NDtraveler

I am all ticketed and ready to go in April/May.

We are starting in Atiu (Atiu villas). What are the can't miss things to do? From what I gather, there really isn't much to do at all which is why we picked to go their first.

In Aitutaki, we are staying at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa but it looks like the resort is declining in service. The gap between it in the top tier hotels is widening. Does anyone have any first recent first hand experience? Should I look at another hotel? Does anyone have a dive company they have used? Any can't miss activities?

In Rarotonga, we are staying at the Little Polynesian which looks great. Anyone used a dive company in Rarotonga? Any can't miss activities?

I heard that there was an excursion to a small private island and you hang out for the day there and have lunch etc. Is this actually true?

I a search in the forum and didn't see anything that was less than a year old. Thanks in advance!

jpatokal

I was very happy with Dive Rarotonga, they seem to be the most professional outfit on the island. Dive carefully -- the nearest deco chamber is in New Zealand.

And don't discount old advice, you'll find that everything moves pretty slowly out in the islands

UA1K_no_more

- Kopeka cave visit with Marshall - http://www.atiutoursaccommodation.com/tours.html
- Get invited to a tumunu
- Take a tour with Birdman George - http://www.atiu.info/attractions/tours/
- Atiu Island coffee tour (the tour with Mata Arai, not the other place) - http://www.atiu.info/attractions/coffee/
- Pig hunting

Other activities to consider:
Aitutaki:
- Safari tour - http://www.aitutaki-accommodations.c...aki_tours.html
- Lagoon tour - http://www.aitutakiadventures.com or http://www.matriki.com/activities.htm
- Get fish & chips at Puffy's. They also have island nights.

Rarotonga:
- Sightseeing flight - https://www.airraro.com/en/tours/rar...-scenic-flight
- Highland Paradise - http://www.highlandparadise.co.ck
- Island night at the Staircase
- Cross island trek - http://www.pastreks.com/pas-cross-is...-rarotonga.htm

flightmedic

We had a great time on a lagoon snorkel trip with Teking on Aitutaki. Very highly rated on tripadvisor.

www.tekingtours.com

Catweazle

We too are looking at honeymooning here. I can find one flight from RAR to AIU but no flights from AIU to AIT or AIT to AIU in October.

Must one return to RAR before switching islands? Gee, the flights certainly aren't cheap.

Perhaps just RAR and AIT might be a better idea?

As a side note, what are the overwater bungalows like at the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort? Has anyone stayed at the Tai Roto Bay Beach Villas and, if so, what are the like compared to other accommodation options on the AIT?

CPMaverick

Just be aware of what Atiu is. At least when I went there in 2017, it was a very small, very isolated community. Not only are there no resorts on the island, there's really no proper restaurants, bars or hotels at all. There are guest houses and you can get hot food at 'Super Brown' which is also the only gas station, grocery store, and scooter rental. It's even recommended to bring your own supplies to the island (I brought bread, peanut butter, and snacks) because the island has no port, and the supply boat can't drop off things if the weather is rough. So the store shelves can be empty.

I absolutely loved Atiu. It was quiet and beautiful, and it felt like a place to understand what Pacific Island life is really like. But I met a guy from NZ (actually all the tourists on the island were on my flight, since it was only twice a week) who was there with his wife and she absolutely hated every second of it. It's definitely not a traditional honeymoon destination, especially as it doesn't really even have any beaches. My NZ friend and I sourced out a Tumu-nu and got to drink with the locals (while his wife did who-knows-what!), and I drove a scooter around the dirt & coral roads dodging coconuts. Great fun. Wouldn't bring my girlfriend there though!

Not saying it is a bad honeymoon spot for those that can appreciate it, just make sure it's what you want.

Here are my photos from Raratonga, Atutaki, and Atiu in 2017. They are commented and geotagged.
Copy & paste the below link (if I put it in another way it tries to embed a slideshow)