Island Dreaming S01E01 (2024)
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00:00Welcome to Island Dreaming, a series that explores the most stunning island
00:06locations of the world. This week we discover the heart of Polynesia with
00:11epic adventure, breathtaking wildlife, mouth-watering cuisine and captivating
00:17culture.
00:18Kia Orana! This is the Cook Islands.
00:24Nestled in the South Pacific Ocean, the Cook Islands form a chain of 15
00:30enchanting islands, all with their own charm. Jet staff flies direct four times
00:36a week from Sydney to Rarotonga and in just five and a half hours,
00:41Kia Orana! Welcome to the Cook Islands. You're welcomed like a local.
00:45Now, let's check in and check out Rarotonga, the heart of the Cook Islands.
00:53Alright, now we're on island time. Set on six acres of lush tropical paradise, the
01:01Edgewater is more than a resort. It's a living, breathing village, alive with the
01:07sights and sounds of Cook Islands culture.
01:10The resort is part of the community. We're part of the village. We get very
01:18well looked after by the locals that come in, very well supported. We have two
01:23restaurants. We have the Spaghetti House at the entrance, which is Italian cuisine
01:27and we have our own restaurant here, which is Mal's Bar, a Mal's restaurant, which is
01:31named after Mal Meninger, the Australian rugby league player. We've got plenty of
01:35beautiful rooms, beach stones looking out of the lagoons. We have 32 three-bedroom
01:40villas, so we cater for big markets over here, groups, families. Looking around,
01:44it's clear the kids here are having a ball. You can be as busy as you like here
01:50or you can just chill. It's just great.
02:01There's your coconut, nice white meat. And a quick cheers before Tony takes off.
02:06Tony, cheers to Rarotonga. Cheers to Rara, baby.
02:09For the locals already. Yes. It's going to be a good trip. Oh, you know it.
02:19Alfred. Tony, how are you, brother? Good, thank you. Welcome to the Cook Islands.
02:23Thanks, man. We're going to get out there and try and get onto some big fish.
02:26Rara fishing charters? Yep, Rara fishing charters, you know it.
02:29Alfred's got one job today. I want to actually get a nice, decent fish.
02:35OK, so that's your mission. Yep. No pressure. No pressure at all.
02:41So I'm a second-generation fisherman. My father, he was the main starter of this all.
02:47It took me out fishing and that's it. I was hooked.
02:50And the old boy's still coming out? Old boy, yep. He's still teaching me a few things.
02:55What other fish do you catch? Well, we also catch maimai, wahoo,
03:00elephant tuna, albacore tuna. All the marlins are around as well.
03:05And speaking of... Oh, listen to that. Two on, two on.
03:11Three on. Three? Yep. We've got four on, I think.
03:18How come we didn't put out six rods? I should have put out ten.
03:22What have you already got, mate? Oh, it could be a tuna.
03:25LAUGHTER
03:29Guess all that happened tonight.
03:31Watching people wind up their first fish and, you know, a fish of a lifetime,
03:36it's why I'm out here every day. It keeps me going.
03:40Anything to do with the water, we do it.
03:42Mate, I've got to say thanks very much for a pretty awesome day, brother.
03:46Mate, this, this, this is what it's all about.
03:49MUSIC
03:53All right, Tony, it is time to check out some nightlife.
03:56Yeah! Right. But it's not the kind of nightlife you're thinking of.
04:00Righto. OK, but there is fire. That's good. There's some water. Even better.
04:04Fun, adventure. Love it. And some LED lights.
04:08So we are doing what I thought we were doing. No, it's even better.
04:11Oh, really? Oh, can you swim? I can swim, yeah.
04:16For our tour tonight, what we're going to do is...
04:18It's awesome night out, actually.
04:20So we're going to go out maybe, like, 30 metres.
04:22We'll try and spot some turtles and stuff like that.
04:24Then we're going to cruise over to the island just over here, Amatu.
04:27Even the dogs are keen.
04:29Come on, let's go. Remember, knees apart, paddle down.
04:33Shoulder width, yeah. Feet out. Righto.
04:35Get on, get up, get to the island.
04:37Sounds easy the way you say it like that.
04:39Woo-hoo!
