Rarotonga gives best value in South Pacific

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 26

Rarotonga gives best value in South Pacific

Stories and pictures by LES BLOXHAM, travel editor of “The Press,” who recently visited the Cook Islands.

Twenty-five years have passed since I first set eyes on Rarotonga. I saw it briefly from the Rangitoto as we sailed past en route to England one grey September day in 1961. Since then I have visited other islands of the Pacific on many occasions, but I never managed to set foot on the Cooks until last month when I stayed there for a week. I’m glad I did. I found a holiday destination which, for New Zealanders, offers the best value for money in the South Pacific. The main advantage, of course, is that New Zealanders lose nothing in foreign exchange because all prices are quoted in kiwi dollars. Rarotonga has an excellent range of comfortable accommodation, much of it sited along golden beaches, an increasing number of. fine restaurants, a couple of nightclubs, and a surprising range of things to do. For instance, activities for the sports minded include scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, tennis, golf, bowls, horse riding and big game fishing to mention but a few. If you are keen on exploring, there is an excellent guided walk across the island’s central mountains which can be easily covered in five or six hours. Air New Zealand flies three times a week to Rarotonga. The new Cook Islands International flies there once a week. Non-stop flights by Boeing 767 take just under five hours. The Cook Islands greatest asset is its people

— those friendly, big hearted islanders who want to share their paradise with you. Indeed, the local tourist authority has coined a phrase: “in the Cook Islands the only things spoilt are the visitors.’’ It’s true, and it’s rather nice.