Rarotonga

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 1:34 pm

Well this part of the Forum says off topic, and I can't think of anything more off topic at the moment than a tropical island.

The whole extended family is going over to Raro next month for a winter break and my sister reckons we need to take most of our food and drinks over there with us as it will be too expensive to buy, and we aren't staying at a resort, so will be fending for ourselves instead of having everything brought to us on a platter (damn)

To be honest, I can't be fagged with all that (especially if it is only 3%-5% more), and figure that if the local's at Raro can afford to buy food from the supermarkets, then so can we.

Has anyone been over there recently, and done a bit of shopping at one of the supermarkets and got any comments on prices and whether it is worth it or not.

ham · Post by **ham** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:36 am

We went over a number of years ago but went the whole holiday glutton route of eating out. Did go into the local supermarket a couple of times and yes, a little more expensive, but not in my opinion worth the hassle of packing your own over. Also, not really helping the locals economy if you take your own. Great place to holiday. We had an awesome time. One of the highlights was going to get our Cook Islands drivers licence. Bit of a rort but the officer was a real commedian. Have fun.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:13 am

dairy products are very expensive and so are vegetables..

wine however is very cheap, so i suggest you get your vitamins from that instead!
oh and theres a good wholesale fish shop inland kind of behind the supermarket and by the car dealers (road runs parallel to the main ring road inland) we got some super fresh tuna from there for sushimi....YUM!

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:15 am

ham wrote: One of the highlights was going to get our Cook Islands drivers licence. Bit of a rort but the officer was a real commedian. Have fun.

just make sure you put your foot down at the give way if your getting your bike licence!

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:23 am

We were over there about 4 years ago, but just did the resort thing, and pigged out on the food there as part of the packages, so never did the supermarket thing, but thanks for all the info.

As for the license, we didn't even bother with that either, hired a scooter, they said where's your license, I said that I haven't been into town to get one as yet cause I didn't have a scooter, and they said, ok, here's the scooter and then just go into town and get one, I said ok, and gee, it must have slipped my mind.

Never saw any cops over there for the entire week we where there.

Post by **zorruno** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:34 pm

Donovan wrote:Has anyone been over there recently, and done a bit of shopping at one of the supermarkets and got any comments on prices and whether it is worth it or not.

this from one of my staff - hope it helps:

"Kia Orana,

Having recently returned from a seven year stint in Rarotonga I can suggest the following:

Go for a car over a scooter - fatality rates are high and not what you need when on holiday
Thanks to Marie, Dan and co. there is now top quality meats available on the island.
Go local, eat local, kick back and enjoy - coconut, pawpaw, passion fruit, fish, rukau in coconut cream (you will find it at the market or the shop in Vaiimanga will always have some – it’s a must

).
Great fruit and veg. stand in Titikaveka next to the church.

Restaurants are great, prices are the same as what you would pay in Auckland. Tamarind House is a must.

Do stop by TivaevaeCollectables.com for some great gift ideas www.tivaevaecollectables.com or have a look on their face book page. They are situated at the sea end of the airport opposite the meteorological service station or look out for the “SHOP” sign

Kia Manuia
Kathrine"

ham · Post by **ham** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:49 pm

How was the holiday???

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:43 pm

Holiday was good, nice and warm, about 25 during the day. Only downside of it, was that it had been raining the weeks before we got over there, so the mozzie population had exploded, and they were big buggers as well.

This poor white boy got eaten alive, and normally I don't get touched that much.

Lots of laying around and not doing much. Then of course get back here, and has been raining pretty much since we get back, sigh.

Daughter has said she doesn't want us to live here anymore, and want's us to move over there, she's only 5.

If you are going over there, prices in the supermarket at a little bit more than here but not too bad. There is just the odd thing that is pretty expensive, such as Dairy Products, and Beer, even the local brew is pretty pricey at $2.5 a bottle, and it is bloody horrible. Must be an acquired taste. Bar prices are pretty much the same as in NZ, and there is always happy hour.

Scooters the way to get around, yes people get creamed on them (and saw someone) but only because they are usually being silly buggers.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:00 pm

Picture of the lagoon outside from the place that we were staying, with my daughter and her cousin playing in the water, island in the shot could walk over to.

ham · Post by **ham** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:22 pm

Thanks. Looks like you had a great time. We heading over next year and I agree, scooter the way to go.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:29 pm

Just be careful of the falling coconuts, doesn't matter whether you are on a scooter or an open top car (can hire NA MX5's over there, and there are a few rusty examples owned by the locals). We were following behind a convertable, and saw a coconut fall out of the tree, and would have missed the car by inches if that. Almost need a hard hat.

If you like a bit of drink, go to the whatever bar and grill, great atmosphere, good steaks, and they have a happy 2 hour!!!.

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