Rarotonga

My boyfriend and I are planning our working holiday to NZ for this coming September - but on the way back we have the option to stop in Rarotonga on the way to LAX, before returning to London.

Could anyone PLEASE help me by telling me how much money I would need for maybe 5 days in Rarotonga (incl accommodation, food etc)

bout $700

I think $700 $NZ is low. Unless you are going to stay in a backpackers. I think you should budget at least 100-120 $NZ a night for accommodations alone. You might want to take a look a the following web site:
http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/for-rent/pacific-islands/cook-islands-rarotonga-/

The key is to budget carefully on Rarotonga by staying in affordable accommodion around the Avarua area (main township) . Accommodation in this area includes Paradise Inn, Tiare Village, Orchid villas. All are either in, or a short walk from, Avarua where there are plenty of cheap eats at takeaways, cafes, market stalls, or bar-restaurants including Raviz, Whatever!, and Staircase. Tiare Village is popular with younger travellers and they provide airport transfers. Paradise Inn is right in town, located on the beachside with fab seaviews and a nice bar area. All are self-catering properties. Tiare Village would likely be the cheapest of the 3 identified.

Take the local bus service to reach the outlying areas for sightseeing. Fares start from $4.00 per journey. Or buy a 10 trip (transferable) concession card for $20.00. Hiring scooters is also a popular way to get about due to affordability. But you need a local driver's licence which will cost $20 on Rarotonga.

Caid mille falte. I'm sure my spelling is atrocious but please accept the sentiment.

Before price comes objective. If drinking till the wee hours in tropical warmth is the goal, then stay nearer town. As said by somebody already, Tiari Village is cheapest. Next to the airport, probably 1.5-2K from town. You will need a torch as street lighting is spasmodic and dogs common. Its cheap and cheerful and clean enough. Has a pool too. But its a bit of a hike to your quintesential white sand, palm lined beach. Same distance out the other side of town is the cheapest of the resorts. Google Club Raro. Ive never been but the beach is pure rocks.

If the alure is the classic tropical beach with good safe snorkeling then you should aim at anywhere from Arorangi district anti clockwise to Muri beach. Muri is about the dearest area and by far the most heavily populated by tourists but does have more bars etc. Arorangi is west coast and the best sunsets but not a lot of accomodation.

Twice we stayed at Rarotonga Back Packers. Not in the main dorm depot but a mile up the coast. They have "Garden Bungalows" at about $NZ85/night. c/w linen, towels etc. Sufficiantly furnished and fully self contained. With enough local corner stores to survive a week or so. Easy to find on Google.

If money isnt much of a problem check "The Rarotongan" Nice place in classic resort kind of way but very well situated over looking a great part of the lagoon and wonderful snorkeling.

Eating out is about the same prices as Auckland which of course doesnt mean much to you yet. Raro does not have top end restaurants. Nice kind of a place mains $NZ30-40. In town burger bar lunch $NZ10. Beer $7. Buy Heineken when u arrive at Duty Free. Yes its open even if you arrive midnight. Buy wine in NZ supermarket before u leave Auckland.

Raro is not particularly a party island but it is beautiful. Great snorkeling inside the reef (saw a turtle last year) Good bush walks if u have the motor scooter to get to them. Superb beaches on west coast but just piles of broken fossil coral on east and north side. You can bring any food u want. Yep even some nice steak, bacon, your favourite cheese or whatever. Tick the box re food in bags etc. Its ok.

I thoroughly recommend hiring a scooter. No helmet rquired up to 40kph. Great island for beedling round either the coast road or the ancient interior road. Raro is a bit like a big farm. Chickens are wild, pigs are common and as i said lots of dogs. I must say that in the daytime the dogs are the friendliest dogs on planet Earth. They adopt you and follow along when u walk.

If u are a Christian there is church called Celebration on the Rock right opposite the airport. 10am start. Really switched on with dynamic leadership.

Probably more than u asked for and not many answers on what u did ask. But you MUST stop off at Raro while passing this way. September in NZ is pretty yuck so better to have two weeks in paradise.

Kia Orana. Dakes

Stay someplace real cheap and spend the money for a day trip to Aitutaki....

Dakes, this isn't my thread, but i have just read your replya and its REALL:Y helpful! My fiance and i are planning a very similar trip and the info you have given is great, thanks for beiong so helpful!

:)