Warm sunny days, clear, blue skies, creamy sands and tranquil, inviting crystal waters - such phrases evoke images of unspoiled, tropical paradises; the kind where you can look for miles in either direction and still see the same breathtaking beauty, without meeting another soul; inviting peaceful locations where one can find complete privacy to enjoy a relaxed afternoon with your loved ones. We have found this haven; a truly untouched corner of the South Pacific, a place where warm, kindred spirits can relax, refresh and recharge. On behalf of the Cook Islands, we extend a hearty Kia Orana to our readers. Welcome to Paradise!
The Cook Islands are a group of 15 islands, scattered like frangipani petals across the vast South Pacific Ocean. Roughly a four-hour flight north-east of New Zealand, the Islands are a true tropical get-away. Rarely will one find any nook of the globe unspoiled by major commercialization and development, fast food chains and shopping malls. The Cook Islands is one such place. The largest island, Rarotonga, thirty-two kilometer in circumference, is the most populated in the Cooks, yet one will never find, on the mere forty minutes it takes to drive around the island, a single KFC, Mc Donald's or Wendy’s. This is a place where the locals will greet you with a warm Kia Orana – “May you live long”, which commonly doubles as “Hello, how are you?” a greeting that is normally returned in kind. Walking around under a warm tropical sun, listening to swaying palm trees in the wind, feeling the warm breeze on your skin and the ocean sprays on the coast, and breathing in the fragrances of vanilla nut trees mixed with a melange of coconut and tropical flora... If this sounds delectable to you, then the Cook Islands are a must-go destination!
Our first day in Rarotonga brought with it many exotic smells and sights; by scents from rich coconut, vibrant hibiscus flowers, tangy pineapples and sweet pawpaw, beneath the warm sunlight pouring through a cloudless blue sky, the Cook Islands both indulged and excited all our senses. For the avid explorer, the forested mountainous interior of Rarotonga is sure to thrill. With jagged soaring peaks and dense thick jungle (the trails range from beginner level to extremely challenging, and are commonly marked with orange arrows tacked to trees a few meters apart), one can experience the challenge of mountain climbing, rappelling or just hiking through the dense foliage.
The clean cream-colored sands and warm crystal-blue waters encircling the island of Rarotonga are equally enticing. Stepping into Muri and Black Rock lagoons are like stepping into an enormous tropical aquarium. A myriad of colorful tropical fish including, angelfish, triggerfish, fusiliers and wrasse play and dart in and around the expansive coral gardens, while elusive moray eels hide in coral grottoes and crevices. Further out, the marine life gets much larger and collective, and one can often swim among marauding trevally, tuna, pufferfish, bream, large snapper and even the occasional sea turtle. Sharks in Rarotonga are few and far between, for none can get through the coral reef barrier which surrounds the island's extents, preserving the ideal shallow, sheltered, warm lagoons all around Rarotonga's coastline.
At low tide, (especially at Muri beach, often regarded as Rarotonga's best beach), one can wade across the tidal flats, toward the three exposed sand atolls with their wild coconut groves just off the shore, and at the same time may be treated to a spectacular display of natural aquatic predation. Giant and Bluefin trevally, like the two we saw at Muri beach one afternoon, often harass schools of bait fish during low tides. The two large predators somehow maneuvered their bulk and weight in water a foot deep, slicing and curving the water in their attempt to capture their midday meal. An impressive and wonderful sight!
Rarotonga is also an angler's paradise. Torpedo – like Wahoo, razor toothed Dog tooth tuna, rainbow colored Mahi Mahi, schools of Bonito, Skipjack, majestic Sailfish, and the giant's of the ocean: the Blue Marlin, are all the avid angler's targets in these bountiful waters. The fish come and go with the seasons, each present during their own season of the year. On hiring a charter, it only takes ten minutes from Avatiu Harbor to reach the fishing grounds. This is due to the deep trenches encircling the entire island for miles around. Outside its sheltered blue lagoons, the water depth plummets to more than three hundred meter in some places. Providing the perfect hunting ground for these oceanic predators.
For the avid foodies and cultural buffs, one never needs to stroll far at all to hear cultural Cook Island drums rapidly proclaiming their beat in a social fest, or the melodic Imene, chants and songs, so common in Rarotongan villages. As is so often with Rarontogan festivals, there is always food involved and lots of it! A favorite of course is seafood. Local dishes such as Ika Mata, raw fish seasoned with chili's, soaked in vinegar and coconut cream is an absolute must-have. Any deep-water fish sprinkled with a dash of Cook Island lime, salt, pepper, garlic, a slice of chili and onions over a hot grill is a deliciously healthy afternoon lunch. Rarotonga also has the exotic Rukau, taro leaves steamed in coconut cream, and this is often served along with boiled Taro root and a hefty portion of meat. For the very hungry, Rarotonga never disappoints – from the locally famous 24 hour Raro Fried Chicken joint and Palace One Takeaway at the town corners, to a variety of cafes and bars, up to the posh restaurants like the Tamarind House and the Hidden Spirit, that boast world class beach views, al fresco dining under the stars, and expansive tropical garden walks.
