Rarotonga, Cook Islands | photoreport

Rarotonga - a large village, and this sensation does not leave you for a minute. You wake up screaming at the roosters, which then just totally, on the slopes of grazing goats, all cats, dogs and a lot of people.

Cook Islands - a favorite vacation spot of New Zealanders and Australians, and in comparison with islands such as Fiji (not to mention the exclusive Pacific are not tourist destinations), still it feels much larger flow of tourists.

Almost every day, here flies Boeing 777 200 fully scored and brings to this tiny island a few hundred people and takes quite a bit.

The best time visiting the Cook Islands - August-September and possibly in January (though it has come into force the rainy season).

In June and July there is absolutely no sense of the wild heat and I would say that the temperature is close to comfortable. According to the weather forecast is rain every day, but there are almost none, and in general, do not believe the weather forecast in such a volatile region for the weather - Pacific (Pacific).

Around the island there is a road 35 kilometers long, and if, for example, rent a bicycle, you can see the whole island. If you want chto-to more serious, you need to take your driver's license and the right to exchange them for acting in the Cook Islands in the local police station (if you stand back to the airport and facing the ocean, the police will be on the right side, if you go on foot 20 minutes).

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In general, a circular road rides the bus, even two, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise. The cost - about $ 5. Buses stop moving at 2am. We waited 15 minutes and they have not met any. If you see a bus, then a vote by hand, and it will stop.

The taxi is here, but it is not highly developed, usually tourists take themselves hotels. We had a separate case, we flew to Aitutaki at 8 pm and getting dark already at 6. We left the parking lot airport and saw no one, had to turn to the police and ask them to call a taxi, which cost 30NZ.

We showed the taxi driver the name of the hotel - Muri Beach Bungallows. He thought long and went. Along the way we met the same bus.

So, there is a narrow road, and hundreds of different cafes, shops, snack bars itp and here we see a pointer to our hotel, turn right and continue to rise 100 meters to come, the darkness, on the hillside houses stand. In one house light, knock and ask how's going on settlement? - We were told that there are only 5 cabins and you need to find a house with your name on the door and all. We found not far from the front door it was buried a local resident. Burial place burned like a Christmas tree, in different colors. This is exactly what you want to see at night, weary, near his hotel.

name was on the door - Ivan and we entered. Common house with kitchen and bathroom, everything is fine, but there is no reception, managers, itp Come and live. The first time I see such a self-service. The next day we decided to still find the manager and pay for the stay. They found him in the 300 meters on the other side of the expensive hotels with a completely different name. We knew that our manager name is Anton and searched for him, asking local. It appears this woman.

The island of Rarotonga is surrounded by a coral reef and swim can be almost everywhere, but the best place for snorkeling - the beach near the store Fruits of Rarotonga. The water is clean, large corals, beauty. I can put this beach on a par with the best so far (for me) the beach for snorkeling - Botaira Beach Resort Fiji (Group Yasawa Islands). The map also marked the places where swimming is not recommended, I do not know why, but in places you would not want to bathe themselves.

We strongly recommend that, in addition to Rarotonga, fly to Aitutaki, because others already get the impression that you find here in the tourist destination through.

Cook Islands - an archipelago of several small islands. We primarily known atoll Suvorov (Suwarrow), which was bought by a Russian oligarch. Since it was some murky history with the construction of the Russian Empire. Walk scraps of news on the Internet, but it was long ago, and apparently, the experiment failed.

Also, it is known as the last resting place of the famous writer Tom Neal, who lived here as a hermit the last few years. How to get there - no idea, but most likely - only the boat, but when you consider that the distances here are not so small that it will very expensive. The plane did not just sit there, and in recent years, the island became a nature reserve, so his visit is to be connected with all sorts of restrictions and obtain the right to go there in the local bodies involved in the protection of nature. On all maps the internal flights between the islands of the atoll Suvorov sidestep.

Already here really wanted to visit the remote island - Penrhyn (Penryn), but the time for a trip to do. The idea is that it is almost indistinguishable from Aitutaki, except that it does not have the mountains and hills.

I do not tire of repeating that Polynesia is one of the best holiday regions. Seeing once local wild beaches, no crowds of tourists (Cook, too, there are many people on the beaches), good and recognizable local people to relax anywhere else you do not want. We can just go through the deserted coast and swim wherever you want.

