Wendy's Great Australian Adventure: Part 4

DAY 8 – Darwin and the Ghan

We got an early start this morning, and took the scheduled Ghan bus transfer to the railway station. It was quite a large bus with an elderly group of primarily Aussies, excited to get to the train for their journey south.

Upon arrival at the Darwin station, our suitcases were offloaded from the bus and transferred to the train, while we stayed on the bus. The bus then drove along the rail platform, dropping guests off at their assigned train car. The train itself is 774 meters long (around 2200 feet), so the drop-off saves guests a long walk in the heat!

The train itself is immaculately maintained, with a friendly and helpful crew to welcome you on board. The Gold Twin cabin is quite small, but the space is well used. It has a nice bench seat and table for relaxing during the journey, enjoying the view from the wide window in the cabin. The walkway has windows every few yards, so you can leave your cabin door open, and get views on both sides. The private bathroom is small, but again, uses the space well. There is a toilet, sink and shower all in the one room…with a shower curtain to protect the toilet/sink areas when showering…there is surprisingly a decent amount of room for a shower.

The single cabin is downright tiny, with one small bench seat, a stool/footrest, and a sink that folds down. The cabins do not have their own bathroom, so they share the showers and toilets with other single cabin travelers in the same car. Once the bed is down, the door doesn’t fully open…but it is a cozy setup.

There is a lounge car, which fills up immediately with guests wanting to enjoy a beverage and the company of their fellow travelers.  Dining is in the Queen Adelaide car, with white linen table settings, and a menu of several courses (including options for each course).

We stopped in Katherine for a few hours, and disembarked for a tour that we had selected at boarding. We took the Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise. Several large coaches picked guests up at the Katherine station, and drove us through town (with driver commentary), out to the gorge. The boats each hold about 50 passengers, and cruise leisurely up the river, with entertaining commentary provided by the driver/guide. It was a hot day, but the gorge is beautiful, and well worth a visit. We even saw a few small freshwater crocs relaxing by the shore. The gorge is great for

kayaking/canoeing as well, if visiting the area on your own. We were amazed at the hundreds of flying foxes hanging from the trees at the shoreline, chattering and fanning themselves in the heat.

Back on the train, in time for a drink and dinner. While out of the cabin, the crew comes by to turn down the beds, bunk style…including a ladder and guard for the upper bunk. Ready for a good nights sleep, with the gentle rocking of the train car!

DAY 9 – the Ghan and Alice Springs

We were awakened by a knock on the door, and a cup of coffee and tea for each of us. The sun was not up yet, so we were lucky to see the sunrise over the red center as we chugged along in the train toward Alice Springs.

We arrived into Alice Springs just after breakfast, and hopped into a taxi to our hotel, the Double Tree by Hilton. It’s a bit out of town, so the driver waited and took us back to the central market at

the Todd Mall. It was surprisingly big for a small town, taking up several blocks with arts/crafts and food booths for the most part…only one produce booth to be found. Apparently this weekend is extra busy because of the Beanie Festival going on (yes, the beanies that we wear on our heads in the winter…although these are more like works of art and a price to match). After our sausage lunch and mango sorbet dessert, we walked the 20 minutes or so back to our hotel, along the Todd River (which, according to the map, is “usually dry”).

In the afternoon, we were picked up by an AAT Kings bus for a city tour, A Town Like Alice. Our

driver/guide, Jamie, grew up in the area and was incredibly knowledgeable on all things Alice. We visited the School of the Air (which educates students all over the outback by remote methods), the Telegraph Station, the Royal Flying Doctors Service center and museum, and the Reptile Centre. It was a great way to get around to these sites that are not all in easy walking distance, and gain extra insight from Jamie along the way. The area has a fascinating history and character that just comes to life on a tour like this.

This evening, we walked down the street to the Lasseter Casino, but actually ended up back at our hotel to eat dinner Hanuman, which has a wide variety of Asian/Indian cuisine.

Wish we had more time to spend here in Alice Springs, but will save that for another trip. Tomorrow we push on to Ayers Rock.

DAY 10 – Alice Springs and Ayers Rock

It was an early morning start to catch our AAT Kings bus tour from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock. The entire trip took about 5 hours, including 2 comfort stops. The first stop was for about 25 minutes at a camel farm, where we could grab a breakfast sandwich, coffee/tea, and hop on a camel for a quick ride (but we saved our camel ride for later in the day). Our second stop was also for about 25 minutes at Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse, perfect for a cappuccino and a snack…and photos of the road that seemingly goes forever in either direction, with no civilization in sight outside of the Roadhouse.

