Gambiers/Polynesia/Cooks/Northern atolls

Dear all,

Currently I am at the moment to book a trip to MANGAREVA ( GAMBIER ISLANDS, FRENCH POLYNESIA ) and MANIHIKI ( NORTHERN COOK ISLANDS ).

I will visit also other islands, but these two are the most remote.
I would love to get in touch with someybody who has been to one of those two places. I have doubts. Especially when it comes to money related to what you get.

Thanks you SO much!

The best, Reza

The flight from Rarotonga to Manihiki sometimes gets delayed as long as 6 weeks due to fuel shortages, so make sure you have a lot of time. Also, the flight will set you back about $2500 NZ (from Rarotonga!), so hopefully you have a good amount of money. The flight is made on an non-pressurized Bandolier, which is not for the nervous flier.

And for all that money you get to see a narrow atoll with a fairly modern lifestyle. A friend who is a fan of the Cooks has been and kept showing his photos of Manihiki off, seeing which only made me convinced what a colossial waste of money the trip is.
I'd surely spend that much money on someplace more interesting. Even among atolls, Kiribati and Tuvalu offer more variety and more interesting cultures.

Hello

Thank you so much for your answer!!!

I have been to the atolls of French Polynesia. Tuamotu's.
I thought it is equally beautiful as those atolls or maybe more.
According to my book and the internet it must be very gorgeous, but what didnt he like about it? Can i have contact? I have read the colours of the lagoon must be dazzling at Manihiki...

I like remote places, but do you think Rarotonga and Aitutaki itself are more intersting??
To go to Kiribati from Rarotonga is lovely of course but too expensive as i will arrive from Papeete, Easter Island and Antarctica before.

Thank you!!!

Aitutaki is beautiful. While there are tourists, you can go off-season to avoid crowds. We were two of only five tourists on the entire island of Atiu, where there are fantastic caves to explore. The other southern islands (excluding Raro) see even fewer tourists.

If you like the idea of having islands to yourself, I would head to Palau instead. From there, do a kayak/camping trip in the rock islands, and then take the state boat to Kayangel where there will be no tourists and everyone will have a drinking coconut for you.

How are you getting to Antarctica?

Hello
I will go in march 2015 so not the high season.
But i am still interested in Manihiki ( or Rakahanga ) compared to the Tuamotu Islands.
Acoording to my LP Manihiki has the best lagoon of the pacific...

I will join a cruise to Antarctica. Then Santiago, Easter Island, Tahiti, Cooks.
The best, Reza

What about Mangaia?
Some people here who have been to Mangaia?