Real cost of a Cook Islands holiday
Palm-fringed beaches and blue lagoons will be in reach when the Cook Islands travel bubble inflates on Monday. But how much are you likely to fork out for the pleasure, asks Lorna Thornber.
Keen to take advantage of the Cook Islands travel bubble? You’re not alone. The island nation was the most popular destination among those who said they’d like to visit the Pacific Islands if international travel were possible in a recent Stuff survey of more than 21,000 New Zealanders.
Forty-three per cent of respondents to the NowNext survey eager to visit our Pacific neighbours selected the Cooks as a destination of choice – a dream they’ll be able to realise when the long-awaited bubble finally inflates on Monday.
Fiji was the second most popular option among those up for a Pacific break, with 27 per cent saying they’d like to travel there. Fifteen per cent were keen to visit Samoa, 10.6 per cent New Caledonia, 10.5 per cent Vanuatu – and 31.6 per cent said they had no preference in terms of which Pacific Island nation they’d visit.
For now though, the Cooks are the only Pacific Island nation we Kiwis can visit. Lucky then that they serve up everything most of us want from a holiday in the region: palmfringed beaches, blue lagoons and plenty of excellent places to eat. And, perhaps most importantly, yearround warm weather.
Here, we take a look at how much you’re likely to have to fork out for the pleasure.
Flights
Air New Zealand flights from Auckland to Rarotonga start at around $665 return, while those flying from Wellington and Christchurch, via Auckland, could pay at least $825 return.
If you’d like to visit the island of Aitutaki, expect to pay at least $398 for return flights from Rarotonga.
Prices are steeper during the July school holidays, with flights from July 10 to July 17 costing $1366 return at the time of writing.
The prices don’t seem to be putting people off. An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the airline received thousands of bookings in the 24 hours after the bubble date was announced. ‘‘So far, the majority of bookings are across June and July.’’
Travel agencies are also reporting strong demand for travel to the Cooks. House of Travel customer engagement director Celeste Ryall
To mark the first anniversary of New Zealand’s lockdown, Stuff asked readers to tell us how you expect to live over the next year. More than 20,000 answered, of all ages, from around the country.
You told us your sights have shifted: in this case from more distant travel destinations to nearer shores. Other articles in the NowNext series will look at housing, climate, the shift to EVs, and the future of work. said there had been strong interest in the Cooks since the bubble was first mentioned, and a ‘‘significant spike’’ since the start date was announced.
‘‘Peak travel periods have been filling fast, with school holidays particularly popular.’’
Accommodation
Flight Centre Taupo¯ travel expert Emma Pilkington said accommodation in the Cook Islands ranged from $200 to $350 a night on average.
‘‘Even accommodation in the lower price range provides an amazing experience. Currently, five nights in three to four-star accommodation on Rarotonga is starting at $315 per person (per night).’’
If luxury digs are more your style, you’ll be looking at $600 to $1000 a night. Rarotonga’s four five-star properties are all villa-style, and there are options to upgrade to one with a private pool.
House of Travel chief operating officer Brent Thomas said many accommodation providers were celebrating the bubble with some ‘‘very good rates’’.
The agency’s accommodation packages start from $439 per person for five nights in a twin-share room, including airport transfers, breakfast daily, a two-course dinner for two, and $50 bar credit.
At the other end of the spectrum, the agency is offering five nights at the five-star Te Manava Luxury Villas and Spa from $1359 per person, including airport transfers and use of stand-up paddleboards and kayaks.
You can also find accommodation deals on the Cook Islands tourism
website (https://cookislands.travel/ offers). Many hotels and resorts are offering 20 to 30 per cent off their regular rates, in some cases with added extras such as daily breakfasts and food and beverage credit.
At the time of writing, deals ranged from $191 a night at the threestar Castaway Resort Rarotonga (representing a 20 per cent saving) to $3000 a night at four-and-a-half-star Motu, which is offering one night free if you stay for five.
Airbnb is also worth checking out. You can find entire homes with kitchen facilities for less than $100 a night.
Package deals
Packages can save you some serious dosh if you’re travelling as a twosome or family.
Flight Centre packages range from $939 per person for return flights and five nights at the Edgewater Resort and Spa, to $1619 per person for flights and five nights at the adults-only Moana Sands Lagoon Resort.
