Aitutaki - General Info
Description:
Aitutaki lies 220 km north of Rarotonga. It measures just 20 square km.
Arutanga has the only harbor on the island and is a port of entry.
If you wish to enter the Cook Islands the only ports open (both ports of entry) are Arutanga and Avatiu Port (Rarotonga). The wider surrounding islands in the Cook Islands internal borders are currently shut until further notice (March 2023).
Entrance Notes or Cautions:
If your vessel’s draft exceeds two meters, it will need to anchor outside the reef. Vessels with a draft less than two meters will be able to enter through the passage.
Work started in October 2021 on dredging the entrance channel allowing cruising yachts to enter the harbour basin.
The entrance to the pass is narrow (less than 100 ft across) and unmarked, caution is urged before heading in. Cruisers report that both Navionics and C-Map are 300 meters off on placement of the pass. See these useful directions for entering the anchorage here.
The channel into the harbor area has the least depth of the only 1.7m at high tide, therefore, careful timing is essential. Outflowing tidal currents can reach three to four knots, therefore the best time to enter is just before high tide (least current). Good sunlight is essential. If in any doubt, ask someone to guide you in.
Notice for Kiteboarders:
You are no longer allowed to use your dinghy once anchored inside Aitutaki to venture into the lagoon. The kiteboarding location is not accessible via land. Anyone wanting to kiteboard Aitutaki MUST hire the local tour operator at $35 per person per day to taxi them to the kite island. This came into effect August 25, 2017 (see Related User Comments).
Position:
18° 51’08″S, 159° 48’32″W
Last updated: March 2023
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Related to following destinations: Aitutaki, Cook Islands, Southern Cook Islands
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We visited Aitutaki, two mooring spots where shown on our electronic Charts. Upon arrival, we could not find any moorings so we had to anchor. Later on, when we were snorkeling, we saw what was left of the mooring lines.
So please be aware that you will have to anchor about 30 meters off the reef if your draft is over 1,5 meters. Aitutaki is an absolutely beautiful island, the place to anchor however is everything but beautiful.
Costs as of August 2017:
$57 for customs.
$65 per person for departure fee.
$25 for health inspector.
$20 for bio inspector.
Total: $232 for 2 persons plus an anchorage fee of $5/day.
Kiteboarders, PLEASE BE AWARE: Due to the health officer, you are no longer allowed to use your dinghy once anchored inside Aitutaki to venture into the lagoon. The kiteboarding location is not accessible via land.
Any cruiser wanting to kiteboard Aitutaki MUST hire the local tour operator at $35 per person per day to taxi them to the kite island. This came into effect August 25, 2017. We had planned to spend an entire month here. We left in under one week due to this new law.
Side note: If you do decide to kite this 1st class location, talk to WAHOO charters to get a group daily rate to taxi you to the kite beach. The great fellow with better service and better prices than the local kite companies.
We tried to get into Aitutaki in June 2017 at the very top of a spring tide. We draw 1.7m and ran aground (on sand) about halfway down the channel before the shallow part marked on the chart! I dinghied in later and was told by locals that even a 1.6m draft would have been pushing it.
Also reported by Stefan def:
I was anchored in the middle of the anchoring field, with two ropes going to the (only) two palm trees on shore.
Here are our departure costs:
Departure Fee: 65NZD/pp
Customs Fee: 57NZD
Mooring Fee: 5NZD/PD
The mooring fee in the anchorage next to the harbor is now 5 NZD/day
The health officer came on board Monday morning and left after 20 minutes. He sprayed for bugs and collected the weekday fee (25NZD) [ 40NZD on weekends ]
The customs and immigration clearing in took about 30 minutes. Very friendly people. No fees to be paid until departure. Wifi is fast in the harbor, but you have to buy the access pass in the post office or stores. Buying online does not work (certificate error). I paid for the monthly special: 2 GB for 30NZD valid 15 days