 Aitutaki : Profile
Aitutaki lies 220 km north of Rarotonga. It measures just 20 square km.
The entrance to the pass is narrow (less than 100 ft across) and
unmarked, caution is urged before heading in. The channel into
the harbor area has a least depth of only six feet and outflowing
tidal currents can reach three to four knots. The best time to enter
is just before high tide (least current). Leave the rusty
pipes on the port side in that channel, good sunlight is
essential. If in any doubt, one should ask a person to guide one
in. The end of the channel has 2 sides: left passage leading into
the small harbor and the right passage leading to the small
anchorage off Arutanga village. Due to a strong tidal current
different from the prevailing winds, it is recommended to anchor
fore and aft in the anchorage as the deep area is small. Boats
too large or with deeper draft should anchor outside the reef to
the south of the channel (there is a shallower area also on the North side
but a real trap for anchors!) and the captain should come ashore
to clear in.
The Customs & Immigration officer may come out to the boat or you
may check with him at his office, in the post office building.
Costs: 25NZ$/ pers for departure tax and 5NZ$ / day anchored next
to the harbor (no fee for boats anchored outside the lagoon). The
health officer will contact you too for pratique (his office is
on the other side of the island). Fee: 20 NZ$.
Docking in the harbour may be done with permission of the port captain, on condition the yacht is moved if required. There are plans to deepen the channel leading to the harbour to carry 20 ft all the way, and the harbour to be enlarged.
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