Indulge in an invigorating trek to the highest point of the island, or a reinvigorating Polynesian massage or beauty treatment at the resort’s tranquil spa complex.

And even when your idyllic getaway comes to an end, the seduction doesn’t stop. When you return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, you’ll pause every now and then to revisit your magical memories of Aitutaki. And you’ll realise that this exclusive, romantic sanctuary will hold you in its spell forever.  

Experience Secluded Luxury at Pacific Resort Aitutaki...

An amazing lagoon experience

The Aitutaki Lagoon is a major highlight of any trip to the Cook Islands.  It boasts the most vivid lagoon colurs anyone has ever seen, and is dotted with other uninhabitied isles.

As many parts of the lagoon are marine reserves, the schools of fish here are abundant and a truly a sight to behold in crystal clarity.

Fishing, kayaking, snorkelling, swimming, diving and windsurfing...the lagoon is the perfect place for it all.

The outer reef is equally impressive, with surf created as the mighty deep-blue Pacific waters hurl themselves at this natural barrier.

Aitutaki Lagoon is beauty beyond description - an unspoilt paradise right here on earth.

The night the locals like to get down and boogie is definitely Friday night and most Aitutaki night spots don’t close till 2am, unlike Saturday night which becomes Sunday and a holy day on the stroke of midnight.

 From the game-fishing Puffy’s or the Crusher Bar or the Samade, there are several great places to enjoy a few (or more!) drinks. Aitutaki also boasts a number of excellent restaurants also.

The Aitutaki lagoon is arguably one of the most beautiful in the world and abounds with marine life to delight the snorkeller, particularly the iridescent giant clam. Due to the shallow lagoon, snorkelling is easy.

The most popular swimming, snorkelling and picnic spots are on the small islets to the southeast, each of which has a legend associated with it, such as One Foot Island. Sailing, diving and fishing (flycasters and light tackle anglers) are all available. For those wanting to explore the island, there is a thirty-minute trek to the highest point which rewards walkers with excellent views.

See local marae, such as The Te-Poaki-O-Rae (the stone of Rae) - a fascinating marae with volcanic rocks arranged in rows facing the main pillar. Visit the islands small villages, such as Vaipae and Tautu Villages - distinctive for their old coral and lime churches that add an extra dimension to worshipping. Palm frond thatched bures, raised just off the ground, will also capture your attention.

Visitors are welcome at the Research Station of the ministry of Marine Resources, which is open daily and has species of giant clams and baby sea turtles for visitors to see and learn about.

Join Sunday service at one of the many island churches, and hear the glorious harmonies of island singing.

The main Aitutaki market is found down at the wharf, and visitors can buy handicrafts, clothing, fruit and vegetables and more. Make sure you try a mouth-watering local Pineapple - they're unlike any Pineapple you've ever had before!Villages such as Vaipae and Tautu also offer handcrafts, souvenirs and island-style fashions for sale.

Aitutaki has a population of approximately 2300. It has 15 small islets and a main volcanic island with a height of 119 metres. The lagoon at Aitutaki is shallow (11 metres maximum depth) and almost completely enclosed by a substantial barrier reef.

The Aitutaki Lagoon is just magical - its crystal clear waters boast warm inviting temperatures, abundant colourful fish, magnificent coral formations and so much more.

This small island, with an equally small permanent population, boasts some very big and very beautiful churches, many of which the square footage of would not look astray in one of the larger metropolitan parishes in any city of the world today. Visitors are always welcome at Sunday services.

There is a long history behind Aitutaki and relics of it can still be found everywhere, with solid stone halfbuildings dotted throughout the island. The island was settled many centuries ago by the explorer Ru, who brought his brothers and their wives and 10 maidens and began the initial development of the island. Often used as a stopover, Aitutaki was always on the route of the great flying boats, the Sunderlands. The-then airway TEAL, the forerunner of Air New Zealand, used Aikimi, one of Aitutaki’s bigger offshore islands as a rest point on what was known as the Coral Route during the mid to later part of the 20th century.

