14 April 2014, Travel DigesT

Halfway between New Zealand and

Hawaii lies the Cook Islands – made

up of 15 islands scattered across

2.2 million square kilometres of

South Pacific Ocean. Once a mighty volcanic

pyramid, now worn down by time and

streams to peaks and ridges, the lush green

Rarotonga is the capital and hub of the Cook

Islands. This is where you can discover the

great outdoors by fishing, snorkelling, diving,

paddling or simply swimming.

Playing in ParaDiseExploring the famous Muri Lagoon on a

cruise is a must when visiting the Cook

Islands and Koka Lagoon Cruises can show

you a fun day out. Located right on Muri

Beach on the eastern side of the island, their

cruises depart daily except for Saturdays and

transfers can be arranged to and from

accommodation. Cruising the crystal clear

waters of Muri lagoon, you can enjoy the

marine reserve from the comfort of a glass

bottom boat. The talented crew entertains

onboard, singing along with a ukulele, while

you enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Stopping at snorkelling spots, you swim

through coral gardens viewing tropical fish,

giant clams and stonefish enclosures. At

Koromiri Island you are served a delicious

fish, hot off the BBQ, followed by an

impressive coconut tree climbing

demonstration by Captain Awesome. You

can also learn coconut husking, pareu tying

and weaving. The cruises are small, creating

an intimate experience and a percentage of

all sales are donated to marine conservation.

After all that physical activity, a soothing

massage at Spa Ariki at Crown Beach Resort

is just what I need to revive my senses and

rejuvenate my body! This peaceful sanctuary

also offers therapeutic spas and facials. Their

qualified spa therapists ensure you walk out

sparkling and feeling lifted, ready to enjoy

the rest of your holiday.

The outer waters of Rarotonga can be

enjoyed aboard the 58-foot yacht SV

Southern Cross. Departing from Avarua

Harbour, Sail Rarotonga takes you on a

romantic sunset sail cruise around the

western side of the island to see the most

spectacular sunset, enjoying a glass of wine

and delicious homemade nibbles. Between

July and October, you can capture majestic

After months of planning the biggest day of her life, all

saraH WeeKswanted to do

on honeymoon was relax in

the sun, enjoy some cocktails

and swim – with newlywed

husband Craig Wrightson.

Coconuts formed into a heart shape on the beach at Sea Change Villas.

eartfelt heaven in the Cook Islands

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15Travel DigesT, April 2014

humpback whales – a great sight to see! If

you’re feeling confident, you can ride the

waves at the bow of the boat.

For a unique and authentic experience of

the Cook Island culture, The Lost Village at

Highland Paradise, is a cultural and spiritual

feast of local entertainment. Located at an

authentic historical site in a 150-year-old

mountain village, this attraction features a

restored marae and traditional buildings.

Sunset cultural nights are held on

Wednesdays and Fridays and this includes

round trip transport to and from your

accommodation, as well as expert guides,

a village cultural immersion, marae visit, a

tapu lifting, warrior welcome, cocktail,

underground oven (umu), topped off with

a stage show – telling the story of their

ancient heritage through singing, dancing

and drumming.

Rarotonga is full of adventure and Raro

Mountain Safari Tours provide 4WD tours

through Avatiu Valley and surrounding

mountains, offering great views of The

Needle (Te Rua Manga) as well as up to

Hospital Hill. It’s a really great way to see the

island as the trucks give access to areas

most vehicles couldn’t go. Venturing off the

beaten track, your tour guide shows you the

real Rarotonga, educating you on historical

sites, whilst adding their own sense of local

humour – just don’t forget to hold onto your

seat! You’ll enjoy sensational views of the

lagoon and sweeping valleys and after your

adventure, feast on a tropical lunch down by

the lagoon.

FeasTing in ParaDiseSet in a lush tropical setting in Muri, next

door to Manea Beach Resort, is Flame Tree

Restaurant. The restaurant offers both indoor

and outdoor dining on a large covered deck

overlooking a stream full of fish, koura

(freshwater crayfish) and eels – the largest

and oldest resident of which is Papa Tuna.

