Cook Islands Rarotonga

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March 1st 2007

Published: March 12th 2007

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Phileas

Phileas and trusty steed

Cook Islands -Rarotonga

The flight from Auckland was 4 hours .I arrived at 22-30 and was met by
Bill the proprietor of the hostel. Temp 31C humidity in the 90’s, hit you like a brick wall. Left for hostel about 10klms from airport down the coast and crashed out.
Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands, there are 15 Islands in all, spread over an area the size of Europe (2 Million sq Kilometres).They are in two groups North and South some thing in the range of 700klms apart. Rarotonga is in the South group.
Rarotonga is circumference is 32klms so you can get round it in about ½ hour.
It is surrounded by a reef which is about 500metres off shore so you have a gentle lagoon to swim and snorkel in, water temp 28 C beautiful very relaxing.
The first day awoke to brilliant sunshine 31 C with a gentle breeze which made it perfect. Went to town to get a trusty steed to explore the Island, its 45 years since
I’ve been on a motor bike so it was a real novelty. Returned to the hostel and went for a swim, fabulous.
However the “Rainman

Liked the palms and the beach

Cometh” nobody mentioned that Rarotonga has a wet season March to May when I made the booking.
I managed to get a 2tank dive in on the Monday 5th March, on the return it got rough and it rained and has not stopped monsoon rain day and night.
Was going to Aitutaki its lagoon regarded as the most beautiful in the world.
But with all this rain put it off will wait and see, 5 day forecast is better weather on Friday.

Phileas

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