Cook-islands - Aitutaki, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Mangaia???

Hi
Me and my future wife are going to the cookislands for our honeymoon. We are planning to stay for about 3 week with a some what limited budget. After a couple of days on Raro we would like to visit some of the other islands. We will definitely visit Aitutaki but what about the other islands ?(Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Mangaia, north islands?).
We would also appreciate tips or suggestions about accomondation, things to do/see (and things to don´t do/see), what to bring from home and so on.
Thanks a lot

Mats & Astrid

As I have always recommend to others, as a start on info about the Cook Islands, visit this page www.ck/ and should equip you with basic info, the islands, accommodation and other CI information. Also learn't a newly book on Cook Islands is, "Papa Mike's Cook Island Handbook" by Mike Hollywood, published Sep 2003 can also be useful. You can site book at www.iUniverse.com and seach for the book title.

Aitutaki is good to visit and other islands also offer a different unique experience. Atiu, mangaia or Mauke are popular on underground cave tours. For more on outer island accommodation, can visit www.jetsave.co.ck and arrange booking thru them if you wish.

ciao
Tang01

As Tang mentioned [Tang, do you live here in the Cooks, you give good advice!], Aitutaki is a good choice for a second island to visit. It has a large lagoon, good accommodation, etc.

Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro and Mangaia have no lagoon, just a couple of tiny spots in the reef to swim a few strokes. Not many tourists visit them---esp. Mangaia--so it is quite a different experience than here (RAR) and Aitutaki.

The Northern Group is pretty much out. Manihiki was hit by a cyclone, and is only taking a few tourists at most, and Penrhyn's weekly flights are now sporadic. And even if you could go to Manihiki, it's about NZ$1100 round trip from Rarotonga.

There is a nice triangle fare put out by Air Rarotonga that starts in RAR and goes to both Aitutaki and Atiu, so that might be something to consider. You can get a package all donwe by Jetsave, or Island Hopper Travel, etc.

Hei, Mats og Astrid!

Rarotonga and Aitutaki should definitively not be missed, but if You have the time and money, a visit to another Cook Island is highly recommended. There are others on TT who knows a lot more than me about Mitiaro Mauke, Atiu and even the Northern Islands, but I am one of the very few who has been to MANGAIA!

Mangaia has no dramatic mountains like Raro or any spectacular lagoon like Aitutaki. The few beaches are small, quite idyllic, but not very good for swimming. (to shallow) The big attraction of this island is the remoteness, the lack of tourists and the unbelivable peace and quietness. (Myself and 3 other tourists were the first visitors for 2 weeks!)

If You decide to visit Mangaia, stay at "Ara Moana". It is spotlessy run by a countryman of You, swedish Jan Kristensson (from Gothenburg) and his local wife Tu. Jan and Tu are the perfect hosts, and Jan will be happy to show You around the Island.

Read my small article about my stay on Mangaia on this adress. (In Norwegian)

Here and here are a little more about "Ara Moana"

You will find another visitors impression of Mangaia on this website. (In English)

And here are my pictures from Mangaia. (And Aitutaki/Rarotonga)

Ha en riktig God Tur til Cookøyene!
Hilsen

Hi- We went to Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu for our honeymoon in Oct 2003. We spent 7 nights in Raro at the Little Polynesian (we really liked it there), 5 nights at Rinos (ok) on Aitutaki and 3 nights at the Aitu Villas (loved it) in Aitu. I wish we would of spent one less day in Aitutaki and one more day in Atiu. I don' t think we could of squeezed another island in there. All 3 islands are very different from each and each defiantly worth a visit if you have the time/money. In the paper they had lots of deals to Atiu, we booked everything before we left the US though.

Here is a good site about Atiu:

Atiu

Have a great time
Denise

eflatjan - great pictures!

I just purchased Mike Hollywood's "Papa Mike's Cook Island Handbook" - much better than the Lonely Planet one I got before our 1st trip there 2 years ago. Read, read and read some more - the internet is full of stuff on the Cooks. You'll never find a more beautiful place to go. The locals are fantastic people and will be a big part of making your holiday a success.

Hope you have a wonderful time

Michelle

PS - Congratulations!

I have to agree with Efltajan. My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at Ara Moana in Feb 2003. If you're looking for a really quiet, peaceful getaway, Mangaia is a good destination. Jan and Tu are wonderful, and Jan in particular loves to show you around. We highly recommend the motorcycle tour of the island, and the cave tour, with Terry the cave man. There are no restaurants on the island, so I recommend you book either the full board (3 meals a day), or at least half-board (breakfast and supper) at Ara Moana. There's a couple of small stores where you can find bread and tinned meat, and there is fruit available if you wanted to pack your own lunches.