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Rarotonga
  • Katie Burke
  • Katie Burke

Rarotonga

A 13-day adventure by Katie Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 11, 2025
    Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler

    Here we goooooo!

    March 11, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    After being delayed by two days owing to ex tropical cyclone Alfred, we're checked in and ready to go. First leg Hervey Bay to Sydney and second leg overnight to Rarotonga. The island is just behind the international dateline, so while we leave Tuesday night, we'll arrive there Tuesday morning. If only Cher had tapped into this little secret, she really could have turned back time!Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler

    Arrival in Rarotonga

    March 11, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We left Sydney at 9.30pm on Tuesday evening and arrived in Raratonga 6.30am Tuesday morning. A strange thing to get your head around. Our first sight was of the magnificent forest covered mountains at the centre of if the island looming over us, very Jurassic Park. A ukulele playing local serenaded our passage through immigration and then it was into our very cute hire car and into our beachfront accommodation on the island's west coast, about 7 mins away. It is a simple cottage with the most spectacular views. After a much needed nap we did some exploring, taking about an hour to drive around the perimeter of the island, stopping for late lunch at a beachfront bar. The afternoon was relaxed, swimming and snorkeling in our front yard etc and of course wine time as the sun set. Very early to bed! So tired!Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
    3
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    The life aquatic

    March 12, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    The sun rises late here (close to 7am) but in typical form we woke around 5. The day started with a stroll along the beach to a local cafe, which will likely be a daily ritual. Our morning involved more strolling along some shops, including the island's tiny op shop (to purchase clothes for tomorrow's adventure... Stay tuned!) Lunch was a sharing plate at the Falafel shack. Steve then took a diving refresher course while I napped for ages (clearly need it!) and we ended the day with snorkeling. Highlight: hanging out with a massive green turtle while it snacked for ages on something strange looking, then floating with a school of Flutemouths (some arrive 70cm long). No underwater pics sadly.Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
    6

    When in Raro

    March 13, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    When we first arrived and chatted to a local, we asked them what is the one thing they would recommend we do. Mud buggies, she said, and without much thought, we booked ourselves in. It certainly was a mud-in-every-place-imaginable experience. The mud was fun but I didn't so much enjoy the noisy, smelly, petrol guzzling buggies. This was followed by a swim in the waterfall, a nap, lunch (yes, in that order!) and some afternoon chilling. Then Steve headed off to golf with a bunch of locals and I headed to a yoga class 😄 A lunar eclipse ends another full day.Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
    Bin day!2Doggo enjoying an afternoon nap

    Exploring a little history

    March 14, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    The day started out rainy, so a good day to explore the National Museum. This was a small, one room display, but nice insight into the history of this small island nation, which began with Polynesian settlement around 800 AD. I am blown away by the way ancient Mariners sailed in tiny open boats across vast oceans to the Pacific islands! European contact occurred in the 18th century and the tribal leaders requested the establishment of a British protectorate in 1888 to protect them from French invasion. Self-governance then occurred in 1965. The Cook Islands are part of the Commonwealth, but not as a member state, as they are a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, whose Commonwealth membership covers them. After the museum we took another circumnavigation drive (some examples of road safety and bin day included in pics) and I headed for an afternoon massage, followed by more magnificent snorkeling. The day ended with a cocktail on the beach and pizza by the harbour.Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
    2Muri Lagoon13

    Colour therapy

    March 15, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    A lovely chilled day today started with a stroll around the Saturday markets, coffee at our spot, then beach, beach and more beach. We tried snorkeling at a different spot where the coral was more interesting while the sea life was less plentiful. Still utterly spectacular. The day ended again with sunset cocktails and dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. Enjoy the colour therapy in today's pics!Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
    1Breakfast island style
    1

    Lazy Sunday

    March 16, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    While Australia moved into the working week, we enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning, doing a lot of nothing which basically involved moving between our front deck, into the water and back again; over and over again. After lunch we headed to our favourite snorkeling area and had our best time yet, hanging out again with a large green turtle, and exploring what felt like a scene from Finding Nemo. Snorkeling is the ultimate mindful experience: floating, breathing smoothly and steadily, and being really present (not to mention the sense of awe and wonder). Enjoy a few a pics from around the island, including the quirky coins. The currency here uses a combination of NZ dollars and Cook Islands coins, with NZ couns equally acceptable.Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
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    3

    Not much ado about nothing

    Mar 18–21, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Our days have rolled into one another with unpressured ease. I have loved feeling unhurried. Over the last few days we have explored a little more of the island's interior, which is not easy to do as so much of it is inaccessible. While we have snorkeled on the beautiful and abundant coral reef each day we also booked a supervised snorkeling tour in one of the island's passageways which are quite dangerous owing to rips out to sea. This allowed us to see deeper reef and a lot of turtles. Steve's highlight was a scuba dive yesterday. I took another yoga class; beautiful spot!Read more

  • Katie BurkeRarotongaTraveler
    Just loved this! Our city councils and developers could take a cue from this.
    2My pina colada was dedicated to Lisa Ryan 😁1Last glimpse of our front yardChurches almost every km around the island.

    Last day and final reflections

    March 20, 2025 in Cook Islands ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Sadly our lazy days have come to an end. We went snorkeling one final time and took a final drive right around the island to soak it all up one last time. Our day finished with a free firesow on the beach. Other than the spectacular beaches and mountains, we have loved the realness of this place. It is not a glitzy, resort filled island (yes there are a few but largely the place feels raw and real). I photographed a number of houses to give a sense of the typical simple architecture here that I so love. The video shows the incredible mural at the island's east. Feeling sad to leave, but ready for our own bed!Read more

    Trip end
    March 23, 2025
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