fiji vs. cook islands for active budget travellers

Me and my girlfriend are planning a trip to either Fiji or the Cook islands. We plan to go fo 2-3 weeks and then carry on to New Zealand. Since we are both 19 we are on a budget. Doing things like hiking, snorkeling, and independant exploring are on top of the list. Some beach lounging is always nice, but for the most part we basically want to stay busy, active, and amused. We aren't big on partying but would love to meet other travellers and locals. We plan on bringing a tent and don't mind camping if it makes accomadation cheaper. Any suggestions on which destination fits this criteria best?

I've only been to Fiji, but I'm pretty sure it's the better one for you, too.
Why?
Because it has much larger islands so more hiking possibilities, it is cheaper, and camping is allowed (prohibited in the Cooks).
The marine life is also richer in Fiji - and that was said by a long-term Cooks resident in the FAQ thread for this forum.
In Fiji it is also easy and cheap to travel between islands by public boats - in the Cooks you basically have to fly.

Your response has made our decision. Thanks alot Laszlo Fji it is.

I've been to Fiji once, the Cook Islands five times, go to the Cooks.....

You can visit Raro, Aitutaki and Aitu all for $400NZ ($320CA) ea.

No restrictions for exploring on your own, no guides required

Good snorkeling at Aitutaki and Aitu, so-so on Raro. Better than Viti Levu even on Rarotonga. Not as good as the Yasawas but still good

Far fewer people, no crowds, cleaner beaches

More interesting culture, best dancers in the South Pacific

Going on to New Zealand? Interested in common culture? Cook Islanders are the Indigenous people of New Zealand.

Just to put things into perspective:

You can visit Raro, Aitutaki and Aitu all for $400NZ ($320CA) ea.

In Fiji, one can visit Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni for ca CA$100.

No restrictions for exploring on your own, no guides required

Same in Fiji.

Far fewer people, no crowds

Hard to believe, considering how much smaller area, and how far fewer islands, the tourists in the Cooks are packed into.
Of course both countries have uncrowded islands: the Cooks maybe a dozen, Fiji a few hundred.

More interesting culture

The Cooks have only Polynesians.
Fiji has both Polynesians and Melanesians, plus the Indians.

Going on to New Zealand? Interested in common culture?

Maybe they are interested in something different instead? ;-)

To all their own though, of course.

More perspective..... albeit with a CI bias ;-)

Cook Islands total resident population is 10,600
Fiji's total resident population is 850,000

77,000 tourists visited the Cook Islands in 2010
632,000 tourists visited Fiji in 2010

Most of the Cook Island tourists never leave Rarotonga and most that do only visit Aitutaki. That leaves all the rest for just a few tourists. Aitu usually has less than 10 visitors on the island at a time and often less than that. I spent 10 days in the off-season in Fiji and never saw a deserted beach and was never out of sight of another tourist. You can always find a deserted beach on Aitu, Mangaia, Mauke or Mitiaro and you can go days without seeing another tourist.

At Octopus Resort in 2008 un-escorted hikes and village visits were not allowed. On our own, we were limited to short beach walks. It's my understanding that is common throughout the Yasawas.

I can walk or scooter just about anywhere I want to go on any island I've visited in the Cooks. I guess I could have walked anywhere I wanted to on Viti Levu but was put off by the guys carrying machine guns :-)

H200h - Viti Levu, Guys carrying machine guns.

The only guy you will see carrying a machine gun is the guard that stands at the gate of the Presidents House in Suva. It looks more like a toy rifle than a machine gun.

At Octopus Resort in 2008 un-escorted hikes and village visits were not allowed. On our own, we were limited to short beach walks. It's my understanding that is common throughout the Yasawas.

Nope, you were fooled by a resort that charges guests for guided walks - this has already been discussed earlier.
I've walked everywhere on the Yasawas (and elsewhere in Fiji) on my own, visiting numerous villages, and the locals couldn't have been more welcoming.

The higher tourists numbers in Fiji are simply because there are far more places for them to visit.
Put the number of visitors and locals against the number of islands/territory each country has, and it will soon be obvious that both tourists and locals in Fiji are actually far thinner on the ground overall than in the Cooks:

Fiji: 322 islands and 18.270 sq km
Cooks:15 islands and 240 sq km

The Cooks' population density is about twice that of Fiji (87 vs 47 persons per sq km). source
And their "tourist density" is ca 10 times higher.

