Cook Islands

DISCOVER THE COOK ISLANDS HOSTED TOUR

7 days/6 nights.     From just $2,990 share twin   $4,400 single

I invite you to join me as I introduce you to Rarotonga, my old home island  - Stephen Greenfield. (Hosted subject to minimum of 10 travelling). Optional extension to stay on Aitutaki, or visit Atiu or Mangaia. French Polynesia can be combined with Rarotonga with a direct flight from Papeete to Rarotonga and return every saturday. 

 

Day 1. Sunday 25 August,2024.  (Arrive Saturday),  AUCKLAND - RAROTONGA            

8.55am. Depart Auckland with Air New Zealand. Crossing the dateline means arrival in Rarotonga is scheduled for 2.40pm Saturday and we will be met and transferred to our accommodation. Time for a swim in the lagoon.

Day 2. Sunday. 25 August.   (again)             RAROTONGA 

Free day to relax, unwind, enjoy the lagoon and all the activities of your resort. We do recommend visiting a local church this morning to enjoy the beautiful singing and a major part of Cook Island life.  

Day 3. Monday 26 August.                RAROTONGA

Enjoy a leisurely orientation tour of Rarotonga, just 32 km in circumference. Circle the island and visit Avarua, the capital including the Cook Islands Museum, whale and wildlife  centre, perfume manufacturing centre, plantations, the "Ara Metua" ancient road,  Muri lagoon from where the Maori migration left for New Zealand. Enjoy beautiful beach and lagoon vistas plus the rugged mountains of the interior. See and learn of the culture and the value of the coconut tree. Time to relax at the hotel and this evening we will be picked up and transferred to Highland Paradise historic marae to learn of the history of King Tinomana. This area is reputed to have been a stopover by Maori on the migration to New Zealand. Tour the ancient village and enjoy an Umu feast and cultural show.

Day 4. Tuesday. 27 August.       MURI LAGOON CRUISE     (BL)  

We will be transferred to beautiful Muri lagoon to join your crew for a fun day out on the water. Swim, snorkel, relax, enjoy a fresh fish barbecue lunch, watch the coral through a glass bottom boat and be entertained by your crew. Return to your hotel mid afternoon.  

Day 5. Wednesday. 28 August.        RAROTONGA - Optional Aitutaki day excursion    (BL) 

Optional Aitutaki day excursion. $699 including transfers, Aitutaki tour, lagoon cruise and lunch. 

Transfer to the airport and fly to the beautiful island of Aitutaki, renowned as one of the most beautiful atolls in the Pacific and flying boat stopover point on the historic Coral Route. Enjoy a 1 hour tour of the island en route to our cruise to Barefoot and Akiami islands. Plenty of time to swim and snorkel and enjoy a barbecue lunch. Return to Rarotonga late afternoon.

Day 6. Thursday 29 August.     RAROTONGA.  (B)

Free day to relax, swim, or explore at your leisure. For the fit a guided walk across the island is a great experience, 

Day 7. Friday 30 August / Saturday 31 August.             RAROTONGA - AUCKLAND  (B) 

Transfer to the airport departing at 4pm. Crossing the dateline means arrival at Auckland is 6.25pm Saturday 31 August.

 

Tour cost per person: 

Club Raro Poolside rooms 2 per room just $2,990 share twin. $4,400 single

Muri Beach Resort: 2 per room $3,770 share twin   $5,800 single.

Tour cost includes - 7 day tour

** Return air fares from Auckland to Rarotonga,

**  Arrival and departure transfers in Rarotonga.

**  6 nights accommodation and breakfas

**  Tropical breakfast daily, 1 breakfast

**   Highland Paradise cultural evening and feast on the Tinomana Tribe marae.

**   Muri lagoon cruise with snorkelling and barbecue lunch          

 

RAROTONGA - AITUTAKI - ATIU TOUR - 12 day tour. - available 2023 only

Day 7.  Friday   RAROTONGA - ATIU.   (BD)

Arrive from Aitutaki and depart at 11am with Ar Rarotonga for Atiu arriving 11.45am. Transfer to the Atiu villas with an introduction to the island on the way. Dinner at the villas. 

This afternoon enjoy an eco tour with Birdman George.

Day 8. Saturday    ATIU         (BD)

This morning we take a cultural and island discovery tour. An optional tour is available to the Anatakitaki caves  and Kopeka birds walk  however this is a very strenuous walk and anyone who has had hip, knee, or heart surgery or is not fully mobile should not go!