The ever popular Umu Kai or 'earth oven-cooked food', consists of chicken, pork, beef, taro and rukau leaves steamed for hours in their own juices over volcanic stones in an underground earthen pit. These traditional foods are often served in gargantuan portions, as these were commonly served as a meal to feed the entire community.
For a cultural feast, head over to Te Vara Nui Village, down at Muri, for a fantastic over-the-water show of traditional Cook Island dancing, drumming performance as well as a delicious Polynesian buffet style feast. One can also climb upward to Highland Paradise – a restaurant situated on what was once a thriving traditional Rarotongan village – to be treated to a tour of the ancient marae and the remnants of a tribal lifestyle, followed by a scrumptious Umu Kai feast served while enjoying cultural dance performances as well as a hilarious narrative on the 'one hundred uses of a coconut', by the village chief.
Feeling relaxed and laid back? Take your time on Island Time: rent a car, a scooter or for the adventurous, a bicycle, from the many available options, and drive leisurely around the slow-paced inner island roads, passing friendly faces and banana fields. On a weekend the island is more laid back than usual. Drop by the little local market and shop among the many colorful island-made fabrics, trinkets, arts and crafts. Come and enjoy the Islanders sing in the old Christian churches, that were once established with the stones of ancient marae by visiting missionaries in the 1800's. Visit the Whale Museum, a little shack with an extensive collection of old whaling gear, giant whale bones and majestic skulls, and treat the kids to a educational movie on the history and banning of whaling to preserve the ecology in the Cook Islands. They have also got their own resident giant coconut crabs!
After a long day of exploration and fun, one needs to relax. Indulge yourself in the many spas and massage services around Rarotonga, from friendly massage parlors to luxury spas and resorts. A hot water bath topped with a plethora of floating tropical flowers followed by a rejuvenating full body massage is never hard to find. The Rarotongan Resort and Spa, along with several other high end resorts around Muri Beach provide most of these services.
If you are anything like us and
prefer a quieter, more secluded Polynesian getaway, without the hustle and
bustle of modern resorts and tourists, you can always stay at the many lodges
which dot the island. These are always locally managed and owned, and visitors
very often end up staying in independent cozy wooden houses, hidden amid a
tropical garden setting. Some of the experiences you may encounter here are the
ones that stay with you when you leave – Polynesian paintings hung on the wall
and woven mats on the floor, the odd roosters crowing at dawn, a friendly dog
or two coming in now and then to say hello. The warm smile and laugh of the
lodge hostess, coming to share a bowl of sweet papaya and starfruit in the
morning, all the while recounting stories of her island days gone by, sharing
where to find the best local produce, the best places to swim, to explore and
to discover, and also the best way to open a coconut – is always the real Polynesian experience, and
at the most affordable rates. We highly recommend Mount View Lodges, in O'oa
village, for this amazing experience.
So, for a warm slice of an
untouched Polynesian haven – a wonderful family getaway or a romantic paradise
for two – come to Rarotonga, The Cook Islands, where locals greet you with a kind Kia Orana under
the warmth of a Polynesian sun!
Kia Orana, Turou e to te Kuki
Airani - Turou e to te Rarotonga: Welcome
to the Cook Islands – Welcome to Rarotonga.
Written by: Miguel Garcia
Photography by: Simone Garcia
Planning your holiday in the Cook Islands? Here's some more useful information:
Air Flights to and from the Cook Islands.
We use TripAdvisor because we often find good flight deals that suit our budget. You can click to search for cheap air flights to and from the Cook Islands on TripAdvisor.
Travel Insurance
It's a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. World Nomads provide travel insurance for travellers from over 140 countries, backed by reputable insurers and 24 hour assistance providers. You can click on Travel Insurance from World Nomads to get a quote. Please read the policy details to ensure that it's right for you.
Tour Options for Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands
If you are someone who likes their holiday planned for them, you can click to check out tour packages around Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands through TourRadar.
Wahoo Fishing Charters.
Address: Avatiu Harbor, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 28 291
Click to read reviews on Wahoo Fishing Charters.
Palace One Takeaway.
Address: Avatiu Harbor, Cook Islands
Click to view Palace One Takeaway - Facebook Page.
Tamarind House Restaurant.
Address: Tupapa Village, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 26 487
Address: Titikavaka, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 22 796
Click to read reviews on The Hidden Spirit Cafe and Grill.
Te Vara Nui Village.
Address: Ara Tapu, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 24 006
Click to read reviews on Te Vara Nui Village - Buffet and Entertainment.
The Cook Islands Whale and Wildlife Centre.
Address: Avatiu Harbor, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 21 666
Click to read reviews on The Cook Islands Whale and Wildlife Centre.
The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa.
Address: Aroa Beach, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 25 800
Mount View Lodges.
Address: O'oa village, Cook Islands
Phone number: +682 29 491
Click to read reviews on Mount View Lodges.
Click to check out Mount View Lodges website.
Car and Bike Rentals
Polynesian Car and Bike Rentals have a lot of affordable transport options and they are based in many locations around Rarotonga. Click to check out Polynesian Car and Bike Rental's website.
Visitor Information, Visas and Entry Rules in the Cook Islands
If you like this article, or have any suggestions for us, we'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below.
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