The Cook Islands is a destination that will take your breath away. When Pat touched down in Rarotonga and went on to explore Aitutaki, she warned me that photos wouldn’t quite capture the magic of experiencing such a beautiful place, in person. It was clear, it was love at first sight. Then Ashley’s photos arrived and I got goosebumps. With all the ingredients of an idyllic tropical holiday from crystalline water, snorkelling, SUP, white sand beaches, boating adventures to friendly locals, the only thing missing in the Cook Islands are the crowds. While we hope Aitutaki holidays don’t become quite as commonplace as those to other popular island destinations like Bali, we had to share the untouched beauty of this South Pacific paradise to inspire you to take a closer look.
Skye Gilkeson | Images © Ashley Drody | Featuring Pat Bailey
Related: Aitutaki Island: Paradise Found in the South Pacific
During our visit to the Cook Islands we stayed at the beautiful boutique property Sea Change Villas in Rarotonga (read more in our guide to things to do in Rarotonga Cook Islands). In Aitutaki, Pat and Ashley stayed in a private villa at Tamanu Beach Resort and Pacific Resort overlooking Amuri Beach.
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Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.
She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.
As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.
Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.
Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.
Read more about Skye’s story here.