Day 9. Sunday.  ATIU      (BD)

Free day to relax, explore at your leisure, and meet the local people.

Day 10.  Monday.  ATIU - RAROTONGA    (B)

Free time to explore before flying back to Rarotonga. Transfer back to your hotel.

Day 11. TuesdayWednesday    RAROTONGA - AUCKLAND (B)

 Depart at 4.05pm with Air New Zealand and crossing the dateline  means arriving Auckland 6.40pm wednesday evening.

RAROTONGA - AITUTAKI - ATIU. 11 days, 

Total tour cost per person

2 per room   $

Single room  $

 

 

 

 

OPTIONS TO MANGAIA, AND OTHER COOK ISLANDS WILL BE DEVELOPED DEPENDING ON DEMAND AND THE OPENING OF MORE FLIGHT OPTIONS WITHIN THE COOK ISLANDS. Register for any island you wish to visit. 

DISCOVER MANIHIKI.  8 days/7 nights. Departs Rarotonga most tuesdays

Includes return air fares from Rarotonga, 7 nights accommodation at Manihiki Lagoon Villas, breakfast ingredients, 1 day lagoon and pearl farm cruise/tour. Tour cost per person share twin $4,800.

 

Discover Manihiki and Pukapuka by charter plane - minimum 6 passengers requoired.

Visit the Remote northern Cook Islands where very few tourists go

Special hosted departure available any week subject to availability of aircraft for a minimum of 6 passengers.

 

Day 1. ARRIVE RAROTONGA

Arrive Rarotonga and transfer to our accommodation at Pacific resort.

Day 2.  RAROTONGA (B)

Free day to relax, enjoy the lagoon or explore the island.

Day 3. RAROTONGA - MANIHIKI (BLD)

Our 2 hour flight by chartered Citation jet will bring us to the remote atoll of Manihiki, home to the Cook Islands pearl industry. Here the lagoons are dotted with small structures serving as platforms for the seeding of oysters that will, after nearly 2 years yield a lustrous South Seas black pearl. Manihiki's lagoon measures some 44.6 sq km enclosed in a reef almost 17 km long topped by 30 atolls, 2 of which are inhabited.

Day 4. MANIHIKI (BLD)

Travel by boat to an islet in the lagoon to learn about seeding pearls with swimming and snorkelling time around the pearl beds. Later try your hand at the outrigger canoes and fishing, and visit the fish traps and bird sanctuary. For bird watchers and fishers we will arrange special activities for you.

Day 5. MANIHIKI (BLD)

The day is free to relax in the lagoon, visit the local school and meet the people

RAKAHANGA Two hours by boat north of Manihiki lies the island of Rakahanga. Subject to weather, a day cruise may be available for extra cost.

Day 6.  MANIHIKI – PUKAPUKA (BLD)

Rejoin our jet for the 1 hour flight to Pukapuka and enjoy a 1 hour cruise across the spectacular lagoon to the main village of Wale. This is a fascinating island and community. This afternoon we meet the local people including visiting the local school and explore the main village. Stay in local bungalows - col;d water taps for showers.

Day 7.    PUKAPUKA  - RAROTONGA.    (BLD)

Cruise the lagoon stopping off at remote motu's (islets) on the reef, seeing the main entry passage and some of the massive bird life including a stopover at one bird sanctuary as well as meeting the local people. Mid afternoon we depart for the 2 hour 12 minute flight back to Rarotonga. In clear weather we will see spectacular views of Tema Reef, Nassau Island, and Suwarrow Island where hermit Tom Neale lived his solitary existence. Subject to weather and time we may overfly unique Palmerston island also. Transfer on arrival back in Rarotonga to the Pacific Resort. Farewell dinner

Day 8.  RAROTONGA DEPART (B)

Transfer to the airport for departure

 

Projected tour cost per person Share twin $9,600 Single room $10,800

Tour cost includes:

** Arrival and departure transfers in Rarotonga, Manihiki, and Pukapuka

** All travel by charter jet from Rarotonga to Manihiki, Pukapuka, and return to Rarotonga

** 3 nights accommodation and breakfast at Pacific Resort

** 4 nights accommodation on Manihiki and Pukapuka in local bungalows. All meals provided.

** All visits and activities on Manihiki and Pukapuka except Rakahanga cruise.

A minimum of 5 passengers are required to operate this tour.