Cook Islands
lol. In my dengue fever state I don’t realise I had already wrote an excerpt from cook. So here’s two! 😂
A stop over in the city of Auckland and next minute you’re on an island in the middle of the pacific. The Cook Islands, made up of 15 islands are eagled amongst the South Pacific nations, with their own currency but close ties to New Zealand, it was described as Auckland’s version of Bali, the perfect quick getaway (just a little more expensive!). Mum and I don’t know what quite to expect and stared in awe out of the plane and taxi as it flew along the greenery and blue hues. The roads skinny and slow, mountains on one side and coast on the other, I would soon discover that over the years the beach on Rarotonga, and all the Cook Islands has slowly been getting smaller, rising sea levels causing havoc when big swell sweeps into waterfront hotel rooms … including ours on the last day!! Fortunately, other than this random hour of wind, rain and swell, we were blessed for the week with wonderful weather. Tropical warmth despite it being winter time, and lake-like ocean with snorkelling opportunities for miles. On Rarotonga, you get around by bike, or by hitch hike. We walked to the waterfront bar Charlie’s, a hot spot for darts and happy hour cocktails, and one day tried our luck at cycling to the other side of the island : 15k’s!!! to one of the larger resorts. I was managing with one arm after a recent shoulder operation but even with 2 the ride in the mid day heat would have been hard going, only fair to treat myself to a fish bowl at half way. There are dogs everywhere on raro, owned by the council they roam free, all cared for with food, vets and vaccines, some taking comfort in a specific home but most just following you down the street in hope for food. So cute ! Our days spent beach walking, sunbathing, Book reading and cocktail sippings, evening spent at the bustling Muri night markets eating freshly caught sashimi and other Pacific Islander inspired foods. One night we joined the group of 20 year olds on Rehabs Nightclubs party bus, an open air converted truck with poles for dancing and BYO alcohol for drinking. Once at rehabs nightclub the night only got better, mum eventually dragging me home before an early start the next day. Potentially my first insight into a hangover we boarded the 6am charter flight over to the second biggest island, Aitutaki where we got a tour of the island, much smaller and less touristy than Raro, the school home to only a handful of kids. From here our boat for the day took us island hoping to 3 islands: Atiu, Puka Puka and everyone’s favourite: Tekopua, sometimes closed to film series of Australian Survivor. More beautiful than on the screens, Tekopua is home to one singular post office with sub under stamps for your passport, and a beach front bar selling coconuts and cheap beers, the water here so blue my phone didn’t care to give it justice, the white sand contrasting it just amazing. I could have stayed here for a week! Eventually back on the boat we were treated to the most glorious meal I’ve had to this day. The array of salads, mangoes and avocados, so colourful, jackfruit used as a grilled potato like dish and then fresh tuna, and salmon caught from the back of the boat whilst we were baking in the sun. The boat operators entertained us with ukulele’s and traditional drums, hilarious versions of Aussie songs and taking the micky of unprepared poms. Finishing the day with a snorkel on the open reef, attracting turtles, fish and sharks with leftovers from lunch. If I were to come here again I would stay on Aitutaki for longer, magical. I quickly fell in love with the lifestyle on raro and Aitutaki alike, the hikes, baby chicks everywhere and friendly as anything locals (human and dog kinds)… the perfect way to recover from a nasty surgery. .. and learning to snorkel with one arm interesting! I spent the last day frantically packing the bag to avoid the incoming tide, waves lashing under our bedroom door and onto the bed, and sick as a dog. Potentially dengue fever, or maybe even covid I was not looking forward to the painful flight home.
Excerpt #2 - I must’ve been out of it when writing this 😂😂
Since the international borders opened, Mum and I have been itching to get out of Australia. Having already gone to New Zealand a year ago the next obvious choice was the Cook Islands.
The main island of Rarotonga was a sight, one main road that wrapped the entirety of the island, and one bus that transported you from one side to the other. Slowly sinking (but we’ll get to that later), the vast dense bushland is surrounded by the bluest waters you have ever seen. Our adults only, luxury resort ‘The Little Polynesian Resort’, or little Poly, was the perfect escape from the touristy spots and family resorts. Our room was on the sand, 10m from the ocean, making for the perfect morning walk spot along the water. A short cycle or bus ride away are swimmable beaches and enough resort-styled cocktails to last me a lifetime.
A highlight of the trip was our day trip to Aitutaki, an organised trip which includes a flight across the water to the smaller but questionably more stunning island. Aitutaki is home to not many people and is the more expensive of the two islands to stay on, built so worth it. It’s location was perfect to get on a boat and spend the day sailing along islands such as one-foot, home to where Survivor was filmed for many seasons pre-covid. The water here you can’t describe as anything other than stunning. So incredibly blue, contrasted with the whitest sand ever and the greenest palm trees hanging over. We spent the day snorkelling the reefs, sunbathing, and singing tunes on the ukulele as we sailed. The fresh fish BBQ onboard was the perfect feast after a long day and to say I passed out on the way home would be an understatement.
There are endless adventures on Rarotonga, an obvious one is snorkelling trips and the less obvious the mud-buggy rides that we didn’t regret but feel the need to warn you about. The least-organised tour I have ever been on, and so ridiculously dodgy. If you’re up for flying around corners and into mud piles without knowing if your wheel is about to come flying off or engine set on fire (both of which occurred whilst we were there)… then I’d say go for it. Go with an open mind and be on island time and you’ll be fine. Other than this there were many hours spent by the pool, sipping at our cocktails, and soaking up the ‘winter’ sun.
I’d 100% recommend a trip to the Cook Islands, definitely stay on Aitutaki and definitely go out to the islands, more than once if you can. It was the perfect winter getaway and I want to be back there already.