Though there's plenty to see and to do, the real recreation on Aitutaki is pure relaxation.

It is the signature restaurant for Pacific Resort Hotels, with it's five star design and superb attention to detail in every menu. From sumptuous breakfasts with the lightest of breads, through to the delicate textures of the very best seafood, there is something to excite everyone's tastebuds.

The Black Rock Cafe is our hugely popular beachfront bar. Sit back, relax and enjoy a tropical cocktail while you delight in spectacular sunsets or have fun meeting with others who are also on holiday.

Our cuisine team have crafted exquisite menus which utilise the abundant fresh fish, organic pork, fresh tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs grown by local farmers.

Start the day off with a full breakfast including fresh tropical fruit, followed by a choice of eggs, fresh pork sausages, sourdough pancakes and toast of homemade breads.

Pacific Resort Aitutaki caters to everyone's specific tastes and includes such delicacies as fresh local seafoods, teriyaki chicken, kahlua pork, chargrilled prime beef and racked spring lamb. Delicate textures provide a taste sensation when you add the Pacific Rim influence of fresh ginger, garlic, chili and soy.

Savour an indulgent dessert - or mouth-watering array includes the classic creme brulee, potted chocolate with homemade icecream, a seasonal variety of fresh fruit, tarts, cakes and more.

Friday night is 'Island Night' and features a full Polynesian buffet feast , followed by live entertainment by a local cultural dance troupe with drummers and singing.

As an alternative to dining in the Rapae Bay Restaurant, all food and bar service is available right on beach at the Black Rock Cafe. Or call Room service and dine in your bungalow, suite or villa!  We also cater for extra special events, such as honeymoon or wedding dining for two. 

Experience a dynamic display of the local native song and dance - they do not boast when they say that Cook Island dancers are among the best in the world!

 Music and movement is an art to islanders, and our visitors are always awed and impressed by the passion and skill in their performance.

Accompanied by a row of drummers and the guitar or ukulele, a group of the islands finest young men appear in their wild hibiscus bark skirts with matching calf and arm racks.

These warriors ring out their challenges, giving you a dazzling display of just how attuned to the beat of a drum a body can really be.

Island Women, in their beautiful traditional attire, will delight you with their dance. Absolute sensuality is the only way to describe the way they move, with curves as gentle as the bays of the island and movement as languid as the palm trees we sit underneath, they are a sight to behold.

Guests are always invited to learn the movements, and all dance together in an experience you won't soon forget!

Island Night also includes a sumptuous buffet, your chance to taste real island cuisine at its best. The feast is cooked in an umukai - an earth oven - and the flavours are to die for!

As well as tender meat and seafood and other tempting foods, you can try taro, breadfruit, pawpaw, mango, puki, yams and more.

To plan your wedding simply start with our foundation wedding package, then add any of our extra options to further enhance your special day - one that you'll treasure forever.

Our foundation wedding programme includes your choice of venue at Pacific Resort Aitutaki. Imagine saying your vows at sunrise or sunset right on the white-sand beach, or under a swaying palm tree in our lush gardens.

This base package also includes your wedding license and celebrant fee, flower eis for the bride and groom and on-going liaison with our wedding co-ordinator.

Weddings at Pacific Resort Aitutaki are given top priority. Our dedicated wedding planner and resort staff will ensure your special day is just as you imagined it.

Your Venue Options

Pacific Resort Aitutaki - Tropical gardens beautifully landscaped, complete with water lily ponds and simply amazing volcanic rock features.

White Sandy Beach - Rapae beach - part of Aitutaki's 'champagne' stretch of white sandy beach with a backdrop of the lagoon and Pacific Ocean.

Village Limestone Church - Magnificent architecture steeped in tradition and local history.

