Aitutaki Lagoon

The Aitutaki Lagoon is 20 kilometres across at its widest point. It is much bigger than imagined, as the island of Rarotonga (Cook Islands' main island) would actually fit inside the lagoon!

View a map of the lagoon here

The land mass is just 18.5 sq km (7.1 sq miles). The lagoon is quite shallow. In fact three quarters of it is no more than 4.5 metres deep (14.76 ft). The maximum depth only reaches 10.5 metres (34.45 ft). The name Aitutaki is derived from the words God (aitu) and led (taki). Famous first 'tourists' have included Captain Cook (1789 and 1792) and Charles Darwin (1835).

The names of the main districts are found below. These are listed in order that they are reached from the airport going counter-clockwise around the main island of Aitutaki:

• Amuri
• Ureia
• Arutanga - the main town of Aitutaki. There is a main wharf accessed via a channel through the outer lagoon. The largest supermarket is also located here. Of interest is the coral block church, a symbol of the conversion to Christianity introduced by missionaries. The first missionary to the Cook Islands, John Williams, actually came to Aitutaki prior to going to the other islands.
• Tautu - see old coral and lime churches
• Taravao
• Vaipae - see old coral and lime churches
• Avanui
• Vaitupa