Our driver was Gill Cairns, who provided commentary for most of the trip (history, flora, fauna, and suggestions and information about Ayers Rock). She also played a documentary on board about the first aboriginal man who was granted citizenship, as a result of his popular artwork…but his story was rather depressing.

We arrived in Ayers Rock around 1pm, and were dropped off at our hotel, Sails in the Desert. The

hotel lobby has a very welcoming and open feel to it…modern and airy. The actual room section is a bit of a maze, but once we found our room, we were pleased with the large size and local character…although it’s not without its quirks. The most bizarre quirk is that the sheets were loud. Yes, I said loud…strange, I know! The best way I can describe it is that they sounded like crumpling paper every time you moved.

We had a quick walk around the Town Square, and lunch at Gecko’s (mostly pizza, pasta and salads) before we were picked up for our camel ride that would take us to dinner. If you’ve never ridden a camel, this is a MUST! The camel farm in itself is impressive…started by a guy named Chris, who got his first camel at age 15 and was hooked.

They get all their camels from the wild (not a difficult thing to do in Australia, given the huge population of wild camels), and put them through a thorough training program. We had a chance to meet Milkshake, their 5-month old rescue camel, before gearing up…she is adorable, and has a thing for thumb sucking (human thumbs, that is, obviously not her own). There were 5 of us on the ride, and we each had our own camel…sometimes they double up with 2 to a camel, depending on the size of the group. The camels are tethered to each other, front to back, and are accustomed to slowly meandering down the path in a line. The views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta were stunning, and the camels provided constant entertainment. Our cameleer/guide, Chrissy, was fantastic, and has an obvious passion for camels. She talked about camel history in Australia, the camel farm, the flora/fauna, and told a few silly camel jokes…all while riding the lead camel and facing backwards much of the time.

We arrived at the Sounds of Silence dinner site, where the other diners were already enjoying their champagne and canapes (including crocodile and “skippy” – aka kangaroo), and taking photos of us like we were celebrities. After about 15 minutes with the rest of the folks, enjoying the limited sunset (too much cloud cover, unfortunately), we were all invited into the dining area and chose our

seats with a family of 4 and a single lady…all Australian. By then it was mighty chilly, so most of us were bundled up in jackets and scarves/hats to stay warm. There were heaters amongst the tables, but their reach was limited, so warm clothes were a must.

Dinner itself was quite the affair with 3 courses (the main course and dessert were buffet style) and local beer/wine, accompanied by a series of entertainers, including a didgeridoo player, aboriginal dancers, and a star guide. There was a great variety of food to choose from, and the quality was very good (especially the caramelized kangaroo!). As the night came to an end, we were shuttled back to the hotel in the bus, since our camels had long since clocked out for the day.

Interested in having your own Australian Adventure?  Visit our site to view sample itineraries or call us at 1-800-554-9059 to speak with an Aussie Specialist!

Wendy's Great Australian Adventure: Part 3

DAY 5 – Darwin to Bamurru

This morning was fairly relaxed, so we took advantage of the hotel coin laundry while we had breakfast. We only had to walk a couple of blocks before coming across a busy (and delicious) breakfast spot called Ducks Nuts…a rather odd name for a restaurant, and a logo to match!

We walked around town a bit more, getting a feel for Darwin. There are quite a few shops and restaurants on the main streets of town, plus lots of WWII historical sites, and a few entertainment spots like Crocosaurus Cove.

In the afternoon, we taxied out to the Air Frontier office at Darwin Airport, and boarded our Cessna 270 for the 30-minute scenic flight across the floodplains and rivers of the north coast to our landing spot at Swim Creek. We were met by Riley, our classic Aussie outback guide, in the 4WD vehicle that would get us to the lodge site at Bamurru Plains in about 30 minutes. The drive was unpaved, but not at all rough, since we were traveling at a leisurely pace. We were immediately greeted by buffalo, just meandering and grazing about…so the photo safari begins, before we even get there! Riley was fantastic, answering our many questions and pointing out the different types of buffalo they have on the property.

