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Wanderlust Wednesday: Rarotonga

11 May 2016

By Nicole

Hello again to all you wonderful wanderlusters!

It’s been a while since I last posted a Wanderlust Wednesday, so I’m back again to tease your inner daydreaming backpackers with another fabulous location – one which I have actually just returned from!

Rarotonga is a tiny island in the middle of the South Pacific belonging to a wider group of islands called the Cook Islands. Really, it is a magical little island which can make all your travel dreams come true! Smack bang in the middle of the ocean, Rarotonga is sunny and hot all year round (apart from its rainy season) and is small enough for you to get around easily and make friends, yet big enough and beautiful enough to fill your days with endless exploring!

Okay, it’s a tiny island – in fact you can probably drive around the whole of the island on a scooter in about 45 minutes – but personally I think that this just adds to the charm of this little island. The beaches and Muri Lagoon are some of the most beautiful in the world, and the ocean is a shade of blue that travel dreams are truly made of! But other than lying on world-famous beautiful beaches and topping up your tan, there is so much more for you to do, from paddle boarding the breath-taking lagoon, to scooting around the island on mopeds (which are incredibly cheap to rent), to climbing palm trees, drinking coconuts, snorkelling with tropical fish, climbing the impressive mountains and even checking out the local nightclub Rehab on a Friday night!

Raro 1

The Cook Islands are often overlooked when people are planning their round-the-world journeys as the islands are small and also not very well-known; plus, they have a reputation for being incredibly expensive. It’s true, if you’re going to stay in a resort, it’s going to be expensive, but the hostels are cheap and friendly, and other than the ridiculously expensive cost of WiFi and calls abroad, the cost of living is pretty much the same as New Zealand (it’s sometimes good to tear yourself away from your mobile phones anyway, guys!). So, if you’re planning a trip to New Zealand any  time soon, don’t be afraid to make a surprisingly inexpensive stop off at the Cook Islands – a backpacker’s paradise which is only four hours away!

Keep sharing the world guys!

Nikki

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