Aromatherapy Facial                          60mins

This customised treatment includes a delicate facial massage, enhanced by pressure point techniques and a mask tailored to your requirements.  Lose yourself in a tantalising world of fragrant herbs, plants and flowers.  Fragrant essential oils take you on a wonderful voyage to tranquil beauty combining the benefits of essential oils with tension reducing massage. 

Serenity Signature Facial                   60mins

A soothing therapy is suitable for all skin types. Our Spa Therapist will assess your skincare needs and design a facial treatment just for you!  Your skin will be cleansed, exfoliated and treated with the appropriate refreshing facial mask.  A soothing facial massage will follow, aimed at minimising the telltale signs of aging and designed to give special attention to the delicate tissue around the eyes, neck and décolletage.  

Anti-Stress Discovery Facial              30mins            

This facial is ideal during seasonal changes or as an alternative to your usual treatment.  A luxurious scalp massage treats tension often held in the muscles across the scalp and neck. Headaches, migraines and neck and shoulder aches and pains just melt away with stress-relieving pressure point massage. 

Skin Therapy For Men                         60mins

If you have never had a facial or it’s been a long time, this is a great place to start.  A meticulous deep pore cleansing and thorough exfoliation removes any residue from the pores and also removes dry and flaking skin.  Leaves skin feeling energised and looking refreshed. 

Classic Rapae Body Massage             60mins

Our classic massage promotes a sense of well-being by increasing blood circulation and lymphatic flow.  Muscle tone and skin tone are improved by extensive therapy techniques.  We focus on helping to eliminate aches and pains.  Perfect to improve overall flexibility and ensures a total feeling of general relaxation. 

Purifying Back Treatment                    50mins           

A treatment specifically designed to deep cleanse, purify, soothe and calm problems commonly found on the back.  Incorporating a mineral sea salt rub, a calming aromatic back massage and moisturising mask.  Will leave your skin as smooth as silk. 

Body Scrub and Buff                             60mins

Prepare yourself for the sun by cleansing your body with the fragrant body scrub of your choice to exfoliate dry and damaged cells.  Your body will then be massaged with nourishing massage oil specific to your needs.

Aitutaki Polish and Glow                   60mins or 30mins

For those who only need the sun for their soul. Gentle exfoliation, followed by nourishing massage incorporating a self - tanning gel.

Essential Hand Ritual                          50mins

Indulge yourself with an intensive manicure to nourish and protect the nails and hands.  Beginning with a soak in aromatic oils, nails are then filed and buffed, cuticles refined, hands and arms massaged and finished with the polish application of your choice. 

Sole Delight                                           60mins

The ultimate “facial for your feet” begins with a soothing footbath, followed by a gentle mint scrub, cream mask and luxurious massage.  After a cuticle and nail tidy your feet are then coated in warmed Paraffin wax and polished to perfection with the nail polish of your choice. 
 

Pure Indulgence                                    4hrs     

A collection of therapies and treatments designed to ensure a luxurious and serene pampering experience you will never forget. Your luxurious indulgence includes the following treatments….

Classic Rapae Body Massage

Aromatherapy Facial

Essential Hand Ritual

Sole Delight       

The prime tour and one not to be missed is the leisurely lagoon cruise around Aitutaki Lagoon. Guided by expert Islanders who navigate the shallow areas of this magnificent lagoon with consummate skill, you have the opportunity to snorkel and see the brightly coloured marine life. Handfeed the fish and visit the giant clams. Explore the beautiful coral reefs.

Check out the mysterious history of one the uninhabited islands in the  lagoon - and visit the 'official' post office which is on another one!

Lunch and light refreshments are provided as part of this five hour long cruise.  You will need to book for this popular activity

Or you can take one of the kayaks and paddle your way around the lagoon, seeing the best it has to offer. For something a little different, try the octopus hunting with Aio.

