Looking to visit Aituaki in the Cook Islands in July next year. Family will be in tow and was after any advice on where to stay with a family, best side of the island or closest to the good kiting spots. I think we currently have a booking at the Pacific Resort.

Pacific Resort is one of the better places to stay, has a nice beach for the family but no good for Kiting, the only real spots to kite from on the main island of Aitutaki are around at the end of the runway, Ootu Beach. Nice and shallow with not to much coral but the winds are offshore. Most of the kiting is done at the outer motu's of Honeymoon or 1 foot. There's a couple of boat operators that run you out for the day, cost are about $25 or person. Ask for Quinton at Wet and Wild he has access to the beach hut on Honeymoon, allows a break from the sun plus he can provide you lunch and drinks

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noahsky said..
Looking to visit Aituaki in the Cook Islands in July next year. Family will be in tow and was after any advice on where to stay with a family, best side of the island or closest to the good kiting spots. I think we currently have a booking at the Pacific Resort.

I stayed at the pacific resort which I found good and kited from the beach. The family will enjoy the resort and leave you alone to do your stuff.

Below is the wind graph from a typical July with the trades blowing from the bottom right hand side of the map, you can easily identify the areas that are suitable for kiting and those that are in the leeward of the land.

If you stay at the Aitutaki Resort at O'otu point you can downwind it too Honeymoon or 1 Foot island, its also possible to kite back home but takes a fair bit of upwind tacking.

Still think kiting from the Pacific Resort in July is a bit risky with the off shore trades, Mt Maungapu and its ridge line create a large wind shadow, still its pretty shallow there so if it all turns to custard you could probably just walk back to the beach. Theres an area of beach just north of the resort thats good for snorkelling, you could launch from there, limited palm trees etc