Hi All - sorry this got quite long as I was writing!

Short Version:
Rarotonga is a great place to visit and go kiting but remember to bring a big kite as some days where a little light on wind

Long Version:
We are just back from out Kite Trip to Rarotonga. There were 5 of us in the end as one person had to pull out due to an injury before the trip. Hamish and Lynda (me) from Melbourne, Regan and Michael from New Zealand and Steve from Sydnew

We arrived around midnight on Thursday thanks to crossing the dateline Rarotonga is about 20 hours behind Australia. As we exit the airport the tourists say 'its a bit windy' and we just smile .

The Muri Lagoon where we are heading is on the Eastern side of the island and has a mostly sandy bottom though as we can all are now quite aware of some sharp volcanic rocks are also place around the lagoon - ouch! At low tide the water is about waist deep for 100 metres or so. As with most islands the trees are close to the beach and can cause some issues with launching etc.

Friday: 20+ knots pretty much straight onshore.
We all pump up eagerly and get out with about a 5 hour session we thought we were in paradise. We shared the lagoon with two locals and 2 other tourists both from NZ. However 3 kites were placed in trees this day 1 local, 1 from Michael and 1 other. All were recovered with minor damage - easily fixed with some patches. All exausted we head back to our house and have a couple of drinks before heading into town for some dinner. We discover most places stop serving food around 10 and somehow it is that late already so we head to the 24 hour fish and chip shop, which is not so back since it has fresh fish!

Saturday: It is still windy when we wake but we go to the markets first to do some touristy things and get some food for a BBQ that night. When we get to the beach it is about 18 knots and the local guy (Tim) tells us the trades started a few days ago so where on there way out. We had a 3 hour session then they dropped to around 14 and we all move to bigger kites. It was sideshore and only 1 kite was eaten!

Sunday: A lighter day today around 16 knots and we all wait until the afternoon before going out. Today is my first attempt at backrolls but not much luck. Today was cut short when I got a sharp pain in my right side and went off to hospital with suspected appendicitis . The Rarotongan hospital was basic but adequate and the doctors and nurse appeared to know what they were talking about . Anyway the pain went away without surgery which I was pretty happy about

Monday: very little wind and post hospital visit we decided to hire scooters and drive around the island which is only 32km around. No helmets need to be worn and the speed limit is 40km/h. Rarotonga is a beautiful island with fantastic beaches and large green hills in the middle, everything goes at an easy pace here so it was a relaxing day.

Tuesday: Another lightwind day of about 15 knots. The big kites cam out and I took another day off just to be sure and became the photographer as the boys threw all sorts of tricks. I decided the best way to get so good photos was to hire a kayak and paddle out to the middle of the lagoon. I was getting some great footage when one trick came a little to close and pretty much wiped out on top of me, capsizing the kayak and destroying the camera!!

Wednesday: Up early for a day trip to Atutaki a group of islands about an hour’s flight north of Rarotonga. From there we did a tour of the island and jumped on a boat for a day trip (we couldn’t organise our own boat as they were all taken with a yacht race ) So we got to see where they filmed survivor and tried to hurry up the boat as they took everyone snorkelling.. Finally get to one foot island and only have a 1.5 hour stop so we go to the windward side of the island and its got too much corral . So we a looking all around as the wind is blowing a perfect 20 knots and see a sandbar with about knee deep water about the size of a football field and start pumping to get out there the only issue is that if we stuff up we have nowhere to go after the sandbar runs out! This was a great hour on the water and we all left wanting more. Regan landed his first backroll and Michael had his first session staying fully upwind – amazing what a little pressure of no where to go down wind does!! All this with a audience of about 30 people from the boat

Thursday: Some wind in the morning with only Hamish and Steve getting out while it was still up and the rest of us not quite making it before the wind drops out to about 14 knots. Hamish manages to land his first backroll to frontside but gives himself a black eye in the process When we all finally get out we are all struggling a bit with our big kites and the wind has turned more from the north which meant it was a little protected by the islands in the Lagoon. For some cultural entertainment we went to a local island night at the banana boat where there are only about half a dozen tourists and everyone else is a local. It was great watching the dancing and singing they are very talented people and they even managed to drag us up for a dance which much have been hilarious for the locals.

Friday: The last day, Hamish and I go out despite the wind not being there being there - it’s the last day and we want to get out before we go home!! Hamish manages to get out past the island and get some light but clean wind on a 151 board and 16m crossbow. I however can’t manage to get past the wind shadow on my 12m crossbow and 132 board each time I try the kite just drops out of the sky. Steve stays on shore with no hope of getting out on his 16m in the end we pack it in and go and play golf! Final trip into town back to the banana boat to enjoy the friendly local company before we went home.


Next year...
Maui?
Thailand?
Vietnam?
Brazil?
Other suggestions?