Ranginui´s Retreat, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands
We spent three weeks on the Cook Islands in February 2008 during our Round The World Trip: altogether 9 days on Rarotonga, 7 on Aitutaki and 5 on Atiu. The Cook Islands were definitely a highlight in our trip and finally we discovered some of those Pacific Islands that matched our ideas of the “South Seas”. Continue Reading →
View of a part of the lagoon from the plane, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands
We spent three weeks on the Cook Islands in February 2008 during our Round The World Trip: altogether 9 days on Rarotonga, 7 on Aitutaki and 5 on Atiu. The Cook Islands were definitely a highlight in our trip and finally we discovered some of those Pacific Islands that matched our ideas of the “South Seas”.
View of Rarotonga, the main Island of the Cook Islands
Since we needed to bridge the time between our arrival from Atiu and the departure for Auckland / New Zealand at 03:40 am, we stayed these 15 hours at the “Aquarius”, a brand new accommodation right across from the airport. Continue Reading →
See Kayaking in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
This has not been a very active week! For the first time, we spent eight nights in the same place, a real luxury. We both needed to rest and recharge our batteries before resuming further serious traveling like crossing New Zealand by car. So we turned very, very lazy and enjoyed doing very, very simple things. Continue Reading →
Gilles on a rented scooter in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
First thing, we decided to rent a scooter, a very wise decision as it turned out: it gave us a lot of freedom. But in order to rent one, you need a local category A driving license. Since we neither have a motorbike driving license nor a local / New Zealand one, we had to get one at the police department. After 10 minutes and paying 10 N.Z. dollars, Gilles was in possession of a local A & B driving license, with no one asking any questions. What a great souvenir! Then we rented a scooter from Budget, since the scooter for rent at the Vara’s Beachside Resort, are not covered by any insurance whatsoever! Continue Reading →
Photo: Guillaume Fuenfrock, 5Rock Production, Fakarava, French Polynesia
After doing some unforgettable diving around Fakarava in French Polynesia, we were in such a swing that we could not resist the glossy brochures promoting diving around Rarotonga. So on the second day there we dropped by Cook Island Divers. Since the man we talked to was nice and knowledgeable, we booked a two tank dive for the following morning. Continue Reading →
Driving around on Rarotonga, Cook Islands
After a 2.5 hour flight from Papeete, we finally arrived on a Pacific island that met our expectations of the paradisiacal “South Seas”. Rarotonga, the main island, is mountainous with bizarre formations, full of lush vegetation, zillions of coconut trees and an equal amount of brightly red-flowered flame trees. Continue Reading →