Ditto childchi on the "machine guns" thing.

Lazlo.... I was on Viti Levu during the last coup and our taxi was stopped by armed troops once and on a return trip our van was stopped by an armed roadblock. They were govt troops armed with automatic weapons.

I've also seen posts on this group referring to restrictions on un-escorted visitors in the Yasawas.

As for population and visitor density I agree the stats indicate Fiji is less crowded per sq meter. But my experience is contrary to the data you refer to, probably because I try and make it a point to avoid crowds. To me Viti Levu and the Yasawas were crowded compared to the Cook Islands. I think most folks that have been to both destinations would agree with me.

The Cook Islands are also safer and cleaner than Fiji. You really should visit it some day.

H2ooh

Your posts get more amazing by the minute.

"Going on to New Zealand? Interested in common culture? Cook Islanders are the Indigenous people of New Zealand.'

Oh really!

And I have to agree with Lazlo re your comments about machine guns in Fiji.

BTW Wahtuzzi - camping is not allowed in the CI. And I have visited both countries, more than a few times each.

Edited by: agingaquarian

There is a lot more to Fiji than Viti Levu and the Yasawas.

H2ooh - since you're Cook Is. lover, can I ask you the same question as I have about all the other countries in the region I am going to ask? Except for probably Samoa, WS and New Caledonia, I will be in a dilemma: just stick to the island where the main airport is, or exploring further? Considering the area the Cooks cover, which other ONE island would you say it's "essential" if I don't want to just stay in Raro, and what are the costs involved (flight, accomm).
Note: I am NOT into diving.
Thanks

Alex_Carioca....

I'd have to say Aitutaki for a first visit to the Cooks. James Michener thought it the most beautiful lagoon in the Pacific. I think you can get a one-way fare for $99 and maybe some package deals through travel agencies. Accommodation ranges from budget to very expensive. Lots of opportunity for food and entertainment.

agingaquarian....

Surely you know that your country was first settled by Maori most likely migrating from the Cook Islands!

$99 = €45?
ouch!
I will try to leave the Cooks for last, because I want to take advantage of the fact that a specific flight from Auckland leaves on 01/01/12 and arrived into Raro on 31/12/11, which I intend to book.
Considering that by then I will have travelled the whole month of December through Samoa, AS, Vanuatu, N Caledonia and Tonga (give or take), that will be tough. But who knows, maybe putting a ceiling on this trip's budget will be something to laugh about when I get back home by the end of Jan...
Thanks!

Here's my two cents - Fiji, Fiji, Fiji. I've been to both and although I think the Cooks are beautiful and relaxing, I also find it a tad boring. Guns? I was in Fiji after the first coup and at the tail end of the third ... so there were a few guns in the hands of the military, that's to be expected. They weren't interested in foreigners, just checking for militants. Crikey, it's worse in a lot of other places in the world where the police are just out for dosh.

Alex Carioca

You might be lucky and get a return flight Raro/Aitutaki for NZ$99 but that is if they are on special. They tend to be last minute and not the most popular flights. Have a look at the Air Raro site which will give you an idea of the routes and the normal rack fares. Not cheap, but the islands are not close together!

http://www.airraro.com/

agingaquarian... thanks, I did just after I posted here, actually. It's more like NZ$260 or 180 on some days (OW). So... looks like it's gonna be just the main island for me.

Also, I've seen that Raro's surface is about 40% of Easter Island, for example, and most of the country's tourist accommodation targets the A-class tourist, so I am reconsidering the 10 days I was planning to spend there. A look on booking .com just bring me expensive tourist resorts, although hostelworld .com makes me a little more hopeful.
In any case, I intend to use Couchsurfing, as well as in the other countries on this trip.

Hi again

There are cheaper options on Raro and I'd suggest you have a look on TripAdvisor, do some searching and ask some questions on the forum. This is the link.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g294328-i2626-Cook_Islands.html

There is also lots of self-contained rental accommodation at prices from cheap to very expensive. More space and you have the option to self cater or eat out. Have a look at this site.

http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/for-rent/pacific-islands/cook-islands-rarotonga-/

Some agents have now crept on to this site, but in general you are dealing directly with owners.

There is also a smaller Aitutaki section.

Edited by: agingaquarian

Ok, will keep my eyes open for those too, thanks a lot!