Trips to Oceania need to plan very advance (for the year), and buy things gradually, thus offset by the relative high cost of such trips.

Do not plan a vacation here more than 10 days, because the nature of bored and you want to home, and six months later you want here again with renewed vigor.

Cook Islands - one of the most tourist destinations in Polynesia and, maybe, if you want something special and cultural, then go here is not necessary, but if you want to vacation in Turkey for the whole family - then clearly you here.

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Comments

04/04/2020 13:18

I look at the photos and the feeling that I would hardly be fed up with local beauty. Moderately warm, clean, free beaches with warm water. I don’t even know what else I could wish for a vacation. True, your mention of the grave next to the house was somewhat alarming. But, after all, this is not a prerequisite, as I understand it, you can avoid it.
It is strange that these wonderful islands did not become the Mecca of all lovers of solitude. Unlike Bali, there is even public transport here.
What about food and internet? Surely, New Zealanders and Australians have taken care of appropriate comfort in their favorite vacation spot.
04/04/2020 13:18

As a child, I loved Vysotsky’s song about why the aborigines ate Cook. And then an excursion to Polynesia, literally for lunch, to the very same natives! But it turned out that now the island of Cook is a completely harmless village, there are no cannibals left there, and even there are no more hints of them. And the village can be found in your homeland, it is much cheaper. And here the prices are biting, they saved up for a trip together for six months. In a word, a little disappointed. On the other hand, almost empty beaches with a warm sea pleased, but you can’t get such a service in Europe even for a lot of money. So they rested mentally, but I won’t go there anymore.
04/04/2020 13:18

I always dreamed of getting to this island. How many I reviewed photos and videos can’t be counted, how much I read the reviews of people who have already been there. And then my dream came true and this summer in August I visited the island of Rarotonga. My emotions are not enough to describe my admiration for this place. It is so quiet and peaceful that the soul is resting. A lot of picturesque places, stunning with their flora and fauna. I do not understand people who are going to rest where crowded beaches are crowded and nothing interesting. I can’t say that there are high prices. Accommodation, entertainment here are even cheaper than in many resorts. You can book excursions around the island and find out for yourself a lot of interesting facts. Of course, you can travel independently, but with a guide it will be more confident. My husband and I rented bicycles and enjoyed the sunset in the evening. The water here is perfectly clean, there is also no garbage on the beach. The infrastructure of the island is quite developed, in the near availability there are always shops, pharmacies and everything you need. We were also offered to visit other islands for a change, but we refused. Maybe next time we want to visit another Cook island, but I can say with confidence that the island of Rarotonga is our favorite.
04/04/2020 13:17

On the initiative of her husband, they also visited Rarotong, where it turned out to be not as interesting as my husband and I expected. I am not saying that there is nothing to do there at all, but in fact there is nothing to do there for more than 10 days. Here in this village you can relax from the bustle of the city, where you can put your thoughts in order, as well as gain spiritual and physical strength. That's why we went there with my husband. We were on the Cook Islands, where we rented bicycles to get a better view of the island, and this turned out to be another right option, although my husband first insisted that we rent a car. From the car you will not admire the awesome nature and fresh air. Here we also managed to visit many islands and how many photographs we have from the trip (we did not even count). We bought a ticket for 10 days, which was enough for us head on. We all had time to consider and capture the local cuisine and try it. The photos here are fabulous)) I also have beautiful pictures, but perhaps they are much better here. Almost all places are familiar to me from photographs. And when I looked at the photo, I wanted to go back there. Nature of course there is awesome - there are many palm trees and mountains. My husband and I liked the rest.
04/04/2020 13:17

This summer I visited Rarotonga Island, one of the Cook Islands. I saved up money for this trip for a long time and now, finally, I collected the necessary amount for this. Fortunately, I got to the island successfully. From the first minutes, of course, he was struck by its beauties. It felt like I was on another planet. It was pretty quiet here. And the scenery is simply amazing. The photographer of the pictures presented above was able to accurately convey the atmosphere of this place, captured, it seems, the most ordinary places, but now these photos seem to have transferred me there again. The air there is just extraordinary, the weather throughout my stay there was great. There are a lot of wonderful places that are remembered for a long time, now I want to return there again. People on the island are quite friendly houses are quite ordinary. I think that these people do not even fully understand how lucky they are to live on such a wonderful island. By the way, the streets here are clean and well-groomed, cleanliness here is clearly monitored well. In general, I can say that I really liked this trip. I did not regret that I decided to visit here. I hope that I’ll visit here more than once.
04/04/2020 13:17

