Cook Islands tips & recommendations

[ellen10]

We are looking at booking a holiday to the Cook Islands. Thinking of spending some time in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Probably about 10 days.
Looking for some ideas and recommendations. I have seen that Jetstar now have a direct flight to Rarotonga, but with mixed reviews.
We love to swim and snorkel. I don't know anyone who has been there before.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We are looking at booking a holiday to the Cook Islands. Thinking of spending some time in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Probably about 10 days.
Looking for some ideas and recommendations. I have seen that Jetstar now have a direct flight to Rarotonga, but with mixed reviews.
We love to swim and snorkel. I don't know anyone who has been there before.

If you have access to the 9Now app, Travel Guides went to the Cook Islands in last week’s show. Looks amazing!

 

[lovestotravel]

Went there about a decade ago, from memory it was MEL-AKL-RAR on Air NZ with some shocking flight times.

Stayed at Pacific Resort Aitutaki and Pacific Resort Rarotonga.

Was an amazing trip, but mainly stayed at the beach and pool

 

[luxury-lizard]

We're off to the Cook Islands on Monday (July 15) staying 7 nights on Aitutaki then 5 on Rarotonga. Will report back. Since we wanted to fly business class, the flights on NZ are: SYD-AKL/overnight/AKL-RAR-AIT arriving on July 15. Same on the return - not a cheap date - about nearly $8000 for 2 - resorts also fairly expensive. I haven't seen the 9Now travel guide but will watch today.

One funny fact - since my birthday is July 16, I will have 2 birthdays - we leave AKL on July 16 but arrive July 15 so another birthday the following day - I've told Mr LL this requires twice as many presents and parties

 

[ellen10]

We had been looking at the Cook Islands or Fiji for our next sun and water holiday. I love swimming and snorkelling.
After watching the show Travel Guides the other night we thought lets do it!
I usually book all my holidays myself, but trying to do some research on places to stay and resorts etc, plus airfares and put it all together.

I am wondering should I use a travel agent. I have also looked at some package deals from MyHoliday. I did send off a quick enquiry last night, waiting to hear back from them.

@luxury-lizard your trip looks perfect, I would like to do something similar. Did you book it yourself or go through an agent?
I will look forward to your report back.

 

[luxury-lizard]

hi @ellen10 - we booked it ourselves - quite easy - flights on the AirNZ website (if you want to fly J then be careful as NZ will offer flights where the SYD-AKL is in Y, at almost the same price as J all the way - if you're looking at Y then it's not a problem. But if you're looking at Y I would consider Jetstar - their non-stop flight ex-SYD only has Y - we're not fans of Jetstar)) - it seems the only option connection-wise requires an overnighter in AKL (adding to the cost of course and the hassle as you need to go through NZ immigration and customs) - we booked Pacific Resort Aitutaki and Te Manava Luxury Villas on Rarotonga directly through the resorts. Pacific Resort had a special where you pay 5 and get 7 nights. All contact with the resorts has been prompt and friendly.

I'll report back when we return on maybe progress reports while we are there.

 

[kpc]

Bookmarked as we would love to go to Cook Islands one day...they say it is a poor man's Bora Bora where we have been before

 

[ellen10]

Wow @luxury-lizard, looks like you got a great deal. I just looked at both those resorts and their prices are $4900 for 5 nights in Aitutaki in November and $3400 for 5 nights at the Rarotonga resort. They do look wonderful though. And we would need to add airfares.
I will look forward to your feedback when you visit.

I have been in contact with a Travel Agent and I will see what he suggests. We will see him on Thursday.

 

[lovestotravel]

I just looked at the Pacific Resort Aitutaki and wow it's cheaper than quite a few of the Fiji resorts we visit.

Once the kids are older we'll head back to the Cook Islands either with or without them

 

[Tiki]

Have a look at AirBnB. Most of the rentals are purposely built for tourists by the locals on land they have had in their family for generations. They range from budget to luxury and are good value if you want the option of self-catering.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'll report back when we return on maybe progress reports while we are there.

That would be great if if you could thanks. I’m another in the considering Cook Islands camp.

On your birthdays, yes, you get another but doesn’t thatmean you age a year overnight?

 

[DC3]

We are looking at booking a holiday to the Cook Islands …

Could be an interesting TR coming up.

 

[DC3]

… booked Pacific Resort Aitutaki and Te Manava Luxury Villas on Rarotonga directly through the resorts. Pacific Resort had a special where you pay 5 and get 7 nights. All contact with the resorts has been prompt and friendly.

I'll report back when we return on maybe progress reports while we are there.

Looks like another TR coming up.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Here is a preliminary report (not a full TR with photos).

We left SYD Friday July 15 on NZ - it was a very tedious trip - an early morning flight SYD-AKL (scheduled for 9am but left at 10:30am) - arrived AKL around 5pm and stayed overnight at the Pullman at the airport - July 16 another early morning NZ flight to RAR departing 9am and arriving about 1pm July 15 in RAR - then an hour later our Air Raratonga flight to Aitutaki - 45 minutes.

The NZ flights were in paid J with the Air Raratonga ticket on the same PNR - total cost per person (return) nearly $4000 plus of course the Pullman at AKL. NZ would not check our luggage through so we had to collect it at AKL and re-check the following morning. New Zealand has recently introduced (optional) online Customs and Immigration forms which we used and this smoothed entry into NZ.

If you are flying Y, I would certainly consider the non-stop JetStar service - it felt like we had travelled across the globe.