Ika Mata is a popular local dish served at this

restaurant – yellow fin tuna marinated in

lemon and lime juice, coconut cream,

tomato, cucumber and capsicum – fresh and

flavoursome. Their signature cocktail, The

Flame, is also worth a try. Made of fresh

pawpaw blended with vodka, Cruzan coconut

rum and peach schnapps, it’s delicious!

Tamarind House is a beautifully restored

heritage colonial house set on 2.5 acres of

lawns sweeping down to the beach. You feel

a sense of nostalgia here, in a truly unique

tropical setting. Named after the Tamarind

COOK ISLANDS

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16 April 2014, Travel DigesT

COOK ISLANDS

tree, which once grew in the gardens of

Tamarind House until destroyed in a storm,

the restaurant has a rich history. Boasting

beachfront views, this restaurant is perfect

for a romantic dinner, watching the sunset

and offers a great selection of tasty and

fresh food.

A newcomer to Rarotonga’s dining scene,

Saltwater Cafe is a great beachside cafe

where you can enjoy a casual breakfast or

lunch with a great view. Owned and operated

by an Australian family who moved to the

Cook Islands after falling in love with the

island on holiday, they serve a variety of

interesting food including Thai, Mexican and

Indian. My husband orders mahi mahi fish

steak, a popular local dish and I try

something different – octopus curry.

Who would think you’d find an Italian

restaurant on a Pacific Island? And a good

one at that! Windjammer Restaurant at

Crown Beach Resort is an affordable fine

dining restaurant presenting authentic Italian

cuisine, complete with an intimate candle-lit

setting. Their impressive menu transported

us instantly from the Cook Islands back to

Italy. A highlight for me was the homemade

potato dumpling, eggplants, ricotta cheese in

a light tomato sauce and their chocolate

fondant dessert with gooey soft centre,

served with vanilla ice cream!

Coco-Latte is a cute little cafe offering a

fresh healthy menu from salads and protein

smoothies, to made-to-order sandwiches.

Their popular breakfasts feature cooked taro

leaf, much like spinach – tasty and

nutritious! Even if you’re not hungry, you

should at least visit this cafe to try their

famous Uncle Mark’s Nuts, a whole coconut

filled with a nutty flavoured milkshake – so

refreshing on a hot day and delicious.

slumber in ParaDiseRight on the edge of Muri Lagoon is

Manea Beach Villas, self-contained bach-

style accommodation. Being right on the

beachfront means you can lay on your private

deck complete with outdoor seating and BBQ

and gaze at the vibrant turquoise lagoon, only

a few metres away. Awaking to this view is

quite a treat! Their small and intimate

accommodation offers all the amenities you

need and their friendly staff makes you feel

right at home. There are just eight villas and

you can enjoy complimentary snorkelling and

kayak equipment to explore the motus (small

islands) in the lagoon, plus a beachfront

swimming pool.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury

accommodation, Sea Change Villas is one of

the top places to stay on the island. Situated

on the southern side of Rarotonga, this

unspoilt and serene private pool hideaway

retreat of nine luxury, one and two bedroom

villas is beautifully nestled among palm trees

and hibiscus flowers. Imagine a secluded

white sandy beach, turquoise seas and blue

skies as far as the eye can see – this is the

stuff dreams are made of, but it’s all real!

Each spacious villa has a home theatre

system, kitchen, four-poster king bed, large

bathroom with double-headed shower

designed for two, air conditioning and ceiling

fans along with your own private courtyard

and fresh water swimming pool. Ideal for a

romantic honeymoon, we’re lucky enough to

stay in one of their beachfront luxury villas

with two private decks including sun

loungers, tables and chairs with direct access

to the beach! Complimentary bikes and sea

kayaks are also available to use during your

stay. With a secluded location, wonderful

professional and friendly staff who go the

extra mile and one of the best beds we’ve

ever slept in, it’s the perfect place for anyone

looking for something extra special.

