With This Ring: August 22, 2018

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Discover where the colour
blue was invented
Founder of the Lonely Planet travel
guides, Tony Wheeler, considers a
place called Aitutaki to be the world’s
most beautiful island. That’s some accolade
from one of the world’s most widely
travelled people. The colour of Aitutaki
Lagoon is such an intense shade of turquoise
that legend even has it that the colour blue
was invented here.
So where is Aitutaki? It’s one of the
15 islands which make up the Cook Islands,
and to get there you take a 3.5-hour flight
aboard Air New Zealand, Virgin or Jetstar
into Rarotonga International Airport,
then take the 45-minute onward flight
to Aitutaki.
Once there you’ll discover the only
private island in the Cook Islands, the
sublime Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island
Resort – Adults Only, which occupies the
entire island of Motu Akitua, situated a
two-minute ride via private ferry from the
main island of Aitutaki.
Named one of the world’s 12 Best
Private Islands by Islands (USA) magazine
and voted one of the Top 25 Resorts in
the South Pacific by readers of Condé Nast
Traveler magazine, from this prime spot at
Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort you
can drink in the best views of magnificent
Aitutaki Lagoon, lauded by many as the
world’s most beautiful lagoon.
Here at this intimate resort you can let
yourself deeply relax into nature’s rhythms.
The gentle lapping of the waves upon the
shore, the rising and setting of the sun and
moon, and the awe-inspiring sight of trillions
of twinkling stars set against a midnight-blue
sky, unaffected by light pollution.
Have a honeymoon, babymoon,
anniversary or special birthday coming up?
Always dreamt of staying in an overwater
bungalow? Then you’ve come to the right
place, because this boutique private island
resort for guests aged 16 and over also
has the distinction of offering the only
overwater bungalows in the Cook Islands.
For incurable romantics, that feeling
of ‘floating’ above Aitutaki Lagoon in
your own Overwater Bungalow is a
wonderful sensation which will stay with
you forever. Imagine taking a few steps
onto your deck and seeing the tropical
fishes in the blue lagoon right beneath you.
Then gently slip into the lagoon directly
off your bungalow deck to immerse
yourself in its embrace. What bliss.
Next morning, start with a
complimentary fresh tropical fruit
breakfast at HMS Bounty Restaurant
& Bar (yes, the HMS Bounty actually
landed on this island, just 17 days before
the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty).
Book a picnic lunch and paddle across
the lagoon in a couple of the resort’s
complimentary kayaks to the nearby
uninhabited island E’e to enjoy a delicious
picnic for two on your own deserted beach.
Return in the afternoon for a relax in a
hammock swaying beside the blue lagoon
with a good book. Then stroll hand-in-hand
down the beach to the Flying Boat Beach
Bar & Grill and kick-back with a cool
sunset cocktail as you drink in Aitutaki’s
most mesmerising views with the vibrant
colours of the setting sun playing across
the water. Share a delicious beach-gourmet
dinner as a deep calm settles over the
lagoon, and plan the next day’s adventures.
How about some complimentary standup
paddleboarding followed by a spot of
snorkelling? Maybe a bicycle ride around
the motu (island)? Then maybe a deeplyrelaxing
massage at SpaPolynesia Aitutaki
to ease away those work-a-day stresses?
What about following that with a heavenly
Private Candlelit Dinner under a dark
velvet-blue sky twinkling with trillions
of stars? So many choices...
To make the most of every moment,
each evening check out the resort’s Guest
Newsletter detailing the following day’s
events such as sessions in ‘ura (hula)
dancing, playing of the ‘ukarere (ukulele)
and tokere (log drums), fresh flower ei
(lei) making, fish feeding, crab hunting,
crab racing, and more. The Resort
also offers a range of complimentary
watersports equipment and there’s also
a gift shop, guest laundry and tour desk
on-site as well as resort-wide Wi-Fi.
Excursion options include the famous
Aitutaki Lagoon Cruise and BBQ Lunch
(have your passport stamped at the world’s
smallest post office on One Foot Island!),
Aitutaki Safari Tour, kitesurfing, scuba
diving, fishing, golf, local Friday afternoon
rugby matches, Sunday morning church
service with resounding ‘island gospel’
hymn singing, island cafes and more.
Today’s ultimate luxury is privacy, and
here at Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island
Resort you have the space, privacy and
freedom to rediscover the best in yourself
and in your special someone and make
wonderful new memories together. Like
visiting Heaven while you’re still on Earth.
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