On arrival at Bamurru, we are greeted by Martika with a cool eucalyptus towel and glass of chilled rosemary and thyme water…perfectly refreshing! We were escorted to our bungalow, which is stilted above ground, with sweeping views out to the floodplains. There is a low king-sized bed, and a single mattress in the screened-in porch area for Skylar. The bathroom is probably the best part…it’s a separate room without A/C, and has the feeling of being outside, with a huge/open shower that features a rain shower head. The use of stone, metal siding, and wood beams gives it a very rustic and outdoorsy feel. The property operates on solar power and generator, so we still have the convenience of in-room lighting and A/C.

The main lodge is a cozy central gathering place. The deck is stunning…padded bench seats with overhead tin roofing line both sides, while an infinity pool takes front and center. The view from the deck is of wide open space that gradually turns into wetland a few hundred yards away (at least this time of year…as the dry season continues, the water will recede). There are buffalos, wallabies, termite mounds, and birds all over the place. The pandanus trees add a Dr Suess-on-safari look, and are great for photographs.

We went on an afternoon 4WD trip to the nursery area, since they are just finishing up the calving season, and there are dozens and dozens of baby buffalo huddling close to their mothers. Wallabies are everywhere! They are skittish, and take off in a horizontal hop/run as the truck approaches, and then pause to look back and evaluate us, once they feel that they are safely out of our reach….their tiny little mouths still munching on the snack that we just interrupted. We even saw one wallaroo. There are tons of birds, including cockatoos, egrets, jabarus, kites, etc…all chattering at once.

We made it back to the lodge just in time for a stunning sunset, as the fiery red globe slipped quickly beyond the wetlands and distant tree line.

After a fire and canapes on the deck, we sat down to dinner in the main lodge with the other guests (Bill and Kim from Perth; a hunter from Texas and his guide, and Riley). We enjoyed an entrée of smoked salmon and cream cheese; a main course of duck with carrot and broccolini on the side, and dessert of homemade ice cream and berries. Beverages are included, so local Aussie wine and beer accompanied the meal. With very full bellies, we walked back to our rooms, dodging frogs along the way, and settled in for a night amongst the wildlife.

DAY 6 – Bamurru

We awoke to the sounds of buffalo and bird chatter this morning…and looked out of our room to see them meandering and grazing, just feet away. Even the wild horses made it to our doorstep. We had a hearty breakfast of eggs, tomatoes, spinach, and bacon, along with a selection of fruit, breads/muffins, and cereals.

At about 9:00am, we headed out on our first adventure of the day…taking the airboat to the Kingfisher area. What an amazing experience! As we motored across the floodplains, we saw birds scattering left and right, and buffalo hustling out of the way. One moment we were on the wide open plain, and the next amongst the paper bark trees with colorful water lilies in all directions, and dragonflies zipping about. Riley turned the motor off periodically, and we just took in the sounds of nature, and enjoyed the light breeze. It was absolutely beautiful…seemingly a world away from civilization. One of the most majestic views was of the Jaburu taking flight, with its massive wingspan. Bamurru (the magpie goose) were absolutely everywhere, scattering in flight at the sound of the boat approaching, or scuttling along the reeds with their young in tow.

Back to the lodge for a dip in the pool, a delicious chicken salad lunch, and some down time during the peak heat of the day. The kerala (cockatoos) were on a rampage this afternoon…squawking and talking, and rolling around on the grass. Hard to believe how noisy it was for several hours! Gotta love the sounds of nature.

Our afternoon 4WD started at 4:00pm, and was guided by Estelle…a young gal originally from

Tasmania, who has a vast knowledge of the local Northern Territory wildlife, including visual ID and behaviors. We headed out to Pandanus Point, stopping many times along the way to learn about the local trees, vegetation, birds, ants, mammals…anything and everything that crossed our path. We even tasted the tangy green rear ends of the green ants. As the sun set, we enjoyed canapes and wine/beer at the point, surrounded by buffalo, wallabies, and birds.

Dinner was served around 7:30pm, and started with a salmon tartare, followed by rack of lamb with potatoes and broccoli and ending with a delectable chocolate mousse. After learning more about Estelle’s Tasmania background and tourist recommendations, we called it a night…watching for roaming buffalo and frogs/toads in our path.