Our resort, Pacific Resort, met us at the Aitutaki airport for the short transfer to the hotel which is advertised as luxury (no children under 12 years old) - it has a beautiful setting with all bungalows beach front - we booked the highest category room (a 2 room suite) which with their pay 5 stay 7 offer cost just over $NZ 7000 - breakfast included. All other F&B are in addition - food is not cheap - think NZ prices (entries $20-25 mains $25-45) but wine is very well priced - a bottle of Cloudy Bay Chardonnay $80 (note all prices mentioned are NZ$). I would not call the resort high-end luxury - but very nice just a bit dated - and very much a boutique style resort. In our opinion the food at the restaurant was a bit average but then we're a bit fussy.

Now onto activities - the resort has snorkelling right off the beach - the whole island is surrounded by a beautiful lagoon BUT the snorkelling is very tidal - you must go close to high tide otherwise it is too shallow for good snorkelling. There are also kayaks, SUPs and bikes. So if you want to get out onto the lagoon and the many small islands you need to take a tour - of which there are many. We took a 20-person all-day snorkelling and island hopping tour @ $180 pp - BBQ lunch included but all drinks (regular coke and beer are extra) - We snorkelled at 3 different spots for about 45 minutes each - stopping at a small island for a beach walk - the BBQ lunch was at a small "private" island - the highlight was many nesting red-tailed tropicbirds - gorgeous chicks you could walk right up to and photograph. The tour ended with a 45 minute stop at One-Foot Island beach - with more lagoon swimming etc. It was a great day out - highly recommended.

The following day we hired a car from the resort for $45 for 6 hours - more than enough to explore the whole island - we did all of 45K's.

Many tourists hire motor bikes to toot around - we're a bit past that. There are variety of other tours all focused on water activities.

All in all Aitutaki is lovely - the lagoon s amazing but the coral a little disappointing - there is no soft coral but lots of hard coral and plenty of fish. The island is a bit of a step back in time - no development to speak of, with small resorts - the locals are all very friendly - service is excellent and all locals we have encountered seem well educated with excellent English. Unlike many other Pacific and Asian islands it does not seem "impoverished" - no mega mansions but no shanty-style housing.

More to follow ... some pictures as well.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks @luxury-lizard for the comprehensive update.
We have been to a TA and was looking at dates in November. He suggested 5 nights Rarotonga (our flights would not require an overnight in NZ but arrive 1am Rarotonga. We would then fly to Aitultaki for 4 nights and then back to Rarotonga for another 2 nights before a day flight home.

Dates aren't our favourite but flights, can vary a lot at the time. So they are the cheapest flights without an overnight stay around $4400 for Y

We are thinking of maybe postponing until May next year as flights are a little cheaper and we can pick more suitable dates.

I really appreciate your update and activities suggestions.

I will look forward to more follow up and some pictures

 

[luxury-lizard]

Just a few more tips:-

• As you would know the Cook Islands use NZ currency - if you want cash use an ATM at AKL airport - the ATM at RAR airport was out of order (and the hotel manager told us it had been pretty much out of order for a few years). The first ATM we tried in Aitutaki would not accept either of our cards (ANZ and HSBC) - there is another one in the main town but by the next day we realised you don't really need cash - all businesses accept credit cards.
• For the online pre-clearance to NZ - download the app "NZTD" (better than using the web link) - you can fill it in up to 3 days in advance and after submitting within seconds you receive and e-mail telling you your pre-clearance has been accepted and you can enter NZ via the "nothing to declare" line - we had declared sporting equipment and non-fresh food (which in the past has required us to unpack these items for inspection)
• If you are booking self-catering accomodation please be aware the grocery shopping in Aitutaki is VERY limited - the couple of shops we checked out had virtually no fresh food and very limited other food which was very expensive - e.g. a small box of cereal was $13 but a large packet of chips was $6 - go figure - it may be better in Raratonga - we'll check this out when we go there on Monday (in a self-catering villa - which fortunately is associated with a close by resort with shuttle transfer)

Pictures still a work in progress.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Just a few more tips:-

• As you would know the Cook Islands use NZ currency - if you want cash use an ATM at AKL airport - the ATM at RAR airport was out of order (and the hotel manager told us it had been pretty much out of order for a few years). The first ATM we tried in Aitutaki would not accept either of our cards (ANZ and HSBC) - there is another one in the main town but by the next day we realised you don't really need cash - all businesses accept credit cards.
• For the online pre-clearance to NZ - download the app "NZTD" (better than using the web link) - you can fill it in up to 3 days in advance and after submitting within seconds you receive and e-mail telling you your pre-clearance has been accepted and you can enter NZ via the "nothing to declare" line - we had declared sporting equipment and non-fresh food (which in the past has required us to unpack these items for inspection)
• If you are booking self-catering accomodation please be aware the grocery shopping in Aitutaki is VERY limited - the couple of shops we checked out had virtually no fresh food and very limited other food which was very expensive - e.g. a small box of cereal was $13 but a large packet of chips was $6 - go figure - it may be better in Raratonga - we'll check this out when we go there on Monday (in a self-catering villa - which fortunately is associated with a close by resort with shuttle transfer)

Pictures still a work in progress.

Sorry for the duplicate post - something went worng

 

[luxury-lizard]

First photos

 

[randompunter]

@ luxury-lizard, thanks for the tips, keen to follow along. We will be visiting late September routing home from HNL on the weekly HA flight to RAR then braving JQ direct to SYD .

 

[ellen10]

@ luxury-lizard, thanks for the tips, keen to follow along. We will be visiting late September routing home from HNL on the weekly HA flight to RAR then braving JQ direct to SYD .

@randompunter is it the overnight Jetstar flight?
I will be interested to hear what you thought of it.