Andrew Bain May 4 2014 at 3:00 AM <\/p>\n
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Rarotonga is known for its stunning blue lagoons and sandy beaches, but there is much more to do than sit on the sun lounger, writes Andrew Bain. <\/p>\n
As a tropical playground, Rarotonga is exceptional. The beating heart of the Cook Islands, it's ringed by reef and split by a sharp line of rainforest-covered mountains. Beaches step directly into turquoise shallows, and an interesting selection of tours showcases the island's natural assets. <\/p>\n
Here is our pick of the five best day trips around the island. <\/p>\n
KOKA LAGOON CRUISES <\/p>\n
From the moment the Koka boat leaves Muri Beach, it's fun overload on the still waters of Rarotonga's lagoon. Ukuleles emerge and Koka's guides sing the boat out into the seas. Even the skipper steers with one hand as he beats a drum with the other. <\/p>\n
From Muri Beach, the glass-bottomed boat heads south to the edge of a marine reserve, where visitors roll overboard in snorkels and masks, floating over coral bommies and clams enclosed in cages to protect them from hungry octopus. <\/p>\n
The morning I'm here, a three-metre-long moray eel coils between bommies, looking like a train emerging from a tunnel. <\/p>\n
Back on the boat there are pareu (sarong) tying lessons and more songs before a barbecue lunch on a sandy island just off Muri Beach. Colourful fish skirt the shores and there's time to laze on the beach before the entertainment continues with coconut-husking lessons, a hermit-crab race and a tree-climbing demonstration from a crew member who just happens to be the Polynesian coconut-tree-climbing champion - he shimmies up and down the palm in seven seconds this day. <\/p>\n
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Cook Islands: Pacific play time<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Andrew Bain May 4 2014 at 3:00 AM For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Rarotonga is known for its stunning blue lagoons and sandy beaches, but there is much more to do than sit on the sun lounger, writes Andrew Bain. Continue reading