Page 10 - Pacific Paradises 2019

— Cook Islands — Cook Islands —
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on Sunday. Most people attend church and with the triangle route to reduce even more umukai is usually part of an island night
the air is vibrant with their beautiful singing travel time. show featured at major hotels. The delectable
called imene tuki. The ruins of the old In Mauke, you can explore the jungle- buffet and traditional dancing is all part of
Sunday School, built by the missionaries, covered limestone rocks to find the famous the culture of the Cook Islands and you can
that have been renovated and are now the Maire plant and organic tropical garden lush also experience this at the Highland Paradise
Beachcomber Pearl and Art Gallery. In the with fruit. Discover Mitiaro and its village and Te Vara Nui cultural attractions.
harbour, remnants of the wreck of the SS home-stay and live with a local family in Wining and dining in Rarotonga is a treat
Maitai that was sunk in 1916 remain and its a traditional thatched roof hut. Mitiaro is with many excellent restaurants offering
main engine still protrudes from the reef.
ringed with beach coves and underground local and international cuisine in some very
You can trek through the Takuvaine/Avatiu swimming caves with natural healing romantic locations.
valleys to see tropical vegetation or visit the properties. Mangaia is dominated with Activities and shopping guide
Marae ‘Arai te Tonga’, a stone structure raised limestone coral and has numerous There are a variety of activities on offer
forming the royal court of the reigning ariki caves that stretch into giant underground to suit any traveller. Relaxing lagoon
(high chief). caverns. At 18 million plus years it is believed cruises are available on two of the world’s
to be one of the oldest in the Pacific.
Where to stay most beautiful lagoons, Muri Lagoon on
Rarotonga has a wide and varied selection Getting around Rarotonga and the world famous Aitutaki
of accommodation from first-class hotels Rarotonga is only 32 kilometres in Lagoon. Popular pastimes include sailing,
and resorts, luxury villas and self-catering circumference and one main road encircles windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding,
individual bungalows to backpacker the entire island, making it fairly easy to get snorkelling and scuba diving. Boats are
facilities. around. Cook’s Buses, the local bus service, available for charter for deep-sea and
offers great public transport operating game fishing. Shops are open 8am to 4pm
Aitutaki has a varied selection of around Rarotonga in both directions, on Monday to Friday, and 8am to noon on
accommodation, similar in quality to regular day and evening schedules. The Saturdays. On Saturday mornings the
Rarotonga. Atiu has a varied but smaller clockwise or anti-clockwise bus will pick you popular local market place, Punanga Nui, in
selection of backpacker to mid-range up and set you down anywhere on request. downtown Avarua offers a range of tropical
accommodation available. Only basic needs delicacies and local craft items.
are met on the islands of Mauke, Mitiaro Vehicles are driven on the left hand side
(which recently launched a new homestay of the road. By law Safety helmets must Climate and clothing
operation) and Mangaia. be worn by all visitors for both drivers Warm and sunny all year round. Rainy
Visiting more than Rarotonga and passengers. Drivers of all types of season is December to March. Average
o
All major inhabited islands are accessible by vehicles are required to have either a current summer temperature is 26 C. Casual brief
air. There are more than three daily flights international license or a Cook Islands swimwear should be kept for beaches or
from Rarotonga to Aitutaki. Flights to Atiu, driver’s license which can be obtained from poolside. Nude and topless sunbathing is
Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro are scheduled the Police station in downtown Avarua. unacceptable.
many times a week. Atiu is recognised as Food and entertainment Currency
the third island to visit in the Cook Islands Nightspots and bars will, on occasion, have The NZ dollar, supplemented by local
behind Aitutaki and three times a week there live entertainment. A highlight of the Cook coinage (not negotiable outside the Cook
is a convenient triangle air route around the Islands is the Polynesian feast, umukai, Islands). The dollar coin bearing the symbol
three islands of Rarotonga, Aitutaki and prepared in the traditional style with foods of the traditional god, Tangaroa, is popular
Atiu. Air Rarotonga and Air New Zealand such as ika mata (marinated fish with with coin collectors, as is the $3 note.
also have a code share agreement that allows coconut sauce), eke (octopus), taro (tuba There are ATMs located on Rarotonga and
you to book an international flight direct vegetable), rukau (cooked taro leaves similar Aitutaki. EFTPOS is available. Tipping is
to and from Aitutaki that can be combined to spinach), and kumara (sweet potato). An not customary but is appreciated.

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