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About this spot
Honeymoon Island (Tavake / Maina Iti) is a low sandbar in the south-west of Aitutaki lagoon and the country's best-known kite base — the local school's hut sits on the island and a water taxi runs riders out from the main island.
The sandbar is over a kilometre long and faces the easterly trades, with a clean coral-sand bottom; riders describe knee- to waist-deep water stretching a long way out, which is why the school teaches beginners here.
The Aitutaki Kite School — locally owned and teaching on the IKO method — runs Level 1 to Level 3 programmes from the island, including a three-hour beginner package and a nine-hour beginner course, both priced with the water taxi, gear and a safety boat included.
The trade-wind season runs May to October with 15–30 knots; outside those months passing low-pressure systems still fill the lagoon, and the school operates all year.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 15–30 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- flat, choppy
- Depth
- Waist-deep sand flats around the bar, deeper channels between the motus
- Seabed
- sand, coral
- Skill
- beginner, intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Beginner friendly
- Wind range
- 15 kn – 30 kn
Access & parking
Boat only — water taxi from the main island; the school and the on-island kite hut arrange transfers.
Parking: Nothing on the sandbar — leave the car at your accommodation or the school and travel by boat.
Amenities
- On-island kite hut with the local IKO school (Aitutaki Kite School / South Pacific Adventures)
- Water taxi and safety boat
- Daily gear rental
- Lagoon cruises pass the island
Needs local verification: Sources: https://cookislands.travel/experiences/water/kitesurfing (official tourism: easterly trades 15–30 kt, the Tavake sandbar an especially easy and safe place to learn, best May–October, operators supply lessons, hire and transfers), https://southpacifickiteboarding.com/our-services/kite-lesson/ and https://southpacifickiteboarding.com/location/ (IKO school based on Honeymoon Island, Level 1–3 courses, 3-hour beginner package and 9-hour beginner course with water taxi and safety boat, sandbar over a kilometre long facing the easterly trades, boat transfers to Honeymoon and One Foot), https://wetnwild-aitutaki.com/kiteboarding/ (kite hut on Honeymoon Island, lesson and water-taxi prices, bring reef shoes), https://www.se.kiteforum.com/kitesurf/spot/Honeymoon_Island___Aitutaki (boat transport required, clean coral sand, clam-farm reserve adjacent and clearly marked, no shade or water supply on the sandbar, best months May–September, best directions E/ESE/SE/SSE but it works in most directions). Only the best directions are sourced — the caution/danger split for the other sectors is my own estimate, so confirm on site with the school. Coordinates are approximate. Water table: seatemperature.org Avarua monthly averages. Windy links are searches/maps, not verified local webcams.
Local hazards
- Boat access only — your session is tied to the boat schedule
- A clam-farm marine reserve lies next to the sandbar and is clearly marked — keep out of it
- No shade and no fresh water on the sandbar — sun protection, water and a hat are essential
- Coral heads and shells around the edges — the operator tells riders to bring reef shoes