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The Aitutaki lagoon, the way locals show it

Island tours, private charters, fishing and water taxi, run by an Aitutaki family from Vaipae Hollywood Wharf.

See our tours Check dates

Small groups Family rates Hotel pick-up included

  • Pick-up included Collected from your accommodation
  • Five guests maximum Private charters never feel crowded
  • Lunch on the motu BBQ on the sand or your own catch
  • 48 hour cancellation Give us notice and there is no fee

A day on the water with people who grew up on it

Local crew

Our captains were raised on this lagoon and know where the fish and the clams are on any tide.

Culture on the sand

Weaving, coconut husking and grating, and the old fishing techniques, shown properly rather than rushed.

Easy with kids

Reduced rates for 6 to 11 year olds, and under fives travel free on most tours.

Choose your day

Prices are per tour and include your pick-up. Pick one to see what is included and what it costs for your group.

Share Tour

5 hours

$220.00 per adult

Four islands, two snorkelling stops and lunch, shared with a small group.

Departs from
Vaipae Hollywood Wharf

Included

  • Return transfer from your accommodation
  • Lunch
  • Four island visits
  • Two snorkelling spots with giant clams and giant trevally

Cultural activities

  • Plate weaving
  • Hat weaving

Please bring

  • Reef shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Towel
  • Life jacket for children under 3

Cold cans $5 each

Sunday to Friday
12 years and over $220.00
6 to 11 years $50.00
0 to 5 years Free
Check this tour

Private Charter — Half Day

3 hours

$650.00 for 2 guests Each extra adult $120.00

Three hours on a private boat, with two islands and two snorkelling stops.

Departs from
Vaipae Hollywood Wharf
Times
9:00am to 12:00pm or 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Included

  • Return transfer from your accommodation
  • Light refreshments
  • Bottled water
  • Snorkelling gear
  • Two island visits: Akaiami and One Foot Island
  • Two snorkelling spots with giant clams, giant trevally and schools of small fish
  • Mosquito repellent

Cultural activities

  • Plate weaving

Add on if you want it

  • Extra hour on the lagoon $200.00 for 2
  • Honeymoon Island stop $150.00 for 2, then $50.00 each

Please bring

  • Reef shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Towel
  • Life jacket for children under 3

Cold cans $5 each

Sunday to Friday
12 years and over $120.00
6 to 11 years $50.00
0 to 5 years Free
Check this tour

Private Charter — Full Day

5 hours

$900.00 for 2 guests Each extra adult $150.00

A full day charter with four islands, BBQ lunch and the coconut demonstration.

Departs from
Vaipae Hollywood Wharf
Times
9:00am to 2:00pm

Included

  • Return transfer from your accommodation
  • BBQ lunch
  • Bottled water
  • Snorkelling gear and floating noodles
  • Towels
  • Sunscreen and mosquito repellent
  • Four island visits: Akaiami, Moturakau, One Foot Island and Tekopua
  • Snorkelling with giant clams, giant trevally, colourful fish and purple coral

Cultural activities

  • Coconut opening demonstration
  • Coconut husking
  • Coconut grating
  • Squeezing coconut cream
  • Plate weaving

Add on if you want it

  • Extra hour on the lagoon $200.00 for 2
  • Honeymoon Island stop $150.00 for 2, then $50.00 each

Please bring

  • Reef shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Towel
  • Life jacket for children under 3

Cold cans $5 each

Sunday to Friday
12 years and over $150.00
6 to 11 years $50.00
0 to 5 years Free
Check this tour

Lagoon Fishing Charter

4 hours

$700.00 for 2 guests Each extra adult $100.00

Spear and rod fishing, then your catch cooked on the hot rocks.

Departs from
Vaipae Hollywood Wharf

Included

  • Return transfer from your accommodation
  • Spear gun and fishing rod
  • Fins and mask
  • Bottled water
  • Your catch smoked or grilled on the hot rocks for lunch
  • Traditional fishing techniques: patia and spear

Cultural activities

  • Plate weaving
  • Coconut husking
  • Coconut grating
  • Squeezing coconut cream

Please bring

  • Reef shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Towel
  • Life jacket for children under 3

Cold cans $5 each

Sunday to Friday
12 years and over $100.00
6 to 11 years $50.00
0 to 5 years Free
Check this tour

Water Taxi — One Foot Island

Drop-off and pick-up

$180.00 per adult Sunday $250.00

Drop-off and pick-up at One Foot Island. Transport only.

Departs from
Vaipae Hollywood Wharf

Not included

  • Accommodation transfers
  • Lunch
  • Water
  • Activities

Add on if you want it

  • Equipment hire $10.00 each

Please bring

  • Reef shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Towel
  • Life jacket for children under 3

Cold cans $5 each

Sunday to Friday
12 years and over $180.00
6 to 11 years $100.00
0 to 5 years $50.00
Check this tour

Water Taxi — Honeymoon Island

Drop-off and pick-up

$150.00 per adult Sunday $250.00

Drop-off and pick-up at Honeymoon Island. Transport only.

