Cook islands in December

Hey,

Im going to the cook islands from the 9th - 20th December and wondering if anyone else is going at the same time?

Im starting to think im going ot be the only person there! ha!

Thanks

Leanne

Don't worry, there will be lots of tourists there, of all ages and budgets. To meet people, stay at a place like Vara's. Raro Backapackers, Aquarius, or Paradise Inn. Go to the Staircase in town as a bar, easy to meet people. Take some tours, like the Cross-island hike with Pa, or a Safari Tour by jeep, you'll meet people that way.

Hi Leanne - I will be heading to Raratonga on 6 December for a week so maybe we'll cross over. Where you staying? Where you from etc etc? I am thinking of going to Aitutaki for a few days too...

Rachel
(29yrs from London, currently in Melbourne)

Hi All,

I am a Kiwi (well 1/2 at least as a New Zealand Perm Resident - LOL) and I am coming to The Cooks for 17 days from 19/12 - 04/01 for Xmas and New Years. Does anyone want a travel buddy or someone fun to pal around with. I am a fun well-traveled photographer so I'll be keen to explore new places by kayak, plane, hiking, scooter, etc? I am planning on staying in the Varas Backpackers on Roratonga for the first week and hiring a scooter. After that, I am unsure where to go and what island to hop to next.

Does anyone have any good ideas for me for New Years?
Anyone else going to be there during this time?

Anyway, get in touch with me if you want a fun travel mate.
Cheers from Wellington, NZ

John
SkypeID: PhotoGuyNZ
email: john_mcelhiney@yahoo.co.uk

Hello Leanne,

I will be on Raro as well from 13 to 20 December 08 (have been planning it on rather short notice). I am having quite some time to figure out where to stay for a reasonable price (and see the sunset every day). For the moment I came up with the Moana Sands and the Aremango Guesthouse - what have you found interesting? There are plenty of apartments with 1-2 bedrooms to share (same price whether for 1 or 2 persons).

would be nice to hear from you!
Vero

Not to interject in your discussion #4, but you won't see the sunset from Aremango Guesthouse, as it's on the east side of the island. You might see it a little from Moana Sands, on the south side. But Aremango is a budget backpacker type place, a lot cheaper than Moana Sands, and it's only about 85m from the water, at Muri Beach.

Hi Raro, thanks for your comments! The longer I look at the accommodation on offer in the Cooks the less I know what to choose - maybe you can give me a hint or two? I would like to be in a place where I can see the sunset, maybe in the south, where it isn't so far to go to Muri Beach for snorkeling and swimming if at the place I would be staying the lagoon isn't deep enough. And for a reasonable price, maybe under 100/150 NZ. Thanks in advance! Vero

hey

iv booked to stay at vara's guesthouse. i know a few people that have stayed there all of which dont have a bad thing to say about the place.

have you booked anywhere to stay yet??

lea

#6---Vero--
Most places on the south coast will be near water deep enough to snorkel in, the SW corner of RAR is the deepest part of the lagoon.
If you rent a scooter you can get to Muri Beach in five or ten minutes from there. Check out places in "Titikaveka" or "Vaima'anga" , via www.ck . Also check the old posts once you get some names of places, some have good reviews, other are so-so.

While you won't see the sunset from Muri, the sky actually is still very nice at dusk, often a nice orange-red tint if there are any high clouds.

And if it's a full moon when you're there, at some time at night it will be over the lagoon at Muri, and it's a spectacular sight to see.

PS---In late December the sunset will be far to the southwest of the Cooks, so that time of year you can see the sunset from the south coast. That ends about late January or Feb.

But I don't like the west coast, Arorangi et al. The lagoon is very shallow, lots of petty crime, esp. of rental houses, etc. Lots of noise and drunks on the weekends, tho that is true for most of RAR, even Muri.