South Pacific Islands Away From the Crowds

The Cook Islands offer an ideal setting for an exotic South Pacific experience--swaying palms, turquoise lagoons, lush vegetation and friendly, easygoing residents.

This 15-island nation is an alluring stopover for North Americans traveling in the South Pacific. The problem for budget travelers is that low-cost accommodations are limited. It’s wise to have a reservation even if you are planning on staying in hostel-style lodgings.

A dozen accommodation services have banded together to form the Cook Islands Budget Accommodation Council, and they’ve produced a 50-page booklet called “Budget Guide to the Cook Islands.” It contains very brief information on the properties. Nine of them are on Rarotonga, the largest island, where international flights arrive.

The chairman of the Budget Accommodation Council is Bob Healey, proprietor of the Ariana Hostel in Rarotonga. This hostel is 1 1/2 miles from the capital, Avarua, and close to the ocean and the main bus route. Separate men’s and women’s dormitory rooms offer beds for about $9.20 per night. Two- and four-bedroom houses with double rooms are $10.20 per person per night, and single rooms are $15.30. The hostel has a garden; swimming pool; pool table; TV lounge; self-service laundry; small grocery store; bicycle, motorbike and car rentals; and free passenger pickup service from the airport.

Other facilities listed are on Atiu, Aitutaki and Penrhyn islands.

You can obtain the booklet by contacting Tourism Cook Islands, P.O. Box 14, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; telephone 011-682-29-435, fax 011-682-21-435; e-mail tourism@cookislands.gov.ck.

A local source for budget accommodations is Tourism Cook Islands, 5757 W. Century Blvd., Suite 6600, Los Angeles, CA 90045; tel. (888) 994-COOKS; e-mail cooks@itr-aps.com, Internet https://www. cook-islands.com. For much more detailed information, one of the best resources is the sixth edition of “The South Pacific Handbook” by David Stanley (Moon Handbooks, $22.95).

The Cook Islands, south of Hawaii between Tahiti and Tonga, were originally settled by Polynesians who arrived in the 9th century in great double-hulled canoes. By 1901, all the islands had been annexed by New Zealand. Then in 1965 the Cook Islands became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. Cook Islands residents are citizens of New Zealand, but the same status is not granted to New Zealanders in the Cook Islands. Conversely, you can spend New Zealand bank notes in the Cook Islands, but you can’t spend your Cook Islands currency in New Zealand.

With the islands’ strong ties to New Zealand, it’s not surprising that the free Backpacker Budget Hostels of New Zealand (BBHNZ) directory, which lists 200 budget accommodation services in New Zealand, also includes two recommendations for Rarotonga.

In addition to the Ariana Hostel, the directory suggests the Arerenga Motel, which is five miles from town on the west coast near Arorangi and the Cook Islands Cultural Village. There’s a six-acre garden and a nearby white-sand swimming beach. Free airport pickup is available. Singles are $14.80, doubles $11.20 per person; shared rooms for up to four people are $9.20 per bed. Contact the Arerenga Motel, Box 223, Arorangi, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; tel. 011-682-20050.

The information in the directory also can be found on the Internet at: http//www.backpack.co.nz. Free copies of the directory can be ordered online or from BBHNZ c/o Rainbow Lodge, 99 Tiiraupenga St., Taupo, New Zealand; tel./fax 011-64-7-377-1568.

The BBHNZ hostel network also has introduced a phone card that gives travelers in New Zealand a free voice mail message box. Details are available in the directory. The cards are sold at BBHNZ-affiliated hostels throughout New Zealand. You can receive messages from anyone at any time and retrieve them simply by calling in. The only cost incurred is the time you use on your phone card to enter your message box. You can keep the box active by recharging the card when its value is depleted.

*

STA Travel has introduced a special “Sheer Adrenaline” promotion for New Zealand-bound travelers. Mention the words “sheer adrenaline” when you purchase any flight to New Zealand from STA USA before Aug. 31 and you’ll get a free A.J. Hackett Bungee Jump or Shotover Jet Ride in Queenstown. STA can be contacted at (800) 777-0112.