5 weeks -- Cooks or Solomons?

I'm a 33-year-old male looking to unplug for 5-6 weeks in the South Pacific. Mainly interested in finding the best beaches to chill on and do some hiking, maybe ride a moped, Don't care at all about bars, partying. On a limited budget. Would like to get away from over-touristed areas too, maybe even sleep out under the stars on a deserted beach or in a hut. Will be carrying travelling lightly, but would like to find a couple sweet places to chill for a while.

Where would you recommend going? And why?

Thanks muchos.... and happy trails.

Definitely the Solomons.
Far more islands to choose from, far bigger ones than in the Cooks thus offering more hiking/beaches, and certainly far fewer tourists - basically not a single over-touristed area to speak of.
And the Solomons also happens to be one of the cheapest countries in the South Pacific.

I'd say Solomons too. Although Cook Islands are beautiful, it's not cheap at all, and sleeping on the beaches is not allowed.

I did just what you described in the summer of 2000 when I was 31. Went for the same reasons, wanted the same experience, didn't have a lot of money, wanted to be pretty remote and just relax.

The Cooks were fantastic. At first - even as I got off the plane and realized I was reeeally far away - I though "What the f am I going to do here for 6 weeks?" Thought I'd made a huge mistake and sort of freaked out a bit. It was incredibly quiet there and I don't think I'd ever heard such silence before.

But you know, that was by far the most relaxed I've ever, ever been in my life. Took about a week to get into a groove and it was extraordinary. I woke up when the roosters crowed at 7 AM and was in bed when it got dark at 7 PM. Days were spent swimming, reading, going for walks, eating papaya, napping,looking out to the lagoodn, etc. There was a drumming festival that took place while I was there and that was pretty amazing.

Rarotonga is beautiful, just beautiful, and Aitutaki is even more stunning but in a different way. Have only been to Oahu, Big Island and Kauai in Hawaii and then those two Cook Islands, but I'd say go for the Cooks. Amazing place.

I also say the Solomons, although not sure you'd find a moped for rent. Other than that, Solomons wins, hands down.

I'm curious, Solomon lovers, where specifically do these best beaches on a limited budget away from over-touristed areas exist, with the possibility of sleeping on a deserted beach under the stars or in a hut.

I've not been to the Solomons but there are lots of places in the Southern Cooks that probably meet your criteria.

Raro and Aitutaki wouldn't qualify but all of the other islands have the things you're talking about, including MoPeds.

You can find some pretty cheap, ($40-50NZD) places on all of these islands. You can find fruit to eat and fish to catch on them too. Wild pawpaw (papaya) are easy to find any time and mangoes and coconuts are available for the taking if they are on the roads or trails.

In order of seclusion and lack of company, from least to most, the islands rate like this: Raro, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke & Mitiaro. Raro is real busy, Aitutaki is a party place, Aitu is mellow, Mangaia is large and pretty, Mauke is romantic and Mitiaro is well... interesting.

You may hear that some of the Southern Group of the Cooks don't have beaches. That's bad information, they all have secluded beaches where you can easily be alone.

Have fun... and mix with the locals. They are great people to know and the friendliest I've ever met. I've been there five times.

PS: Be sure and tell your host about any plans to sleep out on a beach overnight. If you don't they'll worry about you and come looking for you in the middle of the night.

Edited by: H2ooh

Edited by: H2ooh

sc, click on the PNG link in my signo line, and see my pic ofthe Shortlands - a beach.
Then go to my homepage on VT, and among my Top Tenlists, you will find one listing islands, with the accompanying pic also being of the same place (different angle).
It may not suit your requirements (more on this by email, if interested), but it did match my criterea of a very pretty, unspoilt island with very fine beach. And it had a fair few rivals to get on that list!
There might be others in the Solomons that could suit your requirements better though.