Flying To ParaDiseAir Rarotonga is the official airline of the

Cook Islands and operates inter-island and

international scheduled passenger, charter

and cargo services. Flying to nine out of the

15 Cook Islands, one of which is Aitutaki, a

small atoll with undoubtedly the most

spectacular lagoon in the world! Their friendly

staff welcomes you to fly with them and

discover the South Pacific’s best-kept secret.

Only a 45-minute flight from Rarotonga, we

depart paradise only to discover heaven on

earth as we glimpse Aitutaki from a distance

through our plane’s window – wow!

aiTuTaKi Whether you’re visiting the beautiful

Aitutaki for a day or few nights (the longer,

the better!), a cruise in their lagoon is an

absolute must. On a full day lagoon cruise

with Bishop’s Cruises, you’ll enjoy

breathtaking views, turtle spotting and

snorkelling turquoise waters seeing brightly

coloured tropical fish and giant clams. The

cruise drops you off at the famous Heaven

Sand Bar where you can wade through

shallow waters to the attraction of the lagoon,

Onefoot Island. A delicious BBQ lunch is

served under a hideaway hut, exclusive to

Bishop’s Cruises and the rest of the afternoon

is spent relaxing, swimming and soaking up

the sun. You need to take your passport as

you can get it stamped at the smallest,

uninhabited post office in the world as a

souvenir to remember your day. The crew are

very entertaining and knowledgeable about

the history and legends of Aitutaki.

Aitutaki (right) is a 45-minute flight from

Rarotonga.

Bishop’s Cruises (left) glides through turquoise waters and past white sandy beaches

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17Travel DigesT, April 2014

COOK ISLANDS

The Cook Islands’ iconic signature resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, has just launched a brand-new concept for the Cook Islands – all-inclusive wedding packages. The resort’s new DREAMTIME wedding package is inclusive of: Aruru ‘Haven of Love’ sunset beach wedding ceremony plus lavish reception buffet dinner and three-hour beverage package for 30 guests, plus use of Latitude 21-30 private nightclub for after-party (no 10.30pm curfew, standard island-wide), plus five nights in a Beachfront Suite for the bride and groom with daily tropical breakfast at adjacent 4.5-star adults-only sister resort, Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach – all for only $5,999! The package is commissionable, and is based on a minimum of ten rooms staying for five nights.

New ALL-INCLUSIVE Wedding Packages at The Rarotongan

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, Aroa Beach & Lagoon Marine Reserve, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Phone +682-25800 Email: weddings@rarotongan.co.ck www.therarotongan.com

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18 April 2014, Travel DigesT

A perfect way to finish your cruise is at

the Samade on the Beach restaurant and bar.

The Polynesian-inspired restaurant and bar

has stunning views and is located on the

lagoon’s edge. Dinner is prepared with fresh

and locally sourced ingredients – their fish is

melt-in-the-mouth and cocktails are sweet

and tasty.

After all that adventure, you can

experience pure relaxation and indulgence at

Tiare Spa at Pacific Resort Aitutaki – the

perfect place to treat yourself to a massage.

Their beachfront location creates an ambience

that will let you relax and unwind and their

signature massage is designed to promote

wellbeing by increasing blood circulation and

lymphatic flow. Eliminating aches and pains,

you’ll enjoy a feeling of total relaxation.

Located on the western coast of Aitutaki

is Tamanu Beach Resort, which has stunning

sunset views from their 22 bungalows set in

lush tropical gardens. There are also

self-contained studio rooms and one-

bedroom lagoon view rooms on the water’s

edge – a stone’s throw from the gorgeous

blue lagoon. Located on a private, white sand

beach, guests can swim, snorkel and kayak

the crystal clear lagoon. There are also

two freshwater swimming pools, a

beachfront bar, restaurant and gift shop.

For a truly unique Polynesian experience,

the Island Fire performance of song, dance

and fire dancing is held every Thursday.

After a few nights staying at this luxurious

accommodation, you won’t want to leave.

But as the locals say, you’re always

welcome to return to paradise!

Raro Mountain Safari Tours, Avatiu Valley.

✈

COOK ISLANDS

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