Shopping in Aitutaki Island - authentic goods, best outlets, malls and boutiques

Aitutaki is a comparatively small island. Here you can find a great variety of souvenirs made by local craftsmen as well as basic necessities. However, if you’re aimed at the huge shopping that includes clothes and shoes by famous brands, then you should go to Rarotonga or better make a day or two for a trip to New Zealand. And even if you’ll find this kind of stuff on Aitutaki, it will be really expensive and of a little choice.

If you didn’t take an insect repellent with, buy one immediately as soon as you can, otherwise you’re risking being bitten by anopheles.

The best time for shopping here is Saturday morning. Oddly enough, at that time all the stores here are open.

Euros or American dollars can be accepted only in the major supermarkets, so it’s better to change your money into local dollars.

Locals are not used to bargain. An argument concerning price is not a part of a purchasing process here on the island. A seller is meant to sell a product for the price they originally put. There is a possibility that somebody would agree to low a price but it still might happen only in touristic places. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Funnily enough, one of the most popular purchases among tourists who come to the island is a typical souvenir – a magnet with Aitutaki Islands’ sceneries. Probably it’s because many travellers come to the island just for a couple of hours as a part of their Pacific cruise; at the same time, perhaps it’s because of New Zealand people who often come here, and they can diverse creations of local craftsmen in the homeland too. Nevertheless, the fact remains – magnets depicting Aitutaki views as well as T-shirts and caps are sold here in enormous amount and rather cheap. So, it would be a nice present for relatives or colleagues.

If you’re still looking for something that would remind you of the local style, consider to buy a tury. It’s a large hand-made blanket made from local plant fibre. Locals sew diverse geometric patterns with ritual meaning or just with the island’s views on it and sell to tourists. Still, the local population uses tury at their homes too. A quilt would be another unusual souvenir. It’s a highly popular piece of décor here on the island. It’s a centuries-old tradition to sew it by hand.

You can find here on Aitutaki a great number of things made from stuff one can find in the sea, what is typical for all seaside territories. Works from corals are especially valued here. Thankfully, there is an atoll here so there is always enough material. Despite the fact that it’s a rather trite gift, the local coral works deserve special attention. People create them for many centuries and decorate their houses with it or present to their close ones, as they’ve learned how to make it in perfection. Besides, here you can also buy nice coral, shell and semi-precious gems necklaces, they are pretty cheap and look really great.

If you like local fashion, you can also buy a flamboyant dress or a light colourful man shirt. Locals also love straw hats and make them here on the island as well. You can buy not just straw hats but also straw mats, small boxes or hot pads here on Aitutaki Island. There are also many wood masters who create and sell functional stuff like furniture and various boxes as well as just decorations – carved animal figures, masks depicting spirits or wooden panels.

Moreover, you can also buy yourself talismans of any kind. Locals are quite superstitious despite Christianization and still create different talismans as protection from evil spirits and misfortunes. A pack of local coffee would be a universal souvenir. It’s of high quality and grown right here on the island and, unfortunately, is nor exported anywhere outside the Cook Islands. Breadfruit crisps and local tropical fruit would be a marvellous present. You can also bring home a bottle of tumunu – a citrus alcoholic beverage with sugar and yeast – or non-alcoholic kava.