I first heard about Rorotonga and how unique and wonderful it is, from Andy Falk. I listened rather enviously to his enthusiastic tales of his idyllic annual holidays there and was intrigued to find out more about this island and its people, which had so totally captured his and Shireena’s hearts. Once I saw their photos – of amazing sunsets, white sandy beaches, bright tropical fish, vibrant lush vegetation, colourful markets and the unsurpassed, pristine Aitutaiki lagoon - I was totally captivated!

After a long, wet and windy Auckland winter, the allure of a tropical island escape was enormous....so it wasn’t long before my husband and I had made further enquiries and booked our flights!

And we were not disappointed!

I don’t think there is one particular thing that makes Rarotonga special; it’s a combination of factors that make it such a wonderful place for a relaxing and therapeutic holiday.

The local people are charming, friendly, helpful and laid back. And that seems to bring out the best in most tourists – who relax and get into the local way of doing things.

The beaches are idyllic. For me there is nothing to beat lying in a hammock that is strung between 2 coconut palms , reading a book…and then popping into the lagoon for a bit of snorkeling when it gets too hot! And did I mention the glorious sunsets and the whale watching?

The place to be on a Saturday, is the market in Avarua. Locals and tourists gather to enjoy the interesting selection of food (beware of the large portions!), drinks, arts, crafts, jewelry, flowers, clothing and local music. And you can get a very acceptable ‘latte’ in the nearby cafes as well.

The scooters are enormous fun! We hired one for our whole stay – and thoroughly enjoyed the flexibility it gave us to explore the island (including the back roads) at our leisure .This meant we could visit a different beach everyday, stop for a coffee, fruit smoothie or snack along the way – and also enjoy some shopping for souvenirs.

We ate at a different restaurant most nights – and particularly enjoyed the delicious fresh fish – like mahi mahi and swordfish. The “Island Nights” held at many of the resorts provide are well worth attending – they include a traditional island feast, music and dancing.

A flight to Aitutaki is an absolute must – it justifiably claims to be one of the most beautiful island lagoons in the world. The snorkeling is fabulous – lovely warm water and plenty of coral and marine life. We particularly enjoyed the turtles and being ‘swarmed’ by the fish looking for bread.

Another reason to head to Raro, is that its only a short flight from New Zealand– so before you know it, you are transported into another world!
Make sure you leave your mobile, laptop and watch at home….and get into island time as soon as possible! You won’t regret it…

I had the great fortune to make several short business trips to Rarotonga and I completely agree with all the wonderful stories and information on this website.

In the time off I had there, aside from the usual lazing around in the sun with a mango in one hand and a book in the other, I managed to take advantage of the many activities on offer - kayaking, hiking up to the needle and snorkelling. I was also lucky enough to score a ride on one of the charter fishing boat tours.

Island life and Island Time is a great way to melt away stress - even after a day there my worries disappeared.

I must also make mention of the bars on the island - not that I remember them very well - the cocktails came in glasses the size of fishbowls - I had some of the best nights ever!

I haven't as yet been back for a proper holiday but am counting down the days til I do

After reading all the information on this website we were inspired and encouraged by Andy and Shirina to visit the Cook Islands. We were not disappointed - it was everything they had said it was and more!

From the moment we touched down in Rarotonga we were touched by how warm and friendly the locals were. Every cafe, bar and restaurant we visited was a pleasurable experience and we think we have discovered some of the best pizzas in the South Pacific - at Salsa Cafe - our mouths still water when we think of them!

The weather was perfect except for about 2 hours of rain which was fun to watch anyway. We spent most of our days lazing at the beach or scootering around the island trying out all the resorts' cocktail hours.

All in all it was a fabulous holiday and we can't wait to return soon.

Lou and Simon Harper