Departs from
Arutanga Harbour

Not included

  • Accommodation transfers
  • Lunch
  • Water
  • Activities

Add on if you want it

  • Equipment hire $10.00 each

Please bring

  • Reef shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Towel
  • Life jacket for children under 3

Cold cans $5 each

Monday to Friday
12 years and over $150.00
6 to 11 years $100.00
0 to 5 years $50.00
Check this tour

What we do on the water

Six ways to spend a day with us, from a shared island run to the boat entirely to yourselves.

Share tour

Join a small group for four islands, two snorkelling stops and lunch on the sand.

Private charter

The boat and crew to yourselves, for three hours or a full day with a BBQ lunch.

Lagoon fishing

Spear, patia and rod, then your catch smoked or grilled on the hot rocks.

Water taxi

A straight run out to One Foot Island or Honeymoon Island, and a pick-up when you are ready.

Cultural activities

Weaving, coconut husking, grating and cream, shown the way we grew up with it.

Snorkelling stops

Giant clams, giant trevally and purple coral, in shallow water you can stand up in.

Where will we take you?

The lagoon is scattered with motu, small islands of white sand and palm. These are the ones we visit.

Akaiami

The old flying boat stop, now a long palm-lined beach and one of the calmest swims on the lagoon.

Plan your visit Akaiami

Maina

Coral gardens at the southern tip, busy with fish and worth the run across the lagoon.

Plan your visit Maina
Guests on the sand holding plates they have just woven from coconut fronds

Kia orana from Vaipae

Sunrise Lagoon Tours is a family operation on the eastern side of Aitutaki. We take small groups out from Vaipae Hollywood Wharf, share the culture we grew up with, and bring you back with a story worth telling. Whether you want the full day with a BBQ on the sand, a quiet charter for two, or a straight run out to One Foot Island, we will look after you.

  • Departs Vaipae Hollywood Wharf
  • Accommodation pick-up included
  • Up to five guests on a private charter
  • First aid and safety gear onboard

More about us

More about the packages

The things guests ask us before they book.

What is included?

Every tour includes your return transfer from your accommodation. Share tours and full day charters include lunch, half day charters include light refreshments, and all charters include snorkelling gear and bottled water.

What should I bring?

Reef shoes, a hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent and a towel. Bring a life jacket for children under three. Cold cans are available on the boat for five dollars each.

What time do we leave?

Half day charters run 9am to 12pm or 1pm to 4pm. Full day charters run 9am to 2pm. Share tour and fishing charter times are confirmed when you book.

Where do we depart from?

Share tours, private charters and fishing charters leave from Vaipae Hollywood Wharf. The Honeymoon Island water taxi leaves from Arutanga Harbour.

Are children welcome?

Yes. Children aged 6 to 11 travel at a reduced rate on every tour, and under fives are free on tours and charters.

How many people fit on a charter?

Private charters and fishing charters take up to five guests. The share tour runs with a small group.

Can we add an extra hour?

Yes. An extra hour on a private charter is two hundred dollars for two guests. A Honeymoon Island stop can be added as well.

How do we pay?

We do not take card payments. Payment is arranged when you confirm your booking.

Health and safety on the boat

The safety of our guests and crew comes before everything else. Here is how we run the boat.

Our skipper at the wheel taking guests across the lagoon towards a motu
Read the full policy

  • Safety briefing before we leave

    The captain runs through the boat, the gear and the plan for the day before we go anywhere.

  • First aid and fire equipment onboard

    A first aid kit and a fire extinguisher are carried on every trip.

  • Life jackets for all ages

    Jackets are onboard for adults and children. Please bring your own for children under three.

  • Weather comes first

    We will cancel, postpone or change a trip if the lagoon is unsafe, and there is no cancellation fee when we do.

  • In the water at your own pace

    Swimming and snorkelling are at your own responsibility. Tell the crew anything that affects how safely you can take part.

  • No smoking or alcohol onboard

    It keeps the boat safe for everyone, including the crew.

Booking your day is easy

Four steps, and no payment until we have confirmed your date.

  1. Pick your tour

    Choose the day you want and see what your group costs before you send anything.

  2. Send us your dates

    Tell us who is coming and where you are staying. The form does the rest.

  3. We confirm by email

    We check the boat and the weather and reply, usually the same day.

  4. We collect you

    On the day we pick you up from your accommodation at the time we agreed.

Start your booking

One of our crew on the sand with freshly cut coconut fronds for weaving

About us

We are a family run operation, born and raised on this lagoon. Every tour is taken out by someone who grew up reading these tides and knows where the good water is on the day.

That is why no two days with us run quite the same, and why guests tell us it felt less like a booked tour and more like being shown around by family.

Meet the crew

Check dates and prices

Pick a tour and tell us who is coming. You will see the price as you fill it in, and we reply by email to confirm availability.

Ready when you are

Tell us your dates and who is coming. We will confirm availability and the price by email, usually the same day.

Check dates and prices

Find us and talk to us

Talk to us

Where to find us

  • Vaipae Hollywood Wharf
  • Vaipae, Aitutaki
  • Cook Islands

When we run

  • Tours: Sunday to Friday
  • Office: 8am to 6pm daily

Kia orana and meitaki maata. Thank you for considering Sunrise Lagoon Tours. We look forward to welcoming you aboard and sharing the beauty, culture and natural treasures of Aitutaki Lagoon with you.