a post office. The only other building is a week-end cabin.
The other 'motus' around the periphery of the lagoon continue to enjoy solitude and freedom and they are well worth a visit. Akaimi, owned by Aitutaki roalty, has accommodation on it for one group at a time and Maina is often visited as well.
You can also choose to enjoy the lagoon in a double hulled catamaran set up to resemble one of the traditional ocean-going voyaging canoes used by old time Polynesians to cross the Pacific. The boat provides day trippers from Rarotonga with a one-stop experience, transporting them across the magical lagoon, protecting them from wind and spray with plastic roll-down window flaps and feeding them on the boat even while drawn up on One Foot's beach.
The big advantage of this self-contained approach is the environmental protection it affords to the island with no consequent litter or pollution since everything is kept on board. Historically speaking...
Aitutaki's beauty has been created through the triangular-shaped 'almost' atoll rising up 4000 metres from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, consisting of three volcanic (motus) Historically, it is thought that it was probably first settled around 900 AD and one of its great legendary Polynesian discoverers was Ru who named it Utataki Enua O Ru Ki Te Moana.
The first recorded discovery by Europeans was Captain Bligh on the "Bounty". He arrived on April 11 1789 and shortly afterwards the famous mutiny occurred. Bligh is believed to be responsible for introducing the paw paw fruit to Aitutaki and this is now an important export product from the Cook Islands.
Aitutaki was the original landing spot for the first missionary to the Cooks, John Williams and there is a large, airy coral block church in Arutanga, the main township, which bears testament to his success in converting the people to Christianity.
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