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Ted Chappell | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Aitutaki, a beautiful island north of Rarotonga tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Aitutaki, a beautiful island north of Rarotonga

A short 45 minute flight north of Rarotonga and you arrive at Aitutaki, considered one of the most beautiful Islands in the Pacific. It is very small, has very limited facilities and supplies, the prices for produce are quite high as everything has to be brought in by ship. The ship arrives about once every six weeks, has to stand off outside the reef and the freight is brought in by small boats. There is no radio or TV reception. Like many other Pacific islands, the swimming directly off the beach of the 'main' island is disappointing, inevitably shallow and you have to be careful where you walk because of the coral and more importantly at Aitutaki, the sometimes deadly stonefish. Stand on one of those and the best you can hope for is to survive the excruciating pain. You may not. It is necessary to charter a boat and skipper to take you out in the lagoon to some of the beautiful small islands (motu). Well worth it though. Also very warm. These pics were taken by a small digital camera, Canon G2, purely as a record of our visit. Consequently the quality is average.
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Our plane to Aitutaki waits at Rarotonga airport.
Our plane to Aitutaki waits at Rarotonga airport.
First glimpse of Aitutaki 017.jpg
First glimpse of Aitutaki 017.jpg
It is stunning from the air 018.jpg
It is stunning from the air 018.jpg
Are those colours real? 019.jpg
Are those colours real? 019.jpg
Aitutaki Airport arrival lounge 022.jpg
Aitutaki Airport arrival lounge 022.jpg
How a coconut tree starts life 028.jpg
How a coconut tree starts life 028.jpg
Drive to our beachside cabin 031.jpg
Drive to our beachside cabin 031.jpg
Crabs everywhere 039.jpg
Crabs everywhere 039.jpg
Untitled-042.jpg
Untitled-042.jpg
Typical beach scene 048.jpg
Typical beach scene 048.jpg
Directly in front/underneath our villa 050.jpg
Directly in front/underneath our villa 050.jpg
I never did take this for a paddle 054.jpg
I never did take this for a paddle 054.jpg
Our lovely accomodation 055.jpg
Our lovely accomodation 055.jpg
Just us, nobody else for a mile or so.062.jpg
Just us, nobody else for a mile or so.062.jpg
Resort, we don't like to stay in them but nice place to have a cocktail  075.jpg
Resort, we don't like to stay in them but nice place to have a cocktail 075.jpg
As previous 074.jpg
As previous 074.jpg
As previous 077.jpg
As previous 077.jpg
And again 079.jpg
And again 079.jpg
Untitled-082.jpg
Untitled-082.jpg
Hibiscus 083.jpg
Hibiscus 083.jpg
Hibiscus 084.jpg
Hibiscus 084.jpg
Sea slugs are everywhere 086.jpg
Sea slugs are everywhere 086.jpg
Lyn, peekaboo on beautiful lagoon motu (island)  093.jpg
Lyn, peekaboo on beautiful lagoon motu (island) 093.jpg
Young coconut starts life. 113.jpg
Young coconut starts life. 113.jpg
A truely delicious feast we enjoyed on a motu 116.jpg
A truely delicious feast we enjoyed on a motu 116.jpg
A cute hermit crab (everywhere) 121.jpg
A cute hermit crab (everywhere) 121.jpg
Forgotten what this bird is called 126.jpg
Forgotten what this bird is called 126.jpg
Shelter for the feast (or weddings) 135.jpg
Shelter for the feast (or weddings) 135.jpg
'Hermie' 137.jpg
'Hermie' 137.jpg
Lyn feeding the fish 141.jpg
Lyn feeding the fish 141.jpg
Stand on this stonefish, you will probably die in excrutiating agony! 148.jpg
Stand on this stonefish, you will probably die in excrutiating agony! 148.jpg
Drive to our chalet 156.jpg
Drive to our chalet 156.jpg
Resort gardens 162.jpg
Resort gardens 162.jpg
Same as previous 163.jpg
Same as previous 163.jpg
No idea what this is called 164.jpg
No idea what this is called 164.jpg
At a turtle and giant clam rescue facility -175.jpg
At a turtle and giant clam rescue facility -175.jpg
The 'road' is full of crab holes 284.jpg
The 'road' is full of crab holes 284.jpg
Waiting to head back to Rarotonga 297.jpg
Waiting to head back to Rarotonga 297.jpg
View after takeoff 300.jpg
View after takeoff 300.jpg
These colours are real, not enhanced 301.jpg
These colours are real, not enhanced 301.jpg
As previous 302.jpg
As previous 302.jpg
As previous 306.jpg
As previous 306.jpg
We spend a lovely day on that motu 311.jpgWe
We spend a lovely day on that motu 311.jpgWe
Outer reef, Pacific Ocean 313.jpg
Outer reef, Pacific Ocean 313.jpg
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