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Tag: Cook Islands travel

  • Get Married in the South Pacific – Tropical Weddings in Oceania

    The South Pacific has become a hot destination for couples wanting to get hitched and enjoy their honeymoon at the same time. Most resorts in the Oceanic region offer wedding packages, with ceremonies typically performed on the tropical locale’s beaches.south pacific wedding

    A marriage license should be obtained on arrival in the South Pacific. This is generally a simple process, but both bride and groom must ensure they have their identity documents. These include a passport, certified copies of your birth certificate and, where applicable, copies of decrees of divorce or death certificates if widowed.

    Fiji is the most popular destination for South Pacific weddings. It has numerous resorts providing wedding packages, and many even have their own chapels. If you hope to invite more than 30 guests, a large resort is the best option.

    While the atmosphere may be less personal, these hotels are able to cater for a sizable party. For something more intimate, the smaller resorts on Fiji's outskirts are more appropriate. The Cook Islands' capital, Rarotonga, offers weddings at almost every resort. The packages are varied, offering everything from a traditional wedding on a beach, to a church wedding backed by a full choir or a private ceremony on an uninhabited isle. Samoa has a fledgling wedding industry, with only a handful of resorts offering beach weddings. These include Le Vasa Resort, Siufaga Beach Resort, and Le Lagoto Resort. While the back-to-basics style may not suit flashier couples, it's ideal for those looking for something low-key and romantic. Tahiti poses the most challenges for couples, with an exhaustive amount of paperwork required before the ceremony. Thankfully resort staff will be happy to help should you get stuck. The effort is worth it though, with Tahiti offering some of the most indulgent wedding packages in the South Pacific. Traditional ceremonies and dance performances are designed to make your big day memorable. Tonga is the most conservative island in the South Pacific, and as such it does not permit beach weddings. Instead Tonga encourages couples to have a Christian ceremony in one of the island’s many churches.

  • Romantic Aitutaki in Cook Islands the Ideal Vacation Spot for Honeymooners and Lovebirds

    The Cook Islands is a tropical slice of Oceania made up of 15 isles. Most tourists flock to the capital, Rarotonga, but if you have romance in mind the more peaceful Aitutaki is a much better choice.


    Couples can enjoy a little alone time at luxurious accommodation options including the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa and the five-star Pacific Resort. Both resorts are positioned right on the beach, with fine white sand and fragrant frangipani trees helping to create an idyllic island atmosphere. They also offer the kind of opulent rooms that lovebirds will struggle to leave. However if you do feel like venturing out, the resorts offer plenty of fun activities. You could immerse yourself in local culture with hula dancing classes and ukulele lessons. You could even learn to make traditional seafood dishes, or simply sit back and let the resort staff do all the work. Fishing and diving expeditions and lagoon cruises are other ways of experiencing all the island has to offer without breaking a sweat. This is a destination which encourages rest and relaxation after all.

    aitutakiWith lush private rooms, long white beaches lined with coconut palms, and tranquil surrounds, Aitutaki is a natural choice for honeymooners. If you’re not hitched already, the big resorts can take care of that too. Both Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa and the Pacific Resort offer wedding packages. The hotels take care of the license, celebrant, flowers, and all the trimmings, leaving you more time to relax and enjoy your special day.

    Aitutaki is a 50-minute flight from Rarotonga. The international carrier Air New Zealand flies to Rarotonga via the Kiwi cities of Auckland and Christchurch. Air Rarotonga runs daily flights between the Cook Islands capital and its secluded sister from $390 return.