seasons in the Cook islands

Hi guys!

I would like to visit the Cook islands but from the research I did, it seems that the best time to go is between May and October. This is exactly when I can't go unfortunately. How will the weather be after that? I probably can go in January or February..... I might also make it there late November till say end of first week of December but not totally sure if I can make it on the latter dates.

My question is re weather...... how bad is it at this time of year? I really wanna go there and see the picture perfect beaches one gets to see when the sea is calm.... Is this the time when the sea is really rough and risk of a cyclone is quite high? Realistically, does it rain for hours on end, making the sea quite murky and unpleasant?

My other question if about the Society Islands. I found info that Auitaki is almost as beautiful as Bora Bora! Is this really the case? I would love to see a lagoon island like that and I don't know if I should definetely have to go to Bora Bora or if Auitaki is comes a close second beauty and nature-wise? I'm aware that Bora Bora is very expensive so is it really worth opting for?

thanks for your help and on offering your expertise!

travel2cool

Late November is a lovely time of year - it's summer without the heat and humidity of January & February. Besides there's lots happening on the island with the Tiare (floral) festival, and people getting into the festive season spirit. It will rain, but not for days on end. The seas can be rough or calm at any time of the year - depending on wind conditions. If it's windy on the SE side of island, simply remove yourself to the sheltered NW, and vice versa. Regarding Aitutaki lagoon. It's undoubtedly magnificent. I havent been to Bora bora, so I cannot make a comparison. However, Ive visited enough destinations globally to remark how impressive the Aitutaki lagoon is. With a number of cruise/charter operators available it's easy to gain access to some part of the lagoon that you are most interested in exploring. And Cook Islands prices are affordable. If you can't make November for your visit, January and February are still going to offer an outstanding islands encounter. Don't worry about cyclones either! If we all sat around waiting for a natural disaster to occur, we would deny ourselves the pleasures in life. Go with the flow like the locals. Enjoy each day as it comes. Picture postcard perfect scenery - sounds to me like paradise, for which Aitutaki is renowned. Enjoy your visit!

Hi,

I visited Aitutaki twice, each time in december/january. Weather was perfect the first time, the second time we had a rain for a week, which wasn't bad - the other 3 weeks were superb.

Bora Bora is beautiful, but the jetset feeling just spoils it for me, so in my opinion Aitutaki is the thing.

Thanks guys! Now I'm more postive to go.... Only prob is that flights are really expensive from Europe especially as I'd like to visit Cooks and Bolivia..... other sides of the world...

Was wondering if you had any pics of your travels there that you might want to share of Rarotonga, Auitaki and Atiu.

Thanks

travel2cool

Lots of pictures posted on the TripAdvisor forum, along with comments on what to see and do. I did read somewhere that One Foot motu is one of the top ten island destinations in the world. All Aitutaki lagoon operators will take you to One Foot. My favourite is Honeymoon island. Suggest you look into Air NZ airfare sale now for flights from Europe to Rarotonga via Los Angeles. Then search Air Rarotonga for return flights Rarotonga-Aitutaki, and book with them for short hop from Rarotonga to Papeete aboard Air Tahiti. Aerolingus Argentinas would have good fares from Papeete to South America, and beyond.

Thanks turou. I did make a research about Honeymoon island as read about it somewhere but couldn't find it... Lots of other islands came up instead. Is there another name for it ... maybe a local name in the Polynesian language?

Never heard of One Foot motu so I'll check that out.... thanks for the info re ways to get there.

Cheer

Good day to you

travel2cool

Oh I did find some pics of Honeymoon island now! And thanks for mentioning One Foot motu... it looks so beautiful!! Can't understand how these islands are all within Auitaki though.... So when saying there's 15 islands in the Cooks these are considered as one or as 3 islands? Are there islands within Auitaki and they're all known as Auitaki then? Sorry this is still very unclear to me-...

cheers
travel2cool

Kia Orana travelcool,

Aitutaki is comprised of the main island, Aitutaki, and is grouped by some 15 small islets, fanned out in a necklace shape with the wide lagoon remaining at the centre of the setting. Around the entire circumference is the coral reef, and beyond this the deep ocean. The lagoon itself is relatively shallow - 8/10 metres maximum depth. Lagoon is a turquoise colour, contrasted by the deep blue of the ocean, and the leaf green of the islands flora. All very spectcular. You would have found that the islet of One Foot is properly known as Tapuetai (translating to One Foot). Honeymoon is really part of Maina motu, situated in the SW corner of the lagoon. Honeymoon sand cay has been evolving in more recent times, and depending on tidal influences it shifts by nature, although at its centre the coconut trees and lowland coastal shrubs and leaf litter are providing a basis upon which to form a separate islet. Honeymoon is the habitat of a few endangered sea-birds who nest there and raise chicks. A nice custom is for couples to plant a coconut tree onto the sandy foreshore on Honeymoon, and if it grows we say the relationship will grow and strengthen also.

All the cruise operators will take guests over to Honeymoon, or One Foot islets. Bishops Cruises own the actual post office and beachbar/BBQ hut on One Foot. Just beyond One Foot during the spring season (Cook Islands) and if winds are favourable, kite surfing is a new sport taking off on Aitutaki. Over on Maina, there is a rental beach-hut where guets can stay. Enquire from Junior Maoate who owns Maina Traders & Paradise Cove resort, Aitutaki. The beach hut on One Foot can be rented via the proprietor of Mango Traders, Aitutaki. Akaiami motu, the landing site for the former TEAL seaplane (flying the former Coral route) has both a guest lodge (Ginas Lodges) and Mama Ru's has 3/4 separate lodges (the Pare Karl family). Staying on any of these offshore islets is a once in a lifetime, and rustic experience. Oh, I could wax lyrical for days, the experience of visualising and enjoying Aitutaki leaves many lasting impressions. I hope you will discover the true magic of 'paradise' soon.

Wow what a great explanation and interesting info!!! Thanks a lot turou! Your post really rocks!!...... Hope I can make it there in November... I really don't want to risk January....

thanks again

travel2cool

Yes, November is a littler cooler and less humid than in Jan/Feb, but it is not a question of "risk" in January! Cyclones are, all in all, pretty rare.

Try to get a place with air-con if it's Jan/Feb, and if not, a ceiling fan is a must.

Bora Bora is more spectacular than Aitutaki, but also two or three times more expensive, (in general terms, bargains are out there if you look). Aitutaki is a good alternative.

Aitutaki is basically a half-eroded volcano. The main island has not eroded much, so it still has good volcanic soil. The little islets to the east and south are coral outcrops that grew on outer edges of the original volcanic cone. So, Aitutaki is one geographic and political island, but the little islets ("motu") all have their own name as well.

Aitutaki is well worth about three days, more if you just want to laze on a beach and enjoy the lagoon.

Hi again

I'm considering going in May or some other time. I might get a better chance for good weather.

I was just wondering if you know any sites or places for camping in Raro, Aitutaki and Atiu please? I'll be travelling to other countries so I can't spend a lot when there. If there are no sites, is there any camping places you can mention? Do I always need my own tent or are there any on-site ones I can rent? If I had to do these islands on a budget what will the daily expenses look like? Can you please give me a rough idea?

thanks

travel2cool

You won't find any camping grounds, because we have a no camping policy throughout the Cook Islands. The backpackers lodges offer very good accommodation however. May is a good time to visit due to the cooler temps (after summer heat and humidity) and has hisotrically low rainfall. But expect a few showers to occur nevertheless being a tropical maritime nation.

Thanks! Are there any web sites that you can recommend re cheap lodging?

cheers

travel2cool