MONDAY 6 OCTOBER 2025
Early flight to Melbourne. Checked in on arrival at our hotel - our room was ready at about 8am! Took a train to Boronia and had lunch with Rachel and family at the Boronia Hotel with a great playground.
Early flight to Melbourne. Checked in on arrival at our hotel - our room was ready at about 8am! Took a train to Boronia and had lunch with Rachel and family at the Boronia Hotel with a great playground.
TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2025
walked to the Vic Market and later we took a train to Ringwood and window shopped for a while before dinner at the Ringwood RSL - all set up for Halloween.
walked to the Vic Market and later we took a train to Ringwood and window shopped for a while before dinner at the Ringwood RSL - all set up for Halloween.
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WEDNESDAY 8 OCTOBER 2025
We visited Artvo at Docklands and loved the images taken
We visited Artvo at Docklands and loved the images taken
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Many more scenes where we took photos. An awesome experience!
THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER 2025
We had to have our luggage booked in by 8am for the XPT train from Melbourne to Sydney leaving at 8.30am. A great ride and a bucket list item checked off. Once in Sydney we were picked up by the "Space Shuttle" to take us to our hotel 700 metres away.
We had to have our luggage booked in by 8am for the XPT train from Melbourne to Sydney leaving at 8.30am. A great ride and a bucket list item checked off. Once in Sydney we were picked up by the "Space Shuttle" to take us to our hotel 700 metres away.
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FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2025 (Australia)
The Australia part of this day - we crossed the international date line in our late Friday evening flight and arrived at Rarotonga early on Friday morning.
Our flight to Rarotonga was late in the day. After a late check out at the hotel we walked to Sydney domestic airport and took the free shuttle to international departures. With all day to fill in we were well entertained, first by the goings on of the lost luggage office where we camped for the day. We were also entertained by a recording of the next episode of the ABC series "The Piano" where the expert was Guy Sebastian.
[The Piano performer] At the Sydney International Airport (31 seconds)
[Performer leaving the airport] After playing the piano, this performer was filmed leaving the airport (20 seconds)
[Cast taking a group photo] Cast of "The Piano" including Guy Sebastian (10 seconds)
[The group photo] Say cheese for the cast of "The Piano" (6 seconds)
The Australia part of this day - we crossed the international date line in our late Friday evening flight and arrived at Rarotonga early on Friday morning.
Our flight to Rarotonga was late in the day. After a late check out at the hotel we walked to Sydney domestic airport and took the free shuttle to international departures. With all day to fill in we were well entertained, first by the goings on of the lost luggage office where we camped for the day. We were also entertained by a recording of the next episode of the ABC series "The Piano" where the expert was Guy Sebastian.
[The Piano performer] At the Sydney International Airport (31 seconds)
[Performer leaving the airport] After playing the piano, this performer was filmed leaving the airport (20 seconds)
[Cast taking a group photo] Cast of "The Piano" including Guy Sebastian (10 seconds)
[The group photo] Say cheese for the cast of "The Piano" (6 seconds)
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FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2025 (Rarotonga)
Our flight arrived early Rarotonga time and we found out shuttle bus to take us to our accommodation at Rarotonga Resort. We stayed in the adults only side called "Sanctuary". We stored our luggage and were to check in after 3pm. While waiting we took the local bus to the Nikao cemetery where the Hills grave was. Before fixing it up we had a look. Some students from the local college were there cleaning the cemetery - on school holiday time. After checking it out we were waiting for a bus to take us to the main town when "papa Tom" offered us a lift. I waited for a while to get a motorbike licence to rent a scooter, but the queue was too long. We caught a bus back to the resort to check in and for a cocktail at the swim up bar. Nice!
Our flight arrived early Rarotonga time and we found out shuttle bus to take us to our accommodation at Rarotonga Resort. We stayed in the adults only side called "Sanctuary". We stored our luggage and were to check in after 3pm. While waiting we took the local bus to the Nikao cemetery where the Hills grave was. Before fixing it up we had a look. Some students from the local college were there cleaning the cemetery - on school holiday time. After checking it out we were waiting for a bus to take us to the main town when "papa Tom" offered us a lift. I waited for a while to get a motorbike licence to rent a scooter, but the queue was too long. We caught a bus back to the resort to check in and for a cocktail at the swim up bar. Nice!
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SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER 2025
After breakfast we caught the local clockwise bus - they were either the clockwise or anticlockwise - back to the Nikao cemetery and put the new plaque in place. It looked pretty good. Again, waiting for the local bus another local lady offered us a lift to town. She stopped at a roadside stall to get bananas, which we paid for. Then in town we looked around the market. Quite big and plenty to see. Included were drumming demonstrations and fire sticks too. After taking the local bus home, clockwise again, we were picked up to do a cultural tour and show.
[Performers at the town market] Drums and fire twirlers do a great job (1 min 21 seconds)
[A young fire twirler] In training at the market (33 seconds)
[All about coconuts] Part of the cultural tour (1 min 26 seconds)
[Some of the cultural performance] At the Te Varu Nui village. (2 min 38 seconds)
[Cultural Performance at Te Varu Nui] The performance tells a story (5 min 10 seconds)
After breakfast we caught the local clockwise bus - they were either the clockwise or anticlockwise - back to the Nikao cemetery and put the new plaque in place. It looked pretty good. Again, waiting for the local bus another local lady offered us a lift to town. She stopped at a roadside stall to get bananas, which we paid for. Then in town we looked around the market. Quite big and plenty to see. Included were drumming demonstrations and fire sticks too. After taking the local bus home, clockwise again, we were picked up to do a cultural tour and show.
[Performers at the town market] Drums and fire twirlers do a great job (1 min 21 seconds)
[A young fire twirler] In training at the market (33 seconds)
[All about coconuts] Part of the cultural tour (1 min 26 seconds)
[Some of the cultural performance] At the Te Varu Nui village. (2 min 38 seconds)
[Cultural Performance at Te Varu Nui] The performance tells a story (5 min 10 seconds)
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SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2025
This was our quiet rest day around the resort. A beach walk, a few Raratongan Lagers, cocktail happy hour and a wonderful sunset.
This was our quiet rest day around the resort. A beach walk, a few Raratongan Lagers, cocktail happy hour and a wonderful sunset.
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MONDAY 13 OCTOