3 weeks on the Cook Islands during a Round The World - Our experience

Hi!

We just came back from a Round The World. We went, amongst others, to the Cook Islands.
Here you can find our travel report. I think I posted it once but it was for quite a while, so I do it again, since questions seem to be the same ...
If you need more details, check our website: http://www.oneyearoff.net/cook%20islands,world-tour-2007,19.html
The best pictures: http://www.oneyearoff.net/cook%20islands,slide-show,19,101.html

I hope it helps
Cheers, Gilles

We spent three weeks on the Cook Islands: altogether 9 days on Rarotonga, 7 on Aitutaki and 5 on Atiu. The Cook Islands were definitely a highlight in our trip and those Pacific Islands that matched our ideas of the South Seas.

The highlights of this trip were definitely:
(x) Riding our scooter around on Atiu on roads surrounded by thick lush primary rainforest and still hearing the waves breaking on the reef.
(x) The many attractions on Atiu: to the different caves as well as the eco-tour with “Birdman George”, the historical tour with Papa Paiere or the visit to the coffee plantation with Juergen followed by the visit of the Atelier of Andrea.
(x) The Lagoon Cruise in Aitutaki.
(x) Riding our scooter on the back road on Rarotonga through the greenest possible vegetation, passing small plantations full of exotic fruits.
(x) An evening at a Tumunu on Atiu, enjoying homebrewed beer in a Bush Pub with the locals.
(x) Shopping the freshest tropical fruits, all kinds of herbs at Tauono’s Garden on Aitutaki and cooking delicious meals following Sonja’s recipes.
(x) Snorkelling in Aitutatki near the old runway.

When thinking back of the Cook Islands, the following will always stay in our mind:
(x) Impressive tropical scenery and Aitutatki’s breathtaking lagoon.
(x) Extremely friendly people, especially in Atiu.
(x) Travel really off the beaten tracks: we were only 5 tourists on Atiu.
(x) Extremely expensive supermarkets with no fresh food except potatoes and onions.
(x) Locals waiting for weeks for goods arriving on the monthly cargo boat.
x) English backpackers descending on Rarotonga and doing nothing but hang out at Vara’s. Many of them are on the so popular “One World” Round The World Ticket: London - Bangkok - Sydney - Auckland - Fiji - Rarotonga - Los Angeles - London, all of it English spoken!

Of course, few things we should have done differently:
(x) Spend less time on over-advertised Aitutaki, which really only has a lagoon to offer to tourists.
(x) Spend maybe one or two days more on Atiu, it is so pleasant and there is so much to do.
(x) Try to see other and more remote islands, but unfortunately Air Rarotonga forces tourist to go through Rarotonga for each island, which makes it tiresome and expensive.

Conclusion?
The Cook Islands are a great destination in the Pacific: they are very scenic, offer the so much longed for South Seas flair and are very different. Budget accommodation is widely available. Hopefully, the outer islands, especially Atiu, get the attention they deserve.

Glad to see you had a good time. I agree with msot of the things you liked and didn't like.

But one thing has to be corrected: you said:

"x) English backpackers descending on Rarotonga and doing nothing but hang out at Vara’s. Many of them are on the so popular “One World” Round The World Ticket: London - Bangkok - Sydney - Auckland - Fiji - Rarotonga - Los Angeles - London, all of it English spoken!"

Yes, those young UK backpackers can be the worst guests in the world! BUT---Air NZ no longer flies from Fiji to the Cooks, so they have to now choose the Cooks OR Fiji on that RTW ticket. I do hope they all, except for the few nice and considerate ones, pick Fiji!

#1: Do you really hope that? Doesn't tourism contribute a huge amount to the Cook Islands economy? If there are so many UK backpackers visiting this country and suddenly they went to Fiji instead, wouldn't that hurt the Cook Islands economy?

As a UK backpacker heading to the Cook Islands in March, I'd be interested in hearing what is so bad about this particular nationality.

Hi #2,

there is nothing bad about English backpackers.
What we experienced though was that lots of kids (in the beginning of their 20s, I mean) just hang there and do nothing all day long and do not discover the Cook Islands.
That was just a remark.
Now we shared a bungalow with an English couple (backpackers) and had great time with them.

Cheers, Gilles

By the way ...
When on the Cooks, plan the extra money to go to Aitutaki and especially to Atiu.
Those places are great!

Hi Gilles, sorry, my comment was aimed more at Raro. Have read your report and am even more excited now!

Wow, you were lucky to be able to go to Atiu as well. I spent three weeks on Aitutaki and would definitely recommend it to anyone. Some of my fondest memories are there. What a beautiful place and yes, riding around the island on a scooter, with the crabs scuttling to the side in the dusky evenings, was a highlight.
Happy times :-)

Hi

My boyfriend and I only have 6 or 7 nights in the Cooks on our RTW ticket in late September and we hoped to get off the beaten track a little. Is it worth spending any time at all on Rarotonga or should we just spend time on Atiu and other islands? Any advice on an itinerary would be welcome. We maybe need one night out partying and then a bit of peace and quiet and lots of scooter hire!!!!

Thanks

Rarotonga is beautiful, I wouldn't miss it.

Hi Kats74,

I aagree with #8, Rarotonga is indeed beautiful but defibitelly not of the beaten tracks.
Atiu definitively is ... But you do not need 7 days there, 3-4 are fine (plan to be a Friday night so that you can enjoy a Bushbeer ;-)
So I would consider a few days in Raro & a few days in Atiu if you are on for a off the beaten tracks experience or a few days on Aitutaki if you are in for a real "South Pacific as on the postcards experience". But Aitutaki is expensive and even less off the beaten tracks ...

Cheers
Gilles