The very best of South Pacific cuisine is what you will find at the Rapae Bay Restaurant, which overlooks the breathtaking views of Aitutaki Lagoon, the resort's sparkling swimming pool and the soft white sand of the beach. It is the Signature Restaurant for Pacific Resort Hotels, with it's five star design and attention to detail in the menus. From sumptuous breakfasts with the lightest of breads through to the delicate textures of the very best seafood, there is something to excite everyone's  tastebuds.

 The Black Rock Cafe is the hugely popular beachfront bar; sit back and relax and enjoy a cocktail while you delight in the spectacular sunsets  Have fun meeting with others who are also on holiday.

Our Chef de Cuisine has created all our menus utilising the abundant fresh fish, organic pork and fresh tropical fruits, vegetables and herbs grown by the local farmers. A full breakfast is included with your room rate and features a fresh tropical fruit buffet followed by a choice of eggs, fresh pork sausages, sourdough pancakes and toast of homemade breads.

Pacific Resort Aitutaki caters to everyone's specific tastes and includes such delicacies as fresh local seafoods, teriyaki chicken, kahlua pork, chargrilled prime beef and racked spring lamb.

The delicate textures provide a taste sensation when you add the Pacific Rim influence of fresh ginger, garlic, chili and soy. Desserts include a classic 'creme brulee' or 'potted chocolate with homemade icecream'. This coupled with a seasonal variety of fresh fruit tarts and cakes.

Friday night is 'Island Night' and features a full Polynesian Feast buffet style, followed by live entertainment by a local cultural dance troupe with drummers and singing. As an alternative to dining in the Rapae Bay Restaurant, all food as well as bar service is available at the Black Rock Cafe, which makes it a great place to simply sit back and relax and enjoy all the amenities.

Room service can be catered for if required and of course, we do cater to the extra special events, such as honeymoon or wedding dining for two.

We are constantly re-invigorating the garden by adding compost and manure to improve plant health and colour vibrancy. You may have notice the ubiqitous Ironwood trees (Cassurina) which traditionally grow along the beach front.

These trees can withstand a lot of punishment from the sea. We also use the wood of these trees for building all the handrails for our bridges and posts for all our signs. It is also necessary for our gardeners to prune coconuts so they don’t drop off onto your head!

Home-grown fresh!

Also as a part of the ongoing maintenance of the resort, we grow all our own stock in our own nursary. There we also grow some of the fruit such as passionfruit and mango that you may have tried from our breakfast buffet.

We also have a small herb garden that is expanding all the time as we grow more herbs for the kitchen. Everyday we also sort out all our rubbish for recycling where about half of our waste can be recycled.

 You may see one of the team also out on the beach raking up errant pieces of coral. Our garden staff are always pleased to talk about the gardens, so if you see either Papa John, Nooroa, Paulo, Niki or Brent around, give them a wave

Governance

The Cook Islands has been self governed “in free association” with New Zealand since the mid sixties. The effect of this is that we effectively manage our own affairs, but New Zealand provides for defense and to some extent foreign affairs. The head of state is the Queen of England who has a representative in Rarotonga. New Zealand has a High Commission here and Germany and England are represented by Honorary Consuls.

Kia Orana…………..

 May we take this opportunity to say Kia Orana to each and everyone of our house guests. Kia Orana is an everyday greeting in the Cook Islands and can also mean “have a happy and good life". We take this opportunity in welcoming Grant and Anna to the Pacific Resort Aitutaki and not forgetting Dave and Doreen. Please enjoy your stay with us. Aere Ra e Kia Manuia………. We bid farewell to John and Therese. As you leave our foreshores, take with you the memories of paradise.

What’s happening ….

• Want to go to town? You can go by foot, bicycle, motorbike, or on the island’s taxi.
• Go Scuba diving outside the reef and see for yourself the hidden beauty of the sea bed.
• Join us down at the Black Rock Café & Bar at 2pm with your pareu (sarong) for tying and dance lesson. If fine weather come down & learn how to dye your own pareu.