Cook Islands - Gneral Information

OVERVIEW: The Cook Islands are beautiful, lush islands with incredibly friendly locals. My only complaint is that for the average backpacker or budget traveler the Cooks is too expensive and simply not as good value as other beach/sun destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, or Viet Nam. That being said, if you have some extra money, and a few extra days, the Cooks makes a beautiufl South Pacific destination.

You can 'do' the Cooks in 3-10 days depending on how many islands you wish to visit. You can see the sights on the main island, Rarotonga, in about 3-4 days, and 2-3 days each for Aitutaki and Atiu. All the islands are small. There are not many good swimming beaches as the island are all ringed by coral and rocks.

Between the Western missionaries, who did a very effective job, and the fact that the Cooks was a New Zealand protectorate, don't expect anything by way of exotic culture. Most locals speak good English with a New Zealand accent. Dress is western style, though the women dress more conservatively. The religious influence is most strongly felt on the weekend, as just about everything shuts down from Saturday noon till Monday morning. Thankfully a few small shops stay open 7 days a week.

TRAVELER'S ALERT!! When going to Aitutaki or Atiu you DO NOT have to use the two main travel agencies on Rarotonga - Jetsavers and Island Hoppers - to make advance reservations. First of all, there are many more places to stay on Aitutaki than the list they present you with, and unless there is some unusual even going on, there will be plenty of places to stay. These travel agencies will tell you that everything is booked up, but the true story is that a guest house will set aside one or two of their units specifically for these travel agencies, which indeed may be booked up, but they WILL ALSO have rooms set aside for direct reservations, FAXes, and drop ins. Save yourself money by calling the guest houses directly. Better yet, don't make any reservations at all (at least on Aitutaki) and when you arrive, simply rent a motorcycle and drive around yourself until you find what suits your fancy. The island was virtually deserted when I was there. It was downright spooky!

Mosquitoes: There are lots of mozzies, especially after it rains, so bring lots of repellent and anti-itch cream. Fortunately there is no malarial mosquitoes and no dengue fever.

Health: There are no poisonous snakes on the Cooks, and the dogs are very mellow and will not hassle you. Boil or buy water. Even the locals boil their water.

Money: The Cook Islands uses the NZ dollar and ANZ and Westpac ATMs are available on the main island. On Aitutaki you can only use your debit card on Monday's at the Westpac branch, and on Atiu there are no ATMs at all. You can cash travelers checks, but you get a poor rate.

Food: The food on the Cooks is quite expensive as virtually everything is imported from NZ or OZ. Restaurants are extremely pricey, about what you would expect to pay in the United States! Just about all guest houses have ensuite or shared cooking facilites, so you can save money by buying food at the supermarkets (or small local shops) and cooking your own meals. The cuisine is strongly influenced by NZ, so don't expect anything exotic. The least expensive meals are greasy fish/chicken and chips take-aways. Sample the local fresh fruit from the Avura open market, which is open Mon-Sat.

Internet: The least expensive Internet cafe in Avura is in the Banana Court shopping mall. It's NZ$5 for 1/2 an hour and NZ$8 for an hour. Ouch!

Accomodations: Hotels, lodges, and guest houses are plentiful, but expensive. Some guest houses have dorms, but expect to pay at least NZ$60 for a double room. If you're staying more than a few days, ask for a discount.

Comments? E-mail me at [email protected]. I hope to be adding pictures in a month or two when I have my film developed!

Rarotonga Info *** Aitutaki Info *** Atiu Info