DAY 7 – Bamurru to Darwin

We got an earlier start today, since we have to leave at 11:00am. Breakfast at 7:30am, and then off on the airboat with Estelle driving/guiding. We started out heading toward Pandanus Point, where we spotted a number of unique birds…including the Comb-Crested Jacana (jesus bird), that seemingly walks on water. We spotted the dad with two little chicks…dad’s crest turns from bright red to yellow in a time of stress, and he plays decoy while the young chicks drop below water for safety, just leaving their tiny beaks out of the water for air. We also spotted the White Bellied Sea Eagle nest, with one of the eagles resting inside. The nest is massive, typically up to 2 meters or so in diameter, and located high up in a tree.

Estelle drove us as far out over the wetland as possible, until it started to get too shallow for even the airboat. Then with the motor off, we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the birds and buffalo while enjoying a nibble (fruit, muffins, juice, and water). Such a peaceful place, and stunningly beautiful, as far as the eye can see.

We bid the staff and guests farewell, and rode out on the 4WD with Riley to the airstrip, where we were picked up for the bumpy flight back to Darwin. There has been unusual cloud cover these last few days, which raised the heat/humidity and made the flight a bit bouncy.

Back in Darwin, we taxied to the DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade, and grabbed a quick bite to eat before our AAT Kings City Sights tour. It was a great overview of the area in a small coach with about 15-20 other tourists. The driver gave commentary as we drove around the city, and we stopped at several historic sites, including Survivors Lookout, East Point, and the Botanic Gardens (with a nice rainforest walk). Unfortunately our Sunset Fish & Chips Cruise was cancelled due to boat issues, so we just ventured into town for dinner instead. The city was bustling with visitors for the V8 Supercars event, so I suspect it was a livelier Friday night than usual.

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Wendy's Great Australian Adventure: Part 2

DAY 4 - Sydney to Darwin

We woke up to a cool, crisp morning in Sydney! Steve and I were on a mission to get back to La Renaissance Patisserie for another almond croissant, but found that The Rocks district in Sydney is a little slower to wake up than the main business district (CBD)…so we settled on a different café for a quick bite and coffee. No almond croissants, but they made a delicious cappuccino and ham/cheese croissant.

Today we’re off to the Northern Territory! We were picked up in a nice mini-van by our Royale Limousines driver, who whisked us off to the Sydney domestic airport. I always enjoy chatting with the drivers about their lives in Sydney, and experiences driving tourists like us around. They are so friendly!

We flew on Virgin Australia to Darwin, which is a 4-5 hour flight from Sydney. The Virgin crew couldn’t be nicer, but their food selection was pretty limited (not included, extra cost on this flight)…by the time they got to us, it was egg sandwiches or egg sandwiches. Good thing we’re not picky eaters!

On arrival in Darwin, we took a taxi to our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade…only about a 15-minute drive, and under AUD$30. It’s MUCH warmer here in Darwin! Temps are in the 80s, and it’s their dry season, so it’s perfectly comfortable. We checked in, and then met a friend who showed us around the city. Kerrie took us to the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, a free museum that showcased several excellent exhibits, including one about Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed the city on Christmas in 1974. Other exhibits are on aboriginal art, local wildlife, and history; they even have a huge crocodile named Sweetheart on display...the most famous croc of the NT. We also went on a nice walk in search of wild wallabies, and saw close to a dozen racing around the fields…so cute!

Kerrie and her husband Barry (or “Baz” as the Aussies say), took us to a phenomenal seafood restaurant called Pee Wee’s at the Point. I had the traditional local seafood dish of wild caught saltwater Barramundi, and it just melted in my mouth! Steve and Sky absolutely loved their meals as well…braised pork belly and roasted duckling.

Another fantastic day…we’re excited to see more of Darwin tomorrow!

Interested in having your own Australian Adventure?  Visit our site to view sample itineraries or call us at 1-800-554-9059 to get started!

Wendy's Great Australian Adventure: Part 1

Follow along with our very own Wendy as she explores Australia and packs as much adventure as she can into her time down under!

Day 1:

Down Under, here we come! We (Wendy, Steve, and Skylar) departed LAX at 10:30pm, and enjoyed the friendly Kiwi service aboard Air New Zealand to Auckland (approx. 12 hours) followed by a connection to Sydney (approx. 3.5 hours). I personally enjoyed watching the movie Australia on board the plane, since it featured Darwin in the 1930s, and we’ll be there in just a matter of days. Got me in the mood for some Aussie accents and stunning scenery!

By the end of the lesson, Skylar was a pro.

