Maunga Pu Summit, Aitutaki’s Highest Mountain – Cook Islands Day 3 of 5

There is a new addition in the daily breakfast. Pancake! Have to carbo-load to fuel the activity today: mountain hiking, kayaking and long walk.

Maunga Pu Summit Mountain Climbing

We headed to the Maunga Pu Summit. Situated just in front of the resort, we climbed the 124-meter summit. Going uphill there are papaya and banana plants seemingly inviting for a pick. The 20-minute steep climb to the summit gives a breathtaking birds-eyeview of Aitutaki . This is the highest peak in the island. A small cell tower is in place strategically located to broadcast to the entire island.

Maunga point direction. Situated right infront of Paradise Cove.

Panoramic view of Aitutaki viewed from the Maunga Pu Summit.

Aitutaki Communications Tower at the Maunga Pu Summit.

Free Kayak

Headed down from the summit in search for bike rentals as the ones in the resort have been booked. Checked all the nearby resorts and stumbled upon none but kayaks. This lovely Nana who is taking care of the resort said that the kayaks were not for rent. She instead let us borrow the kayaks and just return to where they were before. Alas, we have free kayak for the day.

Giant Clams Conservation

After an hour of kayaking, we headed back to the main highway in search for resorts offering lunch. We walked all the way near the airport but found none. Lunch is quite elusive in some resorts during this time.

We reached as far as where the airport is just walking. The Ministry of Marine Resources has it’s conservation effort breeding clams. The cook in the resort said that there were heaps of clams before in the atoll. But they started to die as a result of the chemical used in the banana plantation. The bananas exported to New Zealand back then were washed in the shore. The chemicals then are left to mix with the water killing some of the sea creatures specifically affected the giant clams. The Ministry has been breeding and growing these clams to be released to the waters of Aitutaki in the hopes that clams would flourish once again.

The Ministry of Marine Resources are making every effort to re-introduce the clams in the waters of Aitutaki

These empty shells shows the transition of baby clams to giant ones.

Headed back to the resort but there is nothing for lunch. Good thing we bought grocery the other day. And lunch is solved.

Dinner at Rapae Bay Restaurant

Rested in the afternoon and enjoying the beach wind. Went back to the main street and walked southward to check for a restaurant. We ended up in Rapae Bay Restaurant in the 5-star Pacific Resorts. The food is great. The price is just alright. Quite a long walk but it’s worth it.