The island of Rarotonga seemed to me some sort of a diverse type of recreation. On one side of the village are roosters, dogs, cats. Good-natured inhabitants of the island who are ready to take off their last shirt for vacationers. On the other hand, it is a desert island. After all, I think every person wants to someday find himself on a desert island, forgetting all the problems and all the people around him. Rarotonga Island is rich in beautiful picturesque lonely beaches where you feel like a king and a god. There you can look at the beauty of nature and stay in yourself, and swim in the purest waters. I would love to plunge into such an atmosphere and for a start I would be in such beauty for three days. And then, of course, I would get bored and want something new and interesting again. Then you can ride a bike. But I think it’s difficult to go around the island by bicycle. If a company of lovers gathered, then perhaps it would be fun. And if you go together - it is better to take a car and consider the local surroundings, especially since there is such beauty there. After reviewing the photo report and making some conclusions, I think it's worth visiting these places and admiring the beauties of Oceania. In the near future I will fulfill this desire.
04/04/2020 13:17

I love to travel. Visited many countries and many continents. These islands are a special place. There really is a feeling of some kind of freedom, silence and inner calm. It was not easy to get there - there were flight delays and long wait at the airports. It is amazing that with all the external, seeming abandonment of these places, here on the islands, beautiful roads and vehicles that must move strictly on schedule, that's how it goes (this is me about buses, we were just lucky to ride them more than once) . Here, on the islands, a very friendly local population. Even with a language barrier, you can easily communicate with them and get some kind of short consultation and, in addition, a warm smile. We were lucky with the weather. Rest fell on a warm September. We swam several times a day, enjoyed the beautiful nature. The coral reef is gorgeous here! I have not seen so many species of fish even in the Red Sea (and we rested in different places - in Taba in Egypt and in the resorts of Israel). It just so happened that we didn’t get to Aitutaki, although I really wanted to. Rarotonga beckons and calls, I want to return to these places to enjoy the gorgeous sunsets.
04/04/2020 13:17

I was surprised by the information that you can exchange your driver’s license with a local one, it turns out that there will be an opportunity to ride as well)) Thanks for the photos, I have never been abroad before, I want to go for the first time so that I remember it for life. Friends last year rested here, but when they talked, I thought it was an ordinary village, without any attractions, I was still surprised that they forgot there. I read a lot about the Cook Islands, but without photos I didn’t understand the whole essence, I thought that it was an ordinary resort and nothing special. I also heard about food, the menu there is exotic, not every gourmet will like it, but those who have tried said that you won’t try it anywhere else, even in the expensive restaurants of the capital) I personally really liked the photo, I think that only because for this it’s already worth going, at least one time. I hope that I will persuade my wife to go to the island of Ratoronga, she loves such places, now the main thing is to choose a vacation so that we can go together) It is strange that people prefer only Turkey and Egypt, given that there are many other beautiful places. Thank you very much for the photo essay, I learned a lot of new and interesting things for myself) All the best!
04/04/2020 13:17

Since childhood, I dreamed of visiting the island of Rarotonga. For me, this island was a bit of a paradise. It always seemed to me that people there are completely different, different air and nature. Only last year I managed to go there. Of course, I waited a long time, but what a blessing it was when they approved the visa! I will never forget how my heart burst out of my chest when I saw the most ordinary streets. These photos reminded me of my impressions and again aroused the desire to visit this nice little place.
Lovely miniature houses really resemble a village. Everything in it looks so small and lively, but at the same time filled with something unusual. I am very surprised how you managed to find this village so empty and deserted, because usually everything is so lively and full of tourists. All these buildings seem so familiar. It is interesting how a skillful photographer can easily convey the atmosphere of a town.
And these species ... They are generally a weak point of romantic natures. And most importantly, everything is so green there, as if you had visited a huge park on the whole planet! Everyone who is going to relax on the islands, but at the same time feel the warm home atmosphere, I advise you to visit Rarotonga first of all!
Alex

