Where to stay on Raro and Aitutaki

Hello,
I would love any info about where to stay on Raro and Aitutaki. We are a family of 4 two kids 10 and 7! We love swimming and snorkeling.We don't stay in resorts as they are too expensive.We are thinking of staying at Aitutaki Beach Villas ,does anyone know what the swimming is like there?I lived on Aitutaki for a year when i was 19/20 (many years ago) I loved it .I know swimming is not great around the main island.Has anyone swam around the Pacific resort area as Aitutaki Beach Villas are near there.If so what is it like? Not deep?
Thank you all,
Holly

When you walk north from the Pacific Resort up to Paradise Cove (past Etu Moana), just before and up to Paradise Cove there is a dug out that is good for swimming. The bottom has been cleared from coral and it is deep enough to swim.

thank you for that info. Do you know Aitutaki beach villas? They are somewhere in that area I think.The owners tell me that the lagoon is swimmable in front of their villas.I would really like to know if that is true.From what I remeber the water is not deep at all along that beach!
Where did you stay on Aitutaki? Any info on where to stay with good swimming ,will be much appreciated.
Thanks Holly

There are little pockets of deep water all the way north from the Pacific Resort to the end of the airport runway. Actually, there is a decent area near the end of the runway. Don't forget your reef shoes. As you walk north, just head into the lagoon wherever the water looks a little deeper shade of blue/green further from shore, that is deeper water.

Also, on Aitutaki in particular, the swimming does get better at high tide, so plan on checking that out each day. After you know the first high tide of your first daytime (daylight), it will occur about 20-30 minutes later each day. [there are two high tides a day, but usually only one during daylight].

Of course, if you head out to the motu (islets), there is always great swimming, but it will cost for the boat ride.

Thanks Raro,
Much appreciated! I remember swimming around the "black rock" near the Rapae (NO longer there).Has it been replaced by the Pacific resort?

The best for you to see where the swimmable areas are is to look at arial pictures of the area. The blue is sandy bottom, the grey is coral.
Google Earth is ideal: go to 18°50’21.75” S 159°47’11.56”W.
That is Etu Moana.
Follow the beach up north to 18°50’13.23”S 159°47’02.45”W. Here you find an elongated dark blue patch (not grey): that is the dug out I talked about.
Now turn back and go south along the beach up to 18°50’47.90”S 159.47.41.69”W. On that bulch sits the Pacific Resort: you can tell from the light blue colour, there is not much coral between Etu Moana and the Pacific Resort and south of it.
The very light blue indicates it is not very deep. The darker blue indicates deeper water. This shows you that the stretch between the Pacific Resort and Etu Moana is slightly deeper than the part south of the Pacific Resort.

Thanks Chinagazer,Good tips.Can you tell me if Rarotonga Backpackers will be a good place to stay just for 3 or 4 nights.We are a family with 2 kids and our friends ,a couple.
Ciao Holly

4--Yes, the Rapae was located where the new Pacific Resort Aitutaki begins, on PR's south end. It then heads north a bit towards a deeper lagoon area to the north of the old Rapae.

Thanks again Raro!
Maybe you know if backpackers would be suitable for us?
Holly

1. should read "aerial pictures", not "arial". Sorry.
   
   On Rarotonga we stayed at a rental a couple of 100 meters north of the Rarotonga Backpackers (on Google Earth fly to 21°14'11.65S 159°49'40.58). It is on a beautiful beach! Ideal for long evenings watching the sun set and long walks; lots of palm trees. Very, very beautiful. However, as you can see from the Google Earth pictures there is plenty of coral all along that stretch of the beach. Moreover the reef if pretty close to the beach which makes the water often choppy. Two reasons why this area is not good for swimming, especially for children.
   
   I dare say your best choice would be Titikaveka or Muri Beach, my preference going by far to Titikaveka. There are plenty of rental bungalows and houses there at very reasonable prices.

Chinagazer!!
This is a great way to get info about a place ,Thanks,
Have you any names of places on Tikiaveka .I love the look of Titikavera too.I have been looking into lots of places but LOTS of places have a 12 year policy and that rules us out as the kids are 10 and 7!
If you or Raro have any suggestions on where we could stay of 3 to 4 nights that would be GREAT!!!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Donnamaree on this board has stayed at a very nice place in Titikaveka last summer. I don't know though if they rent for less than a week or if they take children. If Donna does not read this, you may want to drop her a private mail and ask.

Raro sold his property recently. The new owners renamed it to Muri Beach Resort: Muri Beach Resort. They accept children. I visited the place last summer when Raro was still there and I think it is ideal for a family with children. The grounds are very well kept, ideally situated right between Muri Beach and Titikaveka, on a very nice beach, good for swimming towards Muri and good for snorkling towards Titikaveka. They have a very nice sized swimming pool (great for the children, and you can keep an eye on them from your bungalow) set in a very green, well kept lawn.

Have you tried this site: Private Rentals on Rarotonga?

Yes, now that the new owners accept kids, you might consider Muri Beach Resort (my former Shangri-La Beach Cottages). Check www.tripadvisor.com for reviews, except as to the new kids policy. E-mail Jane and see what age kids they now accept.

I stayed at the Aitutaki Beach Villas two years ago. The swimming in front of the villas is perfect. Especially for your two kids. The water directly in front of the villas has a sandy bottom and only goes to about 5 foot depth further out near the reef. The snorkeling is ok, but not great as their is a lot of sediment in the water. But you will have no problem seeing fish and coral. The Villa used to have a dugout canoe, but it was destroyed in the cyclones two years ago. Not sure if John the owner has a new one yet. But the villa they have is great, private and good value. And you can always walk up the beach and visit the resort for a night out.

The house we stay at in Titikaveka has a 7 night policy. It is called Maeva Beach and is perfect for families. Kids 12 and under stay free. We paid $200/night.

Chinagazer,

Ryck and I are going back to the Cooks in November. Matt has graduated and is heading off to University in September.

Thanks Donna for your note. I sent you a PM.

Thanks Wallaboy and everyone,
It looks like we have decided on the Aitutaki beach Villas and Raus guesthouse or maybe Kura's Kabans on Raro!!

Papa Rau's guesthouse is a good budget choice, but I'm not sure you'd have the privacy you'd get at Kura's Kabana's. E-mail Atuatinka at Rau's and ask him about the room arrangements, shared facilities, etc.

Good point Raro
Thanks, I'll do that today!