Activities
If you’re happy to spend your days swimming, beach strolling and simply soaking up the sun, you needn’t spend a cent on activities in the Cooks. BYO snorkel – or stay somewhere that lets guests borrow them for free – and you can add that to the free activity list too.
The Cross-Island Track in Rarotonga is a free adventure, although you need to be comfortable hiking fairly rugged terrain for three to four hours.
Popular paid-for activities include watersports such as paddleboarding and underwater scootering (you can swim with turtles on one), lagoon cruises incorporating a barbecue lunch, fishing, diving, off-roading, guided hikes and bike rides, and evening shows with big buffets.
Pilkington describes the Koka Lagoon Cruise, which costs $79 per adult and $49 per child, as a must-do. You’ll explore the lagoon on a glassbottomed boat and stop for a spot of snorkelling before heading to an island for a lunch of barbecued fish and typically hilarious demonstrations of sarong-tying.
The Cooks’ second most-visited island, Aitutaki, has one of the most beautiful lagoons in the South Pacific and day trips are popular for those with limited time. Starting at $493, they aren’t cheap, but the place really is paradise – the 50-minute flight is almost worth the price tag on its own.
You’ll tour the island on ‘‘le truck’’ before boarding a 21-metre vaka complete with sun loungers for a cruise on the blue lagoon, stopping to swim and snorkel before a barbecue lunch on board. You’ll spend the afternoon motu hopping and pass by Akaiami, a stopover on TEAL’s famous Coral Route, before your return flight home.
Eating out
You’ll find everything from fast food to fine dining in Rarotonga, and prices are on a par with those in New Zealand.
Pilkington’s favourite lunch spots are Charlie’s Cafe, overlooking the marine reserve in Titikaveka, and The Mooring Fish Cafe in Muri. Both are famous for their fresh fish burgers and sandwiches, which will set you back between $15 and $20 and probably put you in a food coma if you eat them all.
Tasty budget eats can also be found at the Muri Night Markets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Think barbecued fish with papaya salad, chicken and seafood curries, thick slabs of chocolate and coconut pie, and fresh coconuts galore.
If you’re after authentic Cook Island cuisine, another good option is to join a progressive dinner, which will see you eat at three local homes – often in a tropical garden setting.
Dishes vary but could include the likes of ika mata (fresh raw fish marinated in lemon or lime-infused coconut milk), grilled fish, umukai (food prepared in a traditional earth oven), rukau (taro leaves cooked with coconut cream), gooey banana poke, and all the super-sweet tropical fruit you could possibly stomach. Cook Islands Tours’ progressive dinner costs $99 per adult, $70 for sixto 11-year-olds and nada for kids aged 5 and under.
The ‘‘island nights’’ at various establishments tend to offer a mix of traditional and Western fare – often in all-you-can eat buffets – with the added bonus of a cultural show. Te Vara Nui, one of the most popular, charges $115 per adult, $55 per child, and $310 for a family of four to tuck into its generous buffet as they watch talented dancers and musicians relay the legend of Tongaiti on a massive overwater stage.
Getting around
The ring road around Rarotonga stretches for just 30 kilometres, so you’re never that far from where you want to go – although you’ll need wheels (or a boat) unless you plan to stay local or are up for longish daily hikes.
Public buses pick passengers up along the ring road and cost $5 per adult and $3 per child for a one-way fare, or $8 per adult and $4 per child for a return. Hop-on, hop-off day passes are available for $16 per person and $26 per family of four.
The pandemic has taken its toll on the service: the bus that ran in an anti-clockwise direction has been cancelled, as has the Sunday service, and the last Saturday bus now leaves from Cook’s Corner at 3pm.
From Monday to Friday, the clockwise bus leaves Cook’s Corner hourly between 7am and 6pm. The night bus runs hourly between 6pm and 11pm from Monday to Saturday. The full schedule, and the latest updates, are at https://www. busaboutraro.com/schedule.html.
Pilkington recommends hiring a car so you have the flexibility to maximise your time at your destination. Cars can be hired from around $30 a day, while scooters can be rented from around $12.50.
Scooter hirers with an overseas motorbike licence have to pay $20 at the police station for a visitor licence, while those without an overseas motorbike licence will need to pay $40 for the visitor licence and to sit a theory and practical test.
Pushbikes are available for hire for less than $20 a day, while Tik-e Tours, which runs tours of the island in bright orange tuk-tuks, hires out e-bikes. E-bike tours start from $129 per person, including lunch.