11/10/2018 11:06

Hello. My friend and I traveled in September to Rarathong, Cook Islands. By itself, the island is small, but this does not mean that it is not interesting, we have long wanted to visit here. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, there are many different beaches here, we visited Titikaveka Beach, it is very beautiful and calm, many different plants, palm trees grow, the locals delight. Always a very positive environment, our attention was captured by blue water, this feeling seemed to be at the beginning of the creation of the world, an indescribable feeling. Locals protect the animal and plant world as their home. This is felt in their relationships with each other and in their daily activities. What is remarkable here is the wilderness bordered by local shops and public places. We visited here for a week, housing for the price is not particularly expensive, but this is not the main thing. We really liked the fact that the guests were received well here, the local guide drove us around the sights of the island and laughed a lot according to his custom. In general, it was a good trip, we have a lot of interesting and memorable photos that we will never forget. If you were always attracted by the pristine nature, then you should be here.
Grishin Vladislav Aleksandrovich

11/10/2018 11:06

Разумеется, я люблю путешествовать, хорошо, что деньги на это есть. Давно хотел побывать на острове Раротонга, который является самым большим из островов Кука. Очень много слышал об этом месте, но никак не мог решиться туда поехать, то времени не было, то ещё какие-нибудь обстоятельства, к сожалению, мешали. А совсем недавно моя мечта всё-таки осуществилась, я всё-таки побывал на островах Кука, и впечатления, честно говоря, незабываемые. Я ещё никогда не был в таком волшебном месте, у меня появилось ощущение, будто я попал в какой-то голливудский фильм. Раротонга - это остров, на котором достигнут баланс температуры, здесь очень чисто и уютно, люди здесь приветливые и общительные. Воздух на острове просто чудесный, хочется постоянно находиться в этом месте, ведь здесь достигается пик блаженства. Здесь также есть на что посмотреть, очень много красивых мест. Для того, чтобы остановиться на ночлег, не нужно выкладывать огромные суммы денег, с ценами здесь всё хорошо, они не очень высокие. Еда здесь просто великолепная, нигде раньше не ел подобных вкусностей, ощущение, будто попал на другую планету. Ничуть не пожалел о том, что посетил это место, с радостью вернусь сюда при случае.
Yana

11/10/2018 11:05

I read a lot about the Cook Islands, as I plan to go there. Many reviews and opinions. Your photo essay was the only information I could believe. Realistic photos and history of the stay on the islands "human" language. Everything that you have outlined in the photo report about the Cook Islands is very valuable and relevant information for me. I did not know for example, that there really is no rainy weather. All sources say that it rains all the time on the islands, thereby discouraging the desire to travel there at all. Photos are very colorful and high quality. Particularly impressed by the pictures of the beach, as if from an advertising Bounty. Truly a heavenly delight. It is a pity that you did not visit the Winggmore Falls on the south coast and did not bring a photo from there either. Tourists and travelers write that there is insanely beautiful and there is something to see. I would also like some pictures of local color and local food - it is always very interesting. They say there are rare tropical fruits and vegetables, as well as island chestnuts. I would like to see them through the lens of your camera. In general, it was a very informative photo essay about the Cook Islands. Thank you very much !!!
Lesnitskaya Esther

11/10/2018 11:05

We traveled to Rarotonga in the summer, in the month of July. All my friends and acquaintances wondered why it was here, what was special, and in general this is where. And for us the main criteria were the presence of a good beach, a comfortable temperature of the atmosphere and bathing water, a pleasing landscape, relative desertion, unobtrusive service. I think this is a close to ideal ideal place for many who are tired of city life. Plus, I also wanted some non-hackneyed place, like Turkey or Egypt. In general, we got what we wanted. It is even surprising how much Rarotonga has satisfied our expectations and desires. The summer was in full swing, but we did not die from the heat (try to go to Egypt in July for the same price - more expensive). The climate is quite comfortable, yes, it's hot, but not to exhaustion. The landscape was impressive, it is really beautiful nature with exotic plants, unusual and unusual corals, for 10 days of rest we did not bother us at all. The staff and local residents are practically invisible, no one imposes anything, if you need something, you appeal, they fulfill your request, that's all. Returned rested, this is the case when all the factors around really contributed to the rest.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands | photoreport

Comments

Alex

Grishin Vladislav Aleksandrovich

Yana

Lesnitskaya Esther

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