We're determined to make the most of our time in Australia, so we hit the ground running! We were met on arrival by a friendly driver with Royale Limousines, who transferred us to our hotel, the Travelodge Wynyard. Great location, walking distance to many of the major sites! We have a large apartment style room, with a Queen bed, a rollaway, and a small kitchen area…perfect for 3 of us.

Can't beat the meat pies from Harry's Cafe de Wheels

After freshening up, we headed to Circular Quay on foot. Within 15 minutes, we were on board the Sydney Explorer hop-on/hop-off double decker bus. Of course we sat up top for the best views and fresh/chilly air (it is winter, after all!). We connected out to Bondi Beach, and had Skylar join Let’s Go Surfing for a 1-hour private surf session. They have a great office location at the north end of beautiful Bondi Beach, and Sky was standing up within about 30 minutes. Great instruction by Shannon, friendly service, and a fun time at the beach!

Yum!!

We had heard about Harry’s Café de Wheels through Anthony Bourdain, and had to try their meat pies “Tiger” style, topped with mashed potatoes, mushy peas, and gravy. Hit the spot!

Back on the Sydney Explorer bus (bundled up for the top deck, of course), for a sunset/night drive back to central Sydney. What a fantastic first day in Sydney! Tomorrow…Blue Mountains…can’t wait!

A little chilly on the upper deck, but worth it for the views.

Day 2:

Early morning, up and at ‘em! We had planned to go and grab a quick coffee shop / café breakfast, but quickly learned that Sydney likes to sleep in on Sundays. I hate to even admit that we ended up at a McCafe, but what are you going to do? The ham & cheese croissant actually turned out to be a good start to our day.

We met our driver from AEA Luxury, Scott, at the lobby of our hotel at 7:15am and boarded our comfy van that would be our home for the day. On board was a mother/son pair from Alabama, who were at the end of their trip, after visiting their daughter/sister, who is studying abroad on the Gold Coast. We made one more stop at the InterContinental to pick up a mother with her twin daughters, one of whom was studying abroad in Sydney and at the end of her term…poor thing, I’m not sure she was ready to leave Australia!

The Blue Mountains experience was really enjoyable. Although there is a lot of time in the vehicle, it’s very comfortable, and we made a number of stops that were well spaced out, and gave us plenty of time out in nature.

Our first stop was Featherdale Wildlife Park…a MUST, in my opinion! They have several animal enclosures throughout the park, but there are also wallabies and kangaroos wandering freely about, so you can get up close and personal! And of course the koala encounter is always a hit. In this part of Australia, you can take photos with the koalas and pet them, but not actually hold them like you can in the state of Queensland. The number of animals and birds in this small park was fantastic…well worth a visit.

From there, we made several stops to see the majestic, sweeping views from lookout points; walk to a waterfall, and enjoy a nice lunch at a golf club. The afternoon highlights were champagne and OJ at a rocky point, followed by a stop at a botanical garden. We were back in the city by 5:00pm, and bade farewell to our companions for the day.

Back on our own, we walked over to Darling Harbour for some exploration and dinner. Darling Harbour is a lively waterfront area with a number of day cruise boats, Madame Tussaud’s, an IMAX theatre, Sealife Aquarium, Wildlife Sydney, etc. A bit touristy, but still worth the visit.

We came back to our hotel tuckered out from our big day out of the city. Tomorrow will be a busy one, starting with the Sydney Opera House, bike tour, and Bridge Climb. We're making the most out of our time here, that’s for sure!

Day 3:

A great way to see the sights.

Today was packed full! We did more than I would normally recommend for travelers in one day…starting with the first Sydney Opera House tour at 9:00am. What a fantastic hour of information and insight. Our guide, Steve, was our perfect ambassador as he guided us through the various theatres, and gave us the full history of how the Opera House came to be as it is today.

We then raced over to the Bonza Bike center in the Rocks area for our 10:30am Classic Sydney 4-hour tour. Our guide was Matt, a Sydney-sider bike tour guide / actor with a vast knowledge of Sydney factoids and recommendations. This tour is a great way to explore a large area of the city (17km in total)…including the Rocks area, out to Dawes Point,  Sydney Observatory, part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, Chinatown, Hyde Park, the Botanical Gardens, the Opera House, and Circular Quay…with a stop at the Lord Nelson Pub partway through (for an optional bite to eat and a beverage). It certainly didn’t hurt that it was a stunningly beautiful day!

We stopped at the Renaissance Patisserie, just around the corner from the Bonza Bike office, for a cappuccino and almond croissant that just melted in our mouths.

The view from the top on a beautiful evening.

Next stop…the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. We joined the first night tour of the day, which commenced at 3:55pm. After some prep time to get into the jumpsuit and don the gear, we joined our guide for nearly 3 hours on the bridge. The views are absolutely spectacular! We lucked out with a clear, crisp winter day, so we could see as far out as the Blue Mountains. But…it was windy as heck (or “blowy” in Aussie-speak), and pretty darn chilly. Of course we were prepared with fleece jackets and beanies, supplied by the Bridge Climb staff.

We finished up our climb at about 7:30pm, and were ready for a warm and cozy spot for dinner, so we chose The Australian, a pub-style restaurant and hotel. We put on our brave pants, and got a 2-sided pizza:

Side one: Pepper Kangaroo (marinated in native pepper with roasted capsicum & cranberries)

Side two: Saltwater Crocodile (marinated in spicy coconut cream & fresh Thai herbs with spinach)

We were really impressed…the two types of pizza were very different, but both incredibly delicious! Pair that with an Aussie brew and a local Shiraz, and it was pretty much a perfect meal. Skylar went for the not-so-exotic Caesar Salad, but sampled a bit of kangaroo, which she said tasted like pizza. Huh!

Needless to say, we are exhausted from our very full day of walking and biking, and ready to get some shut-eye. Tomorrow we head to Darwin to start our Northern Territory adventure.  Stay tuned!

A few action packed days in Sydney and we're off to a completely different world in the Northern Territory.

Interested in having your own Australian Adventure?  Visit our site to view sample itineraries or call us at 1-800-554-9059 to get started!

Why You Should Know About the Cook Islands

If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably already know - and if you’re a newbie, you will soon find out:  we LOVE the Cook Islands.

When we travel, we want to be enriched.  We want to experience something new that changes our perspective.  We don’t want just another postcard worthy location – we want it all.  We really think the Cook Islands are the gem of the South Pacific, offering a luxurious, exotic escape that’s closer than you think.  Here are just a few reasons why:

Incredible beauty

• The Cook Islands are filled with amazing sights – not the least of which happens to be Aitutaki Lagoon.   Renowned as the most beautiful lagoon in the world, it has garnered praise from many journalists, including the Senior Editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, MJ Day, who says “…hands down Aitutaki is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in my life.”  When you get tired of lounging by the azure waters (ha! Yeah right!) you can head inland and explore the lush peaks and ridges of the once almighty volcanic pyramid that formed the islands.

Accessibility

• It’s a 9-hour direct flight from LAX.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on family road trips that exceed that amount of travel time – and feel infinitely longer.  Unlike most locations in the South Pacific, you won’t cross the international date line on your way to the Cooks.  Sleep on the overnight flight and you’ll be ready to go when you arrive on the ground in the morning.  You won’t feel trapped in one spot in Rarotonga, the whole island is essentially your resort.   With easy access to transportation and a welcoming environment, you’ll have the freedom to roam, eat in a different restaurant every night, and truly experience the culture.

Warm culture and hospitality

• Speaking of culture, the Cook Islands most certainly will not disappoint.  Being surrounded by a vibrant, contemporary Polynesian culture, you’ll have no problem interacting with the locals.  You can hop on board any of the many cultural tours and learn more about how these wonderful people came to be.

Boutique paradise

• The Cook Islands offer the most bang for your buck in the South Pacific.  Everywhere you look, you’ll see boutique family owned and operated resorts, restaurants, and tours.  From “live like a local” holiday homes to full-service 5 star resorts, there is an accommodation for every desired experience. But don’t expect to find any highrise hotels – you won’t see any buildings higher than a coconut palm.  There are a plethora of food choices, tipping is not expected and tax is included in meal prices.  You’ll be excited by how rich your experience becomes when it’s steeped in authenticity.

Good people, natural beauty, vibrant culture, unique and luxurious accommodations, and endless opportunities for fun.  That’s the Cook Islands in a nutshell.  But don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself.  You won’t regret it!

P.S. The only way to make a trip to the Cook Islands better is to add on a stopover in New Zealand.  You’ll get two bucket list trips in one at two diverse destinations that will cover any landscape or activity you could want.  Win-win!  Call one of our travel agents today to start planning your own custom trip!