AITUTAKI - Jewel in the Cook Islands crown

Aitutaki is the second most visited of the Cook Islands and a picture-perfect paradise with a lagoon so blue you’d think someone had painted it that colour!  Swimming or snorkelling among its colourful coral and abundant sea life is like being in a gigantic tropical fish tank. Tourism is well-developed but Aitutaki still remains unspoiled and life moves at the sort of pace the rest of the world has forgotten. It’s also easy to get to from the capital island of Rarotonga and even if you haven’t the time to stay, a day trip will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

In this edition of Kukicast, Aitutaki’s Mayor Nick Henry shares his unique insight into the island.  He talks about memorable attractions like whale watching, swimming among giant clams and an abundance of turtles and how best to explore that beautiful lagoon.  And he also shares his thoughts on ethical tourism, work to protect the island from the worst effects of climate change and about the controversial plans to mine the seabed around the Cooks for rare minerals. This is a fascinating look at a true wonder of the travel world – a place a good few books say everyone should visit before they die.

ABOUT ME
I'm a retired BBC radio and TV journalist and presenter who's been having a long distance love affair with the Cook Islands for nearly 40 years and I've featured in media worldwide as an acknowledged expert on this remote islands nation. CONTACT ME if you'd like to sponsor this podcast or just want to ask questions about the Cook Islands. Email kiaoranawebsiteauthor(at)cookislands.org.uk (Replace “at” with @)

MY BOOK ABOUT THE ISLANDS
Whether you're planning a visit or just armchair travelling, you'll discover stories of buried treasure, ghostly fire, real-life Robinson Crusoes and the mafia, and a wealth of useful information. 'Around the Corner from Nowhere: The Cook Islands Rediscovered' is available as an ebook (https://getbook.at/Cook_Islands-ebook) or paperback (https://getbook.at/cookislandsbook) through Amazon. All profits are donated to dementia charities

EXPLORE ALL 15 OF THE COOK ISLANDS
My website is the most detailed guide on the net at Cook Islands complete guide. It's also THE ONLY TOTALLY INDEPENDENT GUIDE ON THE INTERNET with information about each and every one of the 15 islands