Top Menu

Navigation

Archive | Cook Island

Discovering Rarotonga

By on 23. February 2008 in Cook Island
Gilles on a rented scooter in Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Gilles on a rented scooter in Rarotonga, Cook Islands

First thing, we decided to rent a scooter, a very wise decision as it turned out: it gave us a lot of freedom. But in order to rent one, you need a local category A driving license. Since we neither have a motorbike driving license nor a local / New Zealand one, we had to get one at the police department. After 10 minutes and paying 10 N.Z. dollars, Gilles was in possession of a local A & B driving license, with no one asking any questions. What a great souvenir! Then we rented a scooter from Budget, since the scooter for rent at the Vara’s Beachside Resort, are not covered by any insurance whatsoever! Continue Reading →

Scuba Diving In The Pacific

By on 22. February 2008 in Cook Island
Photo: Guillaume Fuenfrock, 5Rock Production, Fakarava, French Polynesia. We are just overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of fish we have seen...

Photo: Guillaume Fuenfrock, 5Rock Production, Fakarava, French Polynesia

After doing some unforgettable diving around Fakarava in French Polynesia, we were in such a swing that we could not resist the glossy brochures promoting diving around Rarotonga. So on the second day there we dropped by Cook Island Divers. Since the man we talked to was nice and knowledgeable, we booked a two tank dive for the following morning. Continue Reading →

Rarotonga – Paradise Almost Found!

By on 21. February 2008 in Cook Island
Driving around on Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Driving around on Rarotonga, Cook Islands

After a 2.5 hour flight from Papeete, we finally arrived on a Pacific island that met our expectations of the paradisiacal “South Seas”. Rarotonga, the main island, is mountainous with bizarre formations, full of lush vegetation, zillions of coconut trees and an equal amount of brightly red-flowered flame trees. Continue Reading →

The Cook Islands

By on 20. February 2008 in Cook Island
Driving around on Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Driving around on Rarotonga, Cook Islands

In 1830, the name Cook Islands was first used by a Russian cartographer, 50 years after the death of Captain James Cook, who explored many of these islands. It is a unique Polynesian country with an independent government “in free association with New Zealand”. This means that Cook Islanders carry New Zealand passports and New Zealand takes on many of the responsibilities of Foreign Affairs, including defense. Continue Reading →