04:41It's not long before we spot a turtle.
04:48As the sun sets, the LEDs light our way to Amatu
04:53for some stories and local legends.
04:55Then, the interactive fire show.
04:59Troy's seen fire dancing for more than 20 years.
05:03He starts the show, then we all have a go.
05:11Even the little ones.
05:13Troy, that is seriously the nightlife that I'm talking about.
05:16It's got to be a one-of-a-kind experience here at the Cookies.
05:18It is one-of-a-kind. There's only a handful of places in the world
05:21that actually offer the night paddling.
05:23Definitely one for the list.
05:29We're about to get a very different view of Rarotonga
05:33with Aurora Mountain Adventures.
05:35From this point to the summit,
05:37we're going to the top of this mountain here.
05:39This is Arori.
05:41It's about 30-40 minutes.
05:43Luther Zaney is our local guide
05:45for our invigorating sunrise hike.
05:47Luther, you know it's serious
05:49when you put a rope on your hike.
05:51Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:53You're on an adventure.
05:55Let's go.
05:59Luther cleared his land by hand.
06:01The work was hard,
06:03but worth it to create such special tours.
06:06Luther, I can't believe
06:08you did this all by hand.
06:10Yeah.
06:11All of it.
06:12It took a while.
06:13It took about three months,
06:14three and a half, four months.
06:15But it was worth it.
06:20Oh, wow.
06:22This is halfway?
06:23This is halfway.
06:24This is amazing.
06:26Now all we need is a couple of whale breeches
06:28and we're...
06:29Did you not organise the whales?
06:31Luther, one job.
06:36And four and a half k's later...
06:38Here we go, guys.
06:44And we even got those whales.
06:49Wow.
06:50So what are we looking at?
06:52Four motus.
06:53We call them motus.
06:54Motu Tapu, which is a sacred island.
06:56The one in the middle here,
06:58this is Onero.
06:59Then you've got Kurumeris.
07:00This last one here,
07:01this Taupoko.
07:06So how did you feel
07:08when you got to this spot
07:10and you decided that this was the spot?
07:12Yes!
07:13How does it go?
07:14I did it.
07:15Like what I do?
07:16Yes!
07:17The hike is for all ages.
07:19All you need is good shoes,
07:21water and, of course, a camera.
07:23This is the life.
07:24This is the life.
07:25I could get used to Cook Island's life.
07:31From the lush mountain peaks in the north
07:33to the crystal clear waters
07:36of the south,
07:37it's boots off and bathers on
07:39with a reeky adventures.
07:41So you guys are going to be using
07:43our fairly new Lafitte Sea Scooters.
07:45Super simple team.
07:46If you pull down and hold,
07:48she goes,
07:49you let go,
07:50she stops.
07:51You guys are more than welcome
07:52to dive down with these.
07:53Local guide Tarji has a great sustainable tip
07:56to defog our masks with a polkai leaf
07:59before it's fish food.
08:01So we'll just make sure
08:02all that green juice comes out.
08:04So we have nice clear vision
08:06out in our waters.
08:07And after Gina clips us on,
08:09Oh, now I know what this is for.
08:11I thought that was just
08:12so you could keep tabs on us.
08:13It's for the night clubs later.
08:15It doesn't get into any bars.
08:16It's a quick practice.
08:18Mermaids in the water.
08:20A rare sighting here in Rarroke.
08:22Nice one, team.
08:23Professionals.
08:24And we're cleared to go.
08:27The Sea Scooters make our journey out
08:29fun and almost effortless.
08:31And it doesn't take long
08:32to meet our first green sea turtles.
08:34Amazing how they swim towards us,
08:36swim around us.
08:37We don't even have to go
08:38looking for them.
08:39They're just coming to say kia orana
08:41and waving their little fin.
08:50This is the most epic thing
08:52I've ever done.
08:53And then a fever of eagle race.
08:59That's the beauty of what we do.
09:02Showing people how to safely
09:04interact with turtles
09:05and just have that
09:06incredible, breathtaking experience.
09:10And a surprise heading back.
09:1280-year-old black beauty.
09:17I'm going to remember this moment
09:19forever and ever.
09:21Thank you so much.
09:22Nei taki mata, kia ora.
09:24And thank you.
09:27Hey, what I'm talking about?
09:29See you, family.
09:31I love you.
09:32Be back one day.
09:37We've been up.
09:38We've been under.
09:40Now, at Muri Beach,
09:41we're going out beyond the reef.
09:44It's stunning out there.
09:45There's so many different shades of blue.
09:47So many different colours of blue.
09:48And to do it on jet skis,
09:49it's a pretty unique experience.
09:51Alright, let's open them up
09:53and see what they can do.
09:59Why are you animals?
10:06I grew up here.
10:08I grew up in the ocean
10:09with my brothers
10:10and my dad and family.
10:12This is really just
10:13a continuation of that.
10:14We have such a beautiful
10:15mountainous landscape
10:16which you don't see from land.
10:18So to be able to get out there
10:19and look back on the island
10:20and experience our waters
10:22is, yes, pretty special.
10:24I just love it.
10:26This guy just stole the show.
10:28How good was he?
10:29I killed it out there.
10:30I saw you get some massive air.
10:31Thanks for teaching us
10:32so well, buddy.
10:33You're welcome.
10:34Absolutely welcome.
10:40For one of the most unique
10:41local food experiences,
10:43we're boarding a bus
10:44with our official
10:45happiness consultant, Mike,
10:47who's taking us
10:48beyond the brochure.
10:53Our progressive dinner
10:54Our progressive dinner
10:55invites us
10:56into the local community
10:58for an unforgettable evening
11:00of food and culture.
11:02First stop,
11:03Entree at Mama Nuno's.
11:09Mama Nuno takes us
11:10around her magnificent garden
11:12where most of tonight's food
11:14is from.
11:17Over here,
11:18you'll never get hungry.
11:19Yeah.
11:20You can eat crèche coconut
11:23with popo, mango,
11:25any fruit.
11:27Any fruit.
11:29We sit together
11:30feasting on local delights
11:32while the music plays.
11:34As good as your fish?
11:36Sorry.
11:37It is.
11:38Damn it.
11:39Before it's time to go.
11:41So thank you so much
11:42for allowing us
11:43to come to your home.
11:44Thank you for coming
11:45into our home too.
11:47First of all,
11:48kia orana and welcome
11:49to the Samuela family home.
11:51My name is Mark.
11:52At just 21,
11:53Mark is the youngest host
11:55and is quite the entertainer.
11:57Don't worry,
11:58I'm good at squeezing
11:59a two hour story
12:00into five minutes.
12:01Mark shares engaging stories
12:03about his family
12:04and Cook Island life,
12:06which has our hearts
12:07just as full as our bellies.
12:09But there's still
12:10one more course to go.
12:12We slip off our shoes
12:13and line the long table
12:15for everyone's favourite dessert
12:17hosted by Bates
12:19and Teita and family.
12:21Kia orana everybody.
12:24This is called cake number one.
12:28Bates' dry sense of humour
12:30sets the mood high
12:32as we fill our bowls
12:33with cake number one
12:34through to six.
12:36OK, maybe seven and eight too.
12:38Mike, who's the key
12:39to this experience,
12:40sums up the evening perfectly.
12:43When you drive past
12:44on the road,
12:45you tend to just see
12:46a little house
12:47and not much,
12:48but now you've been
12:49inside the house.
12:51You've met the family.
12:52You've been able
12:53to get a better understanding
12:55or insight to how they live.
12:59Ourselves are the ones
13:00who are in control
13:01of our happiness.
13:02So we make the most
13:03of everything that we do
13:04and that we get
13:05and we try and share it
13:07with everyone
13:08that we come into contact with.
13:15They say that taking
13:16the road less travelled
13:18leads to a more fulfilling life
13:20with unique experiences.
13:22The only difference is
13:23you're just going to be
13:24covered in mud
13:25from head to toe.
13:26Either go hard
13:27or go home, yeah?
13:28OK.
13:29There's two parts of the tour.
13:30There's a muddy side
13:31and a clean side.
13:32You guys are going to be
13:33eating mud first, OK?
13:34We're on the clean side first
13:35and it's a flip
13:36for the hot seat.
13:37Heads?
13:38Heads.
13:39Tails, you lost.
13:40Pass me the seat.
13:44Time to drive, baby!
13:46Watch where you're going!
13:47Car control!
13:48So, Tony,
13:49if you'd like to look
13:50to the left...
13:51That's the right!
13:52That's the right!
13:53Why am I trusting you driving?
13:55Apparently,
13:56it's time to swap.
13:57No, no, get out!
13:58Bad!
13:59Oh, wasn't that bad.
14:00All right,
14:01I'm going to navigate
14:02through here.
14:03Oh, yeah,
14:04that'll go well.
14:09He said,
14:10don't drive it
14:11like you stole it!
14:12No, no, no,
14:13he said,
14:14don't drive it
14:15like you stole it!
14:16He said,
14:17don't get caught behind!
14:18It's not a race,
14:19we've got to win.
14:23Driving Miss Daisy!
14:28I think the seat's wet!
14:34I swear I didn't wet myself,
14:35the seat was wet!
14:36Guys!
14:43You hit those mud puddles,
14:45please don't open your mouth,
14:46scream from the inside,
14:47okay?
14:48Trusty!
14:49It's 100% organic,
14:50it's probably from the cow,
14:51the mammal,
14:52the oinko,
14:53and a bit of mine,
14:54okay?
14:55Be careful out there!
15:04And take two!
15:08Like a pro!
15:09After a rinse,
15:10we make our way
15:11down to the beach
15:12to wash away
15:13all the mud
15:14that,
15:15let's just say,
15:16is everywhere.
15:17Totally worth it.
15:18For a day
15:19of muddy fun,
15:20bring your licence,
15:21enclosed shoes,
15:22and maybe
15:23don't wear white.
15:34Kia orana,
15:35kia orana,
15:36kia orana,
15:37kia orana,
15:38kia orana,
15:39kia orana,
15:40welcome to Te Waranui.
15:41So tonight,
15:42you're going to be seeing
15:43our spectacular
15:44over-water night show.
15:45We do three nights a week,
15:46we're the biggest on the island.
15:47We also provide
15:48a buffet as well.
15:49Island fries,
15:50love the local favourites.
15:52After a feast,
15:53it's showtime.
15:58Our group of dancers
15:59and entertainers,
16:00they really
16:01go full on,
16:02you know,
16:03it's 100%.
16:04It's based on
16:05an old ariki,
16:06one of the very first
16:08big ones here.
16:09An ariki is
16:10one of our chiefs
16:11and his daughters,
16:12you know,
16:13and they're very well-known
16:14for being very beautiful.
16:17With the kia orana spirit
16:18we have going on,
16:19it's just such
16:20a beautiful vibe.
16:21A vibe
16:22everyone's loving.
16:23Dinner and a show,
16:24Cook Island style.
16:29Today,
16:30we're island hopping.
16:31We're off
16:32to Aitutaki,
16:33home of the world's
16:34most beautiful lagoon.
16:36Air Rarotonga
16:37flies to Aitutaki
16:38in just 50 minutes.
16:40So,
16:41you can day trip
16:42or stay a while.
16:43Aitutaki is more than
16:44just a bucket list
16:45destination.
16:46Nick Henry
16:47is a passionate
16:48Aitutakian
16:49from the
16:50Tamanu Beach Resort,
16:51where we're staying.
16:52It's one of those places
16:53that,
16:54fingers crossed,
16:55will still be the same
16:56when your great-grandchildren
16:57come here.
16:58This casual luxury resort
16:59is family-friendly
17:00and has a variety
17:01of bungalows
17:02and villas.
17:03It's the perfect way
17:04to start
17:05our Aitutaki adventure.
17:07It's ready
17:08for an awesome
17:09day on the water.
17:10Oh,
17:11you betcha.
17:12Our wet-and-wild
17:13private charter
17:14for our island-hopping
17:15adventure
17:16is skippered
17:17by Quintin Jr.
17:20So,
17:21we do wakeboarding,
17:22tube riding,
17:23water skiing,
17:24kite surfing,
17:25wing foiling
17:26and kite foiling.
17:27Honeymoon Island's
17:28also the best
17:29kite-surfing spot
17:30in the world.
17:31And as exciting
17:32as all that sounds,
17:33Quintin Jr.
17:34is the only
17:35island
17:36I think a hammock
17:37is calling.
17:38Honeymoon Island
17:39began as a sandbank
17:40about 60 years ago
17:41until an influx
17:42of newlyweds
17:43planted all
17:44these coconut trees.
17:47Oh,
17:48I could get used
17:49to this.
17:50You alright there,
17:51Tone?
17:53If I fall asleep,
17:54I'm going to miss
17:55the boat.
17:56Don't wake me.
17:57I'll be fine.
18:01This would
18:02honestly
18:03have to be
18:04the clearest
18:05water
18:06I have ever seen.
18:10Alright,
18:11stand up,
18:12time to go.
18:16Alrighty guys,
18:17welcome to
18:18One Foot Island.
18:19The legend
18:20of One Foot Island
18:21tells of a father
18:22who walked
18:23in his son's footsteps
18:24to mislead enemies.
18:25It's also
18:26where you get
18:27an ultra-rare
18:28passport stamp
18:29from the world's
18:30smallest post office.
18:31Now,
18:32you're a citizen
18:34of One Foot Island.
18:35Nice photo,
18:36by the way.
18:37What?
18:38It's literally yours.
18:39And lunch
18:40as a citizen
18:41never tasted
18:42so good.
18:44Next,
18:45it anchors away
18:46to the perfect
18:47snorkelling spot
18:48where everything
18:49is giant.
18:52These giant clams
18:53are very, very old.
18:54They're over
18:55100 years old.
18:59And the giant
19:00trevallies and napoleons
19:01are a world
19:02of fun.
19:03Even when
19:04they slap you
19:05in the face.
19:08It's official,
19:09this is
19:10the best lagoon
19:11in the world.
19:22Home to around
19:231800 people,
19:24Aitutaki
19:25is a world-class
19:26paradise
19:27and its marine
19:28life
19:29unforgettable.
19:30Big tea,
19:31we've got
19:32everything we need
19:33for snorkelling
19:34and we've got something
19:35really special
19:36for a little tea,
19:37don't we?
19:38Yes, we do.
19:39Oh, really?
19:40Surprise.
19:41I don't want a little tea.
19:42Bubbles below
19:43live by their motto,
19:44take only memories,
19:45leave only bubbles.
19:46Welcome on board,
19:47I'm Onu
19:48and welcome to Aitutaki.
19:49Hopefully,
19:50see turtles,
19:51eagle rays,
19:52reef sharks,
19:53napoleons
19:54and reef fish.
19:55Anything a bit bigger?
19:56Big tea.
19:58Fingers crossed,
19:59fingers crossed,
20:00we get those whales, eh?
20:01The secret's out,
20:02Tony's diving.
20:03I can't get my hand
20:04around him.
20:06Let's go diving, mate.
20:08I'll get that little tea.
20:12Whether you're a beginner
20:13or a seasoned diver
20:14like Tony,
20:15the crew
20:16can guide you
20:17towards close
20:18encounters
20:19like this.
20:20And
20:21there's no
20:22dangerous sharks.
20:23We're probably one of the
20:24safest places
20:25in the world
20:26and the beauty
20:27is not on the land,
20:29it's on the water.
20:30Whether it be
20:31the lagoon,
20:32outside of the reef.
20:33The name sort of
20:34ventured from our daughter
20:35which is a big teapot.
20:36And when she was a baby,
20:37you know,
20:38the bubbles
20:39come out of her nose.
20:40Her uncle,
20:41her mum's brother,
20:42their twins
20:43called her Bubbles,
20:44you know.
20:45And that's how
20:46it all started.
20:47Then,
20:48a surprise appearance
20:49from the humpback whales.
20:50In the Cook Islands,
20:51you can swim with them.
20:59Yeah, boy!
21:04That's what I'm talking about!
21:06We're welcomed back
21:08Cook Islander style,
21:09with big smiles and hugs.
21:11And another surprise.
21:13Hours later,
21:14Big T and family
21:16welcomed another baby girl.
21:18Mila,
21:19welcome to your
21:20magnificent home.