Blogs from Cook Islands, Oceania - page 4

Geo: -21.2318, -159.763This morning, after catching up on missed sleep we set off in our hire car to drive around the island. Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands but it only takes an hour at the most to drive right round it. The road runs along the beach past many resorts and villas. Needless to say Tourism is the biggest industry here.We headed for Muri Lagoon where Fletcher knew there was a great spot for lunch. This is the restaurant which overlooks the beach and fronts the Sailing Club, appropriately called Sails.This is a beautiful place. The lagoon is protected by a coral reef and the water is crystal clear. It is a half moon shape and the sand is white and thick. We walked down and sat in front of Sails for a ... read more

February 4,5,6,7,8 - 2014 Cook Islands The Cook Islands The Cook Islands are a very comfortable place to visit. Not unlike French Polynesia but for us a lot friendlier. English spoken here as it’s very closely connected to New Zealand. including New Zealand currency. Beaches are spectacular on the one island, of 15, that we visited. ( Raratonga ). I assume they would be similar on all the rest as well. Similar to French Polynesia in that these islands are all surrounded by a lagoon between the reef and the island. Great snorkeling inside and outside the reef. For the most part we did a lot of laying around and relaxing but managed to get in an evening out for a very good Polynesian dinner show ( Highland ), a four wheel drive morning adventure around, ... read more

'Kia Orana' (Hello!) ......Our last week on Rarotonga was very much like the first few weeks... laid back and totally relaxed. We had walked around the Island at least 5 times in total and spent time at all the decent hotel and resorts using their pool and facilities .... and we'd definitely visited all the of bars offering happy hours! If there is ever an opportunity to appear on 'Mastermind' then my chosen subject will be Happy Hours on Rarotonga...For example....which bars start at 3pm and which start at 4pm? Half price or 25% off? Cocktails or all drinks??? Quite complicated stuff to remember. Mind you Madam let herself down on one occasion towards the end of our stay... there we were at the Crown Beach Hotel Resort (lovely place!) and she casually ordered two Steinlager ... read more

Have you ever wondered how to crack an coconut open? Well, here is a guide on how to do it. First you need the nut itself. On these islands they are lying around all over the place. We just stopped an picked one up along the road. Then you'll need a sharp stick. We found a steel bar used in concrete structures lying on the parking lot. That will do it! Stick the bar in the ground and use it to remove the fluffy cover of the nut. With a steel bar like this it takes some hitting and bending to remove it. When you uncovered the nut you'll need a good rock with a bit of an edge to smash it open. Something from the garden will do just fine. The coconut has three "eyes" ... read more

THE We left Sydney at 6pm on 1st May and flew via Auckland to Rarotonga, capital of the Cook Islands for the penultimate leg of our adventure. We then arrived at 3pm on 1st May...despite completing two flights and a 9 hour stopover at Auckland, we had arrived 3 hours earlier than when we had set off!! We had crosssed the international date line and gone back a day..how crazy is that?! There had been a cock up with the booking when we arrived in Auckland .... we thought we were 'in transit' but it appeared to be two seperate flights instead. So, we had had to briefly enter New Zealand again to collect our luggage and then immediately check in again and go through customs again. This was a real flying visit and the quickest ... read more