Rarotonga - Cook Islands, best activity recommendations?
Hi all,
My partner and I are off for a kid free escape for 8 wonderful nights in Aug/September. We have a few things planned and out flights and accommodation are booked (Sea Change Villas, has anyone stayed there?), but we're looking for some more ideas on what we can do whilst over there?
We're really into snorkelling, fishing, and would love to experience as much culture as possible - any and all suggestions will certainly be considered!
OHHHHHH I'm so jealous!!! DH and I spent our 10 day honeymoon there. We stayed at the Pacific Resort.
We hired a scooter for the days we were there. You have to get your licence if you don't already, but even that is fun. You have to go and hire the scooter first, then drive it to the police station to apply for your licence. Then they follow you around the block, make sure you can ride it, and give you your licence. Hilarious. Speed is limited to 40kms per hour and it takes about an hour to ride the entire perimeter of the island. Watch out for the wasps if its the season for them - DH got stung on his lip while we were riding on our first day and it was so funny. His lip swelled like a golf ball and we went to the chemist, they took one look at him and said, "Ah, wasp". Riding is helmet-less too.
There is a prison there that the inmates make island drums and yukelelies (Sp?). So funny, but great present ideas. They have about 20 inmates!!!!!
We snorkelled and went on a glass bottom boat, but that was offered by our resort. I'm sure where you are staying will offer something like that. Where Pacific Resort is, it overlooks three tiny islands that you can swim to through a crystal blue lagoon. Oh heaven.......
For culture things, they have a lot of churches and they like to go. They also do island dancing and cook meals in the ground - ask at your resort if they have a night of this. If not, Pacific Resort do it for anyone who books in. And do me a favour ------ in the main shopping area is a tiny little cafe on the corner of the shops - they do a devillish chocolate creme brulee. Have one for me! DH and I even took on the bugs and rode the scooter in to town at night - twice - just to have this and we've craved it since we came home. We also did an island tour with a tour company which 4wd treks you into the centre of the island where there is a waterfall and a massive rock that plugs the opening to a volcano. The tour guide was great, actually everyone there is just wonderful. If you go to the waterfall, take aeroguard. Mozzie central.
I am so so jealous. The things we did didn't take up as much time as you'd think, and we spent a lot of time swimming and sleeping and having ****tails in our resort restaurant which set tables up on the beach. Sitting back, looking at the water, drinking Rarotongan sunsets, bare feet buried in the sand. OHHHHHHHHHHH.
Corelly - Thank you for your in depth reply, I'm finding it hard to find people who have actually been to Cook Islands - although I don't know why, I'm in love and I haven't stepped foot on the place!
We have 5 day car hire included in our package and we figure we will use the bikes at our resort or taxi's/bus for the rest of the time. We might consider a scooter just for the fun of it. I'm excited to do the perimeter, it amazes me we can get around in an hour!
Eeep wasps, I'll be sure to keep my eye out for those. And yes have been made aware there are some vicious mozzies.
We'll look into the dancing/food at Pacific, our resort is boutique and small but our hosts have been very helpful thus far, they have everything covered really.
Did you go to any markets? We plan to cook alot of our own meals and wer after some insider info on where the best produce is at the best prices?
Oooooh the chocolate creme brulee sounds magnificent, I'll be sure to ask where to find them, are they quite famous?
We plan on doing alot of the nothingness you speak of - ****tails, sun, sand, peace and quiet; I can't wait. 69 sleeps to go lol can you tell i'm a tad excited?
And of course you can come, I'll sneak you in my suitcase!
Re: Rarotonga - Cook Islands, best activity recommendations?
I'd definitely recommend taking one of the day trips to Aitutaki. Hubby and I eloped in Aitutaki, and was just magical. Rarotonga os beautiful, Aitutaki is even better. More peaceful, and absolutely amazing. Best snorkelling EVER!
And if you like seafood, eat a LOT of it while you're in the cook islands. Unbelievable!
SomeWoman - I've heard incredible things about aituaki, I think I'll look into it. Mmmm seafood *drool* were hoping to catch alot of what we eat if possible.
Iona - do you want me to smuggle you in my suitcase too??
As far as markets and produce goes, I really don't remember seeing any. But where we stayed didn't have any cooking facilities, so we weren't really looking for it either. Sorry, not much help there.
The cafe where we got the creme brulee is tiny and its in the same strip where the police station is, there is a big (well Raro-style big) shopping area with department-like store and its on the edge of the building. Wish I could remember the name of it!
When you're on the road there, go past the end of the airport when a plane comes in. The planes have to cross the road and hit the runway just on the other side of the fence and we actually saw kids hanging off the fence, flapping about in the jet wave!!!!
I am so so jealous and told DH and he just looked like he wants to go now. You'll have an absolute ball. Best rest holiday we've ever had.
We're thinking of honeymooning on/in/at(?) the Cook Islands but DS is a bit young to leave at home as yet WDYT of taking him with us? Will that mean we cant do most of the activities?
Sorry to crash your thread, didn't see the point in starting my own on the same thing...
I had my honeymoon at the Cook Islands, about 6 years ago now, we also stayed at the Pacific Resort.
I too would second hiring a scooter, we both got our licence but only hired one scooter just took turns dinking each other. I know at the restort we stayed at they had an islander night which was themed had dancing etc.
We also took an inland tour in a 4wd, was quite interesting seeing the produce etc.
From memory there was a a market I think it was on the Saturday morning, unfortunately it was raining quite heavily so I didn't take much in as to what was their.
Hope you have a fantastic time, it is a beautiful place with lovely people.
Megs we were there 5 years ago. One years difference and we would've been drinking Rarotongan Sunsets together!
Heva - I didn't see any kids at all on any of the things we did, it was mainly couples. You guys could swim in the lagoon and look at the fish with DS, or swim in the pool. Maybe look to see if any resorts there actually cater for kids too. It's a strong "romantic" feeling island, lots of couples and people getting married.
Ashlee - Forgot to say before - have put myself on a diet so I'll be a lighter load in your suitcase!!!!
Re: Rarotonga - Cook Islands, best activity recommendations?
Heva, I'd actually suggest differently to Corelly. We didn't spend much time in Rarotonga at all, but there were a lot of families in aitutaki. Many resorts say no kids, but many allow kids. Pacific resort in both Rarotonga and aitutaki are big on family.
Oh really? Cool I'm mostly worried he's going to limit our activities to the point of us doing and seeing very little. I dont want to spend all that money to sit on the beach itms? As gorgeous as the beach is lol.
Oops. Hijacking the thread. sorry Ashlee!
Re: Rarotonga - Cook Islands, best activity recommendations?
Lol @ corelly. We were also honeymooning - after gettig hutched, that is
There were lots of families on the snorkelling and island boat trips, some with very young kids. We were watching because we knew we wanted to go back, and we were trying for a honeymoon baby. DH even bought a teeny "made in the cook islands" shirt =) so for us it was important to know if and where kids were ok. Three years later we still haven't made it back, and our girl is approaching 2 years. We will probably head back that way in the next year or two, and stay in the pacific resort as we KNOW it is family friendly
If anyone does find themselves in Aitutaki for a few days, the private chartered snorkelling day trip is INCREDIBLE!!
Rarotonga - Cook Islands, best activity recommendations?
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sorry Ashlee!
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