Why would YOU go on a holiday? It is to seek out new places and sights, is to get away from everything and turn off or is to go somewhere and partake in everything possible there is to do when you get there? I would have to put myself in the bracket where I have to be on the go the whole time I am away. My wife reckons that I can't sit still for five minutes.
We were booked into the
Crown Beach Resort a five star resort that was situated on the western position on
Rarotonga where you could watch the sun go down while being sheltered from the south easterly trade winds. Having never been to the Cook Islands before, I did the usual and surfed the Internet as to what I could do there once we arrive, as you see we only had a week on Rarotonga Island.
The sand at the Crown Beach Resort is right at your doorstep.
Now I could go swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, whale watching, sight-seeing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, shopping, dining out, exploring, ride a motor bike or go fishing. So much to do and so little time to do it in.
Free snorkel gear was in your villa at the Crown Beach Resort to check out the local marine life.
Whale watching from out own private villa.
Check out the colour of the main pool at the Crown Beach Resort.
The Crown Beach Resort supplied free kayaks to use.
How clear was the water in front of the Crown Beach Resort?
There are two ways to get to the Cook Islands when you fly. You can go via New Zealand and take twelve hours (cheaper option) or fly direct on Air New Zealand in just under five hours (dearer option). The four hour fight was the way to go. More time on the island to do more things.
Fly direct from Sydney to Rarotonga it's quicker.
Cook Islands, lookout here I come.
After we had gone through customs, we were off to the Crown Beach Resort. Leanne had booked a single bedroom accomodation near the beach. To our surprise, because Leanne had booked a long time beforehand, we were upgraded to a two bedroom, right on the beach front, covered in veranda, with a personnel sun deck complete with chairs and table, plus our own freshwater plunge pool. How good was that!
Our villa was the one just left of the centre at the Crown Beach Resort.
Our own private plunge pool.
Ok, what to do first? Swim, kayak, snorkel, scuba, whale watching, exploring, ride a motor bike, go shopping, do a bit of exploring, try stand up paddle boarding, go for a bus ride around the island, go fishing. No, none of the above. Because of the early booking we were also entitled to breakfast.
Our accomodation for the week at the Crown Beach Resort courtsey of the Crown Beach Resort.
For some reason I decided to just chill out beside the pool, have a swim and just generally do nothing. What was happening to me? Me chill out and do nothing. My guess it was how the staff at the Crown Beach Resort made us both feel. They couldn't do enough for us. Even to the point when I asked for a bourbon and coke and they didn't have any bourbon, so they went out and brought a bottle of Makers Mark.
The Ocean restarurant and Bar staff looked after us while we were there.
The Crown Beach Resort is only 10 minutes from Rarotonga International Airport, and a further 15 minutes to downtown Avarua (driving at 50km/h) where you will find a large array of resorts, restaurants and shops. Rarotonga's leading restaurants are positioned on the west coast and are easily accessible by foot, island bus service, motorbike or car.
Local anglers being watched over by their mates.
The Resort boutique offers amenities and services, but reserved exclusively for 42 couples who reside in 36 stand-alone villas that are carefully positioned across 5 acres of manicured botanical gardens. They include an onsite spa & beauty clinic, an onsite dive centre, three world-class restaurants & bars, gymnasium, concierge & gift shop, guest laundry, onsite rental bikes, room service, kayaks & snorkelling equipment, beautifully landscaped waterfall pool, daily spectacular sunsets, and a small shopping village (supermarket, general store, liquor store, internet cafe, gourmet bakery, ANZ ATM) across the road. Why would you want to go anywhere else?
One of the two local island buses courtsey of the Cook Islands Information site.
If you don't like catching the bus. Hire a bike to get you around the island courtsey of the Cook Islands Information site.
While staying at the Crown Beach Resort we mainly dined at the resorts
Windjammer Restaurant and the
Ocean Beach Restaurant and Bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Shallow fried dolphin fish, chips and salad. Yum.
Although we did have a romantic walk along the beach to a small restaurant called the High Tide Bar and Grill. To book a table all we needed to do was write my name on a chalk board and how many was coming. How simple was that and the food we had there was delightfull and there was plenty of it.
How simple was the reservation board at the High Tide Bar and Grill?
The last night we did experience their world famous island night which featured a Polynesian buffet, followed by delectable desserts, topped off with a dynamic cultural performance presented by the
Akirata Cultural Dance Troupe.
Click on the following link
to view a You Tube clip of the Akirata Cultural Dance Troupe Drummers.
So out of all the things I listed earlier what did I do while holidaying on Rarotonga. Not a lot! I went swimming snorkelled, paddle a kayak, road on one of the only two buses on the island (clock-wise and anti-clockwise), went fishing one day with
Akura Fishing Charters (check out my article for Weekend Notes), chilled out and I actual read a book while I was there to the amazement of Leanne.
If you are ever looking to go somewhere for a holiday and go swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, whale watching, sight-seeing, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, shopping, dining out, exploring, ride a motor bike, go fishing, plus much more or just do nothing. Why don't you do click on Google and find out what the Cook Islands and the Crown Beach Resort have on offer. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprise as to what you can or don't do while on the Island.
We woke up to this view every morning while we were there.
I can't wait to go back.
Oh, one last thing. This is an adults only resort.
PLACES TO CHECK OUT WHILE ON RAROTONGA.
• Crown Beach Resort
• Akura Fishing Charters
Not a bad dolphin fish that I caught while fishing on Akura Fishing Charters
Every Thursday night at the Crown Beach Resort courtsey of the Akirata Cultural Dance Troupe.
Relax and unwind or try and do everything they have to offer at the Crown Beach Resort on the Island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
