Blogs from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Oceania - page 2

A four-hour flight from Auckland took us to the tiny island of Raratonga one of the 15 Cook Islands in the South Pacific. It had been suggested that we could stopover in Tahiti, which was exciting enough, but on researching, the Cook Islands seem to have better reviews. We landed in pouring rain, not very tropical, but we had a warm welcome, first a singer with ukulele (we later found out he had been welcoming, and seeing off people for 30 years!) then a flower necklace put around our necks. For the first time since we left, we will in the staying in the same place for a whole week, 8 days to be precise. Although we left New Zealand on Saturday, because we travelled across the international dateline, we arrived on Friday - how cool ... read more

Hi everyone, it's very relaxing here as you can imagine, yesterday afternoon we caught the local bus to the night market at Muri. Now there are only two local buses, one is called 'Anti-Clockwise' and the other is called 'Clockwise', well to begin with, we both couldn't get our heads round it, we had the map of the island, turning it this way and that way, the lady who runs the bungalows was watching us, thinking, how on earth did these two get here !!! Well, we have now gone around the island all the way on the bus which costs 8 dollars (NZ) each, doesn't matter how long you're on there, that's what it costs. They are the same two drivers, so they now know where we have to get off as they don't seem ... read more

Arrived in Rarotonga the day before we left, having crossed the international date line mid flight. Yes we are now official time travellers! This totally confused us, having had a Wednesday, then left NZ on Thursday, landed on another Wednesday then having another Thursday. It was a long week! After a rather turbulent flight we were gutted to find the weather was very warm but misty grey and raining and had been for a few days. We hadn't come all this way for warm rain! But we were soon smiling as the airport was full of the sound of tropical music being played and we were greeted with a fragrant lei for each of us. Some looked better with flowers around their necks than others. By lunch time the next day however the weather brightened up ... 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