Cook Islands Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa loses accommodation units to fire

The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa in flames. Photo / Annita Cyprien Drollet

No one was hurt in a blaze that ripped through the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, completely destroying three accommodation units and a beach bar.

The fire was ignited around 5pm at the Cook Islands resort and resulted in three beachfront bungalows and the Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill being destroyed.

Managing director Tata Crocombe told the Herald they are unsure how the fire started, but it did start in a kitchen.

"It is not known at this time what started the fire in the Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill but it did start in the kitchen around 5pm.

"The kitchen was closed around 4pm as the evening dinner service was in our other restaurant, the Bounty Restaurant several hundred metres away.

"Unfortunately, due to the high winds at the time the fire spread very quickly," he said.

Crocombe praised the prompt actions of those involved who helped prevent the fire from spreading throughout the rest of the resort.

He said that while no guests, staff or those assisting in fighting the fire were injured, some guests had been relocated to other properties on the island.

The resort's restaurant will continue to offer services and the water sports equipment were saved from the blaze and will be available for use tomorrow.

"All other facilities are fully operational, including spa Polynesia, gift shop, games room, reception, tour desk, guest laundry, gym etc.

"The resort is fully operational and the Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill and the three bungalows will be rebuilt in the near future," Crocombe said.

The 36-bungalow, five-star resort has been listed on Trade Me since March and has an asking price of $32,290,000.

"Set on a prime location on the fabled Aitutaki Lagoon on a 60-year lease, this 27-acre private island offers unlimited potential for further expansion and development.

"The resort's prime location and well-established business in the growing tourism market of the Cook Islands offers the potential for significant upside growth," the post reads.

The resort is located on an island separated from the main Aitutaki island and commentators on social media said fire engines could not reach the resort.

Photos uploaded to Facebook showed big, black clouds rising and the fire spreading from one accommodation unit to the next.

The flames and rising black smoke of the damaging fire can be could be seen across the bay at the Vaipe Wharf.

Crocombe said the resort had been in touch with their insurers and an assessor would be arriving from New Zealand to assess the damage.

If anyone has any concerns about the fire, please contact the resort's managers Mark and Sue Propert on resort.manager@aitutakilagoonresort.com, or +(682) 31-200 or +(682) 50-623 or +(682) 50-867.