Shannon Ryan discovers paradise in the Cook Islands.
SHANNON RYAN DISCOVERS THE DELIGHTS OF THE COOK ISLANDS
Visiting the Cook Islands is always a spectacular experience, no matter what the time of year or the size of your budget.
When my husband Justin and I travelled to the islands earlier this year, we decided to be open to new experiences we would otherwise have ignored.
We met one legendary local as soon as we stepped off the plane. Jake Numanga welcomes visitors here with live music, setting the scene for your island escape. He’ll even serenade you as you voyage home.
From the airport, we headed to Edgewater Resort and Spa, only a few minutes’ drive from the township of Avarua. There’s plenty to see and do within walking distance of the resort (including excellent snorkelling), so it’s easy to balance activity time with relaxing in your room, by the pool or at Edgewater’s oceanside restaurant and bar.
We caught up on what felt like a month’s worth of sleep with a poolside nap, then wandered down the road for cocktail hour at Waterline Beach Bar & Grill. Waterline’s piña colada was a particular highlight.
In the spirit of adventure, Justin and I decided to explore further afield and set out with our extensive camera kit in tow (or at least what we could reasonably bring with us)!
First off, we flew with Air Rarotonga to Aitutaki Island for the day. Our time in this unspoilt paradise saw us cruising the lagoon on a double-hulled canoe, the Vaka Titi-Ai-Tonga, leaving our footprints in the whitest sand and swimming with what are surely the largest trevally to exist. If you want to experience a step back in time, then Aitutaki is a must.
And speaking of which, do remember that New Zealanders cross the international dateline to travel to the Cook Islands. It’s only a four-hour flight, but you’ll arrive the day before you left.
Back on Rarotonga, we took time to explore paradise by foot, bus, car, off-road truck and bike. You can experience island life however you choose, but my favourite method was taking the Storytellers Eco Cycle Tour. We rode around the back roads with a local guide, sampling some of the most divine seasonal fruits. And in case we should fall off our saddles, we were also shown the ways local flora and fauna can aid all sorts of ailments.
Another mystery day trip saw us buckle up for a Raro Mountain Safari Tour. If hiking
‘ We rode around the back roads, sampling some of the most divine seasonal fruits’
across the island isn’t for you, this excursion will take you as far as you can go by four-wheel drive vehicle, as well as offering local tales and cultural insight. The hosts took particular joy in showing us where the Vaka left Rarotonga for Kiwi shores.
Closer to our temporary home, Edgewater’s Island Night proved to be an incredible show with an endless feast. I indulged in the poke, and a banana and arrowroot pudding soaked in coconut cream. And to continue my raw fish journey, I was led to Michele’s Café – the place to be if you’re on a budget. This eatery and takeaway serves the tastiest raw fish platter, all washed down with a local beer.
After all that excitement, I capped off my time in the Cooks with a supersoothing coconut oil massage back at the resort. Yes, I could definitely get used to island life.