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Aitutaki,
the second most visited Cook Island, is volcanic in type, and its highest
hill, Maungapu is said to be the top of Rarotonga's Raemaru, chopped off
and brought back by victorious Aitutaki warriors.
Polynesian myth
believes that beautiful Aitutaki is a giant fish tethered to the seabed by
a vine from the air. The light turquoise lagoon looks like a huge pale
oyster against the vivid blue ocean.
Captain
Bligh discovered Aitutaki in
1789, only 17 days before the notorious mutiny, and Christian missionaries
followed which meant it was the first of the Cook Islands to receive
Christianity.
Today the people live in
villages strung out along the roads on both sides of the main island and travel
about on motor scooters. The roads are red-brown in the centre of the island and
coral white around the edge.
Every
village has a community hall and there was tremendous competition between
villages to have the biggest and the best, so the halls are splendid in
size and seldom used.
The
low rolling hills of the island are flanked by banana plantations and
coconut groves. A triangular barrier reef seems to catch the exquisite
turquoise Aitutaki lagoon like a giant fishhook. The crystal clear water
in the lagoon is ideal for] sailing, swimming and snorkelling and beneath
the blue surface is a world of sea creatures and plants that will leave
you fascinated. To reach the summit of
Maungapu, take a leisurely half hour walk to the west of the island. At the top
you'll discover a sweeping view of Aitutaki and if you get hungry on the way
down, pick a piece of fruit from the trees. The shopping and business district
is clustered near the wharf at Arutanga. There's a good choice of places to stay,
plus several good restaurants and spirited hotel-based live entertainment.
You
can spend your days sailing on a catamaran yacht, chartering a fishing
boat or enjoying a power boat excursion either inside or outside the
lagoon. At night, activities are varied and include a spot of crab hunting
after which the hunters prepare a crustacean feast.
For
those who enjoy more traditional island entertainment, the big night is
Friday when islanders and visitors get together for an evening of dancing
and singing. For more singing of a different kind, attend church on Sunday
for the services are truly memorable.
Copyright text from David Stanley's guide
Moon Handbooks South Pacific,
published by Avalon Travel Publishing, used with permission. For
more general information
on Cook Islands, go to: |
