Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Golden sandy beaches, warm waters and lagoons are what really sell this tranquil paradise in the South Pacific. Rarotonga is the main island of this island group but it is still very small. The main town on the island is called Avarua and it has a supermarket, gift shops, some eateries and bars but not a lot else. The Cook Islands is really a destination to unwind for a week during a longer tour or on a stop over from Australia to the States. Any longer her and you may struggle to keep yourself entertained.
Must See And Do
Aitutaki Lagoon You can get either a day flight or a two night stay at this stunning lagoon location. Depending on your tour options when you get there you can sail on catamaran, have BBQs on the beach, snorkel in secluded inlets, or just sunbathe near the lagoon's crystal clear and warm waters. The flight from Rarotonga is 35 minutes and is pricy. Factor this into your budget before you leave.
Snorkelling the Fruits of Rarotonga Located between Muri Beach and Titikaveka are the Fruits of Rarotonga. This area is the best snorkelling location on the island and is home to many species of fish. When I was there I saw Barracuda, Octopus and clams to name a few species that I recognised. There are also giant clams in the vicinity if you can find them.
Kayaking The best place to kayak is in the lagoon at Muri Beach. You can hire one or two person kayaks and take to the still waters for a paddle. The water gets choppier towards the reef so kids may not want to stray too far.
Diving The dive centre is the best place on Rarotonga to learn to dive. Here you can learn to dive or go straight onto one of the many diving excursions on offer. The Cook Islands have a good variety of sites including drop offs, ship wrecks and night diving. The dive centre is located on Aroa Beach, Rarotonga.
Coconut Tours This comes in two varieties: Jungle Quad Adventure or the Island Buggy Explorer. Either way is an action packed adventure which includes a light lunch! The Jungle Quad Adventure offers a more challenging terrain across rocks and steep mountain sides to isolated island locations while the Buggy Explorer offers a powerful yet safe alternative to waterfalls, plantations and Maraes.
Palms trees and blue skies
The best way to get round this island is by moped. You do need to acquire a licence and pass a test before you rent one. The driving tests are done in groups from the police station in Avarua town centre and cost a fee, but once completed you can scoot round the island as much as you like. If you do not wish to rent a moped but still fancy and trip round the island there is a bus service available. It is pretty frequent during the day and takes roughly 40 minutes to circle the entire island. It is inexpensive and runs both clockwise and anticlockwise so be sure to catch it going the correct way.
FoodIf you have put on weight in America or Australia before arriving here the Cook Islands is a perfect place to shed that extra weight if you like it or not. If you opt for self catering then you will be likely to be getting supplies from the local convenience stores which are dotted around the island. The choice is very limited and mainly consists of tinned foods, frozen food, or vegetables and fruits; you will not be cooking a hearty meal. The choice is of course better in the town centre supermarket (and cheaper) but to get to without a moped can be a pain.
I survived on rations for a week and papaya fruit and splashed out on a meal in a nearby hotel on the last night. The meal was excellent and if you are catered, especially in a nice hotel, the standard of food will be top notch. Self caterers, you have been warned.
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