Rarotonga

Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Mon 3 Oct 2011 10:09
From Bora Bora, there are only a few island stops on the way to Tonga.  We elected to visit Rarotonga
in the Cook Islands and were not disappointed.
 
Unfortunately, there is no lagoon with a pass deep enough for us to enter, so we had to go to the harbour which has
it's limitations.
 
 
The harbour has been blasted out of the reef, and is completely open to the north.  Any wind or swell
from a northerly direction sets up a very uncomfortable surge.
 
We try to keep well off the concrete wall, and have to use the dinghy to get to the ladders up the wall,
going hand over hand using the mooring lines to pull ourselves along.
 
 
Downtown was quiet but attractive.
 
 
 
 
 
The Cook Islands have had a long association with New Zealand.  This is the governors house before
independence.  Many of the Cook Islanders have lived in NZ or Australia, and there would not be one
who does not have at least one relative living in NZ or Oz.
 
 
Trader Jacks restaurant on the waterfront.  Rarotonga gets direct flights from Auckland and Sydney,
and has a thriving tourist trade, mainly kiwis.
 
 
 
This was the 'old' harbour, with all supplies being lightered in from the freighter anchored offshore.
There was also a regular passenger ship service to Auckland.
 
 
These huts had cafes and souvenier shops.
 
 
 
Religion is very strong as it is in most of Polynesia, and Sundays revolve around the church.
 
 
 
 
 
The island is very beautiful, perhaps not as spectacular as those in French Polynesia, but very scenic
all the same.
 
 
Muri Beach is the most popular tourist area, as there is a small lagoon here.
 
 
 
We booked a tuk tuk 3 wheeled scooter, but both had mechanical problems when we turned up so
they gave us this little convertible for the same price, which worked out well when we went shopping.
 
 
 
Lunch here was panini with crumb fried mahi mahi with lime mayonnaise. Yummy.
 
 
 
Road side graves, often in people's front yards, are as common here as in the rest of Polynesia.
 
 
 
 
Tomb of the first Prime Minister.
 
 
 
We went to an "Island Night" at a restaurant.  Along with the band and dancing, we had a set menu
of island foods - taro, sweet, potatoe, pork, fish.  Both the show and the food exceed our expectations
and we really enjoyed the night.
 
 
The drumming and dancing was exuberant.  This troupe do many overseas trips...US, China, Europe,
truly amazing how they get around.
 
 
 
Husking a coconut with his teeth ,,,,I don't think a dentist would approve.
 
 
 
 
After the show, we watched part of the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, but
we knew we had to leave in the morning as the wind had gone north east and
the harbour was already uncomfortable.  We would have loved to stay longer,
but it's off to Nieu, a mere fly speck in the middle of the Pacific.