No confusion here! 😆 this is the blog recap of our CI25 holiday adventures: 🔙 to weeks 23 – 25 of 2025!
📝 I started writing this while waiting for our flight home ✈️ on Wednesday, 28th May. We boarded at 7:40 am and took off at 8:30 am CI time. The return flight was nearly 7 hours, landing in Sydney at 11:55 am on Thursday, May 29. We lost a day in transit, but it was worth it for the bonus day – when we got to relive Tuesday, May 20, 2025 😅.
Our initial flight to Rarotonga on May 20, at 9.30pm was shorter, 5.5 hours, much to the relief of a fellow passenger (a Rarotogan). When we arrived in Rarotonga, it was 6:55 am CI time on the same day: the fellow passenger was very happy she would have plenty of time to get her kids ready in time for school runs.
Anyway, do the math, or google it, as I’m not sure why flight times differ on the way there and back: I’m just relieved we made it safely with Jetstar 😊. God is good 🙏!
To be honest, writing about time zone changes is making me dizzy – and YES, our bodies needed a couple of days to recover both times (in Raro and back home) 😅🤣. And all that because somewhere over the Pacific Ocean we crossed the international date line 🤔
Ebera 6:19 CIMB
[19] Ko ta tatou ïa tutau no te vaerua, e mea mauti kore e te mou meitaki, no te mea kua akamouia i te ngai i roto mai i te paruru ra;
Hebrews 6:19 NKJV
[19] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Heberu 6.19 Motu
Una helaro na laumada dogona na heto, se idaumu bona se mareremu, seseahu unukahanai e vareaimu;
We asked a young couple who flew from the USA, “Why choose the Cook Islands over Hawaii for your vacation?” Their response was, “Hawaii feels too modern. We love the Cook Islands because they’re pristine, untouched, and less crowded – it’s a more natural experience.” 💯 word!
And trust me, we were asked too, “Why the Cook Islands 🇨🇰? Why not just go home to PNG (or Papua) for holidays?” Our response was, “Why not? Why can’t we be tourists in our own Pacific Islands! This trip is our long-overdue second honeymoon” 😂.
Besides, going back to PNG would’ve meant loads of family obligations, not a holiday, LOL 😆. Jokes aside and sorry fam back home in PNG , we love you & will see you soon 😍🙏.
Island life during that week and a bit was rejuvenating & humbling. We blended right in with the locals – people often spoke to us in the local dialect, even asking about our family connections, and reminding us to get our land as it was going quickly. Lost count of how many times we had to say we were visiting and that we are from PNG – to which most would say, “oh you from Papua” 😊.
We loved every minute of our stay in CI – but sadly, we couldn’t stay in paradise forever – reality wanted us back 😅! So rather than take you through each day, here’s what I’ve decided to share: some quick tips from our short time there and lots of pictures.
As the saying goes “a picture paints a thousand words!” So if I share 50 favourite photos, that’s 50,000 words – more than enough for a whole book 📖, right🤔 hmm… I hear you universe 😅
The people
The locals are incredibly friendly and so welcoming. A simple conversation makes you feel right at home! We loved using the bus, it was a great way to interact with locals and other travellers, whether it was whilst waiting or riding on the bus – adding to the overall experience.
Thoroughly enjoyed chatting with locals about life and languages. We geeked out over similarities – like “woman” in Rarotongan (vaine), my husband’s language, Kalo (vavine), and my language, Motu (hahine). Fun fact: the dialects vary across the 15 islands; for example, “leg/foot” is vaevae in Rarotongan but vavia in Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro – which, coincidentally, is my maiden name!
Transport/ getting around the island (Raro and Aitutaki)
Getting from the airport to your accommodation or vice versa, is a breeze! Taxis cost NZ$20 per person, or you can hop on the island bus (clockwise or anti-clockwise) for NZ$5 per person per trip. We booked a taxi from the airport to the hotel and vice versa on the return trip.
Many hotels also offer airport transfers – just ask their reservations team, they’ll help you out! If you want to explore the island, renting a car is a great option. No need to book online – there are plenty of rental places at the airport, in town, and around the island. Insurance is easy: show your paperwork or let the rental place sort it out.
Scooters and bicycles are available for rent too… I don’t have any tips because we didn’t use them.
We did rent a car for $60/day + $20 insurance = $80/day. The catch is you’ll need to return it to their location; dropping it off elsewhere incurs a refundable deposit ranging from $500 and up. For us, the freedom to explore at our own pace made renting a car totally worth it.
In Aitutaki, the resort arranged transport to and from the airport for us – it was part of the rate we paid. They even organised a rental car for us. Conveniently, the car was parked at the resort for us, when we got back from the lagoon cruise on Saturday. Despite only booking it for a day, we made the most of it – shopping for necessities, going to church, lunch, and sightseeing. We paid the receptionist in cash upon checkout on Sunday afternoon and left the car with them to return to the owner.
Accomodation (Raro and Aitutaki)
We stayed on the western side of Rarotonga both times we were there. First, at Castaway Resort – a stunning, laid-back spot with its own bar and restaurant right on the beach. The staff are super friendly and go above and beyond to ensure you’re well taken care of – whether it’s about your accommodation, food, or drinks.
There’s a bar, appropriately called Wilson’s Bar and it opens at 2pm. And we found out later on that it’s a thing there, where most business, schools etc are out by midday or from 2pm. So most of the drinking holes will open early with restaurants/ dining from 5pm.
After returning from Aitutaki, we stayed at Reefcombers, a no-frills accommodation with the basics: a clean room, amenities, and essentials. However, ‘budget’ might be a misnomer, given the $200 nightly rate: it makes me realize that location, proximity to a beach or key tourist spots (Black Rock outlook), and scenic views often drive up costs, regardless of the amenities.
In Aitutaki, we enjoyed our stay at Paradise Cove resort, a budget-friendly option that felt like a home away from home. The staff were accommodating, and the village-like atmosphere suited us perfectly. If you’re looking for luxury, there are other options, but we appreciated the simplicity and charm of this place 😍
Clothing/ shoes etc:
Pack light, breathable clothing like tees, shorts, and sundresses, plus swimwear for island adventures! Consider buying essentials locally if you prefer. Add a cardigan or light jacket for cooler nights or the plane rides. Footwear-wise, stick to comfy Crocs, flip-flops, or sandals/ jandals – dress shoes are rarely needed. Snorkelling gear can often be rented at resorts, so weigh your options. To be honest, for us, most of the items we packed remain untouched i.e we overpacked 😀
Hydration:
When the sun’s out in Rarotonga (or any other island paradise, for that matter!), it doesn’t just shine – it blazes 🌞🥵. For us it just felt like home. Strongly advise you to stay hydrated.
During our May visit, the heat and humidity remained steady, despite the occasional rain. And to be safe, we stuck to store-bought water 💯, although water refill stations are available island-wide.
Clockwise and anti-clockwise 🚌
The island bus, recognisable by its green and yellow colours, runs a clockwise and anti-clockwise loop, taking about an hour. Catch it at Cooks Corner in the main town or flag it down anywhere along the route. And grab a copy of the timetable at the airport.
Food/ essentials/ souvenirs etc
Rarotonga’s food scene is a treat! From roadside stalls to markets and restaurants, there’s something for everyone. Palace Takeaways’ ‘wet’ burger was a highlight – a must-try! Island chips and ice cream were also winners for me. For essentials, check out Wigmores, CITC superstore, or Mrs Woos. Just a heads up, many shops, services outlets etc typically observe Saturday or Sunday as church days and will be closed. Also, do your best to buy from local business owners! I think that goes a long way to helping them.
Things to do!
There’s heaps to do on the island, and you can book activities online with payment options on arrival. And lots more free things to do, like finding a beach and snorkelling, swimming and relaxing with a book to read.
I highly recommend booking ahead for the paid activities. We managed to take part in four activities, including a visit to Takamoa College (free), a lagoon cruise on Aitutaki (paid + reserve online), cultural immersion (various, paid), and church service (free).
Even if you’re not religious, attend a service – it’s a unique experience. We enjoyed the Umu Kai feast and fire dance show with Tumutoa Tours, and regrettably missed out on the Progressive Dinner tour as it was booked out during our stay- so book ahead.
Just be wary of scammers either online or on the ground when looking for activities to reserve, make sure you book with genuine and accredited tour organisers.
Conclusion
The rest of our time was spent unwinding and soaking up the island vibes – beach walks, sunset gazing, eating, reading, and relaxing. But the Cook Islands 🇨🇰 was more than just a relaxing getaway; it was a spiritual pilgrimage for us, and we were reminded of the early missionaries’ sacrifices that brought Christianity to our part of the world. To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
More pictures below
Idau Hahine 