Extra surprise stop Avarua, Rarotonga The Cook Islands September 11,023

Varurua,(4906), population of the Cook Islands 13,500

Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of 67.39 km2(26.02 sq mi), and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 13,007 of a total population of 17,434. The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga. Rarotonga is a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels. The chief town, Avarua on the north coast, is the capital of the Cook Islands.

Captain John Dibbs, master of the colonial brig Endeavour, is credited as the European discoverer on 25 July 1823, while transporting the missionary Reverend John Williams.

We were headed to Auckland NZ. We’re scheduled to be there Saturday, but there was a medical emergency. The captain deviated course and we traveled about 300 miles to Avarua. There the medical crew used a tender and carried the passenger to the island where I assume, he/she will be flown to a hospital for medical treatment

Lowering the tender to deck 7 to take on the sick passenger and medical crew.

There is no port for us, so the tender took the passengers into the port where an ambulance was waiting. Another reason to have travel insurance.

It looks like a beautiful island. Our cabin neighbor said she spent a week there. So now we’ve been close to the Cook Islands, but alas, I wasn’t able to buy a magnet.😂