Jetsave Travel 

- Sports

The Cook Islands offer excellent bone fishing and deep sea fishing as well as water sports such as paddling and canoeing. Cook Islanders flock to sporting entertainment, canoeing, golf, cricket, bowls, rugby, league, soccer, softball, squash, tennis, sailing, and swimming. Don't miss the chance to see a stamina crunching game of rugby which says something about the spirit of the Cook Islanders. Team sports are a big draw card with the locals and it is definitely entertaining to watch them at play. A well equipped stadium was built at Tereora College in 1985 for the South Pacific Mini Games. Most Friday's see a sporting event of some sort held at the stadium. Please refer to the page on general information for dates of the Triathlon's held on Rarotonga Island.

For the fitness minded there is a gymnasium at Top Shape Health Club. They also have aerobic classes which are held daily at 12 noon and 4pm. Monday to Saturday. If you like to run, The Hash House Harriers meet every Monday at 5:30pm at various points around the island for a fun run. You will find the weekly meeting point published in the Cook Islands's Newspaper. Yoga classes are also held twice weekly on Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon at the Better Health Clinic.

The Rarotonga Lawn Bowling Club boasts an international standard bowling green. Visitors are always welcome at the Saturday roll up. Starting times are 10am and 1pm with white dress required. Mufti dress is from 4pm, Monday to Friday. Green fees are around $1.00 as are the hire bowls.

GOLF - Monday to Friday from 8am There is only one golf course on Rarotonga Island, managed by the Rarotonga Golf Club and located at Nikao near Black Rock. Visitors are welcomed to its picturesque 18 hole (2x9hole) golf course located very close to the International Airport. Playing around the masts and stays of the cable and wireless station contribute to the unique hazards of the course and makes for a truly unusual golf experience. You can hire a half set of clubs and green fees are NZ $15.00. Saturday makes a good day to play as this is club day.

TENNIS AND SQUASH - Daily from 7am: Tennis is available at both the Rarotongan Hotel and the Edgewater Resort. The Rarotongan Hotel offers 2 asphalt courts for hire. The Edgewater Resort offers 2 grass courts with lighting for night playing. Court hire is approximately $10 per hour and coaching is available at the Edgewater Resort. The squash courts open daily except Sunday and are located next to the Catholic Church downtown Avarua.

DEEP SEA FISHING
Game fishing is very popular in the Cook Islands. The fishing operators cater for novices or an experienced anglers. One of the great advantages in the Cook Islands is that the fishing grounds are located just outside the harbour only minutes away. During wahoo season (June to October) most of the fishing is done within 300m or 400m from the reef, so while you are fishing you also have a fabulous view of Rarotonga Island. The Humpback whales also visit between June and October so on many fishing trips during this period you are alwo treated to watching the whales breach in front of you. The heaviest catch is a marlin.. Other types of fish caught are barracuda, mahi mahi, sailfish, wahoo, tuna both yellowfin and skipjack. Trips depart daily at 8am and return approx 2pm. It is suggested to prebook your fishing tours in order to ensure that space available.

Rarotonga is a paradise for fly casters and light tackle anglers. Chartered fishing trips are available for the novice and the experienced angler. Common catches include bone fish (Aitutaki) trevally, mahimahi, paara, marlin, cod, snapper, barracuda and tuna. The local record for blue marlin is 547lbs, black marlin 386lbs and yellow fin tuna 183lbs. Deep sea fishing starts just outside the reef, a very short distance from the harbour.

SEAFARI DEEP SEA FISHING - Daily departing 8am Seafari offers game fishing on a 34 ft Canadian built game fishing boat with onboard toilet. Your skipper George Marsters is an experienced game fishermen and will do his utmost to ensure you great fishing. Game fishing is only minutes away from Avarua Harbour. Fish for Black, blue and striped marlin, sailfish, barracuda, and wahoo as well as tuna and wahoo which all provide plenty of action for both novice and experienced anglers. (catches remain with the boat) Prices include round trip transfers from your hotel. Depart Daily: 8am - Adult: NZ$160.00 per person Charter: NZ $650.00 (for 4 persons)
PACIFIC MARINE CHARTERS - Daily from 8am: Pacific Marine Charters offers game fishing on a 35 ft sport fishing boat "Reel Time" which is equipped with Penn international reels and light tackle gear. The boat has a full range of electronics including radios, safety gear and flush toilet. Your skipper Wayne Barclay is an experienced game fishermen and has been charter fishing since 1987. Fish for Black, blue and stiped marlin, yellowfin and skipjack tuna. An average wahoo is 20kg, but can reach 40-50 kg. Prices include round trip transfers from your hotel. Depart Daily: 8am - Adult NZ $150.00 per person: Charter: NZ$650.00 (for 4 persons)
BONE FISHING Bone Fishing, Aitutaki, offers the popular bone fishing with Jubilee an experienced fisherman with bone fishing as his specialty. Prices do not include round trip airfare from Rarotonga to Aitutaki and you may wish to combine your fishing with an Aitutaki overnight package including accommodation. Depart Mon-Sat: 8am Prices include round trip transfers from your hotel and a light lunch Adult: NZ$350.00 Bone Fishing Manihiki and Penrhyn- Bone Fishing is also offered on the northern group islands of Manihiki and Penrhyn. A minimum of 7 nights is required due to airline services. Specialized fishing packages are available.
PADDLING Paddling/Canoeing -The sailing club located at Muri Beach offers canoe and kayak rentals and many accommodation properties offer complimentary kayaks for guests. Muri Lagoon is excellent for paddling. There are several paddling clubs on Rarotonga and each year there is a week long paddling festival in November called "The Vaka Eiva". November 2007, saw teams from New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and Australia competing with the Cook Islands for trophies in the Masters Men and Women 12km, the Open Men and Women Race 18km, the Juniors 10km and 15km, and the Men and Women's Open round Raro Relay. The week long event attracts many local and international paddlers along with their supporters to Rarotonga, not only to enjoy the exciting race events, but also the Cook Islands Culture, vibrant nightlife, restaurants, beautiful beaches and relaxing atmosphere. This years festival has drawn a record field of some 530 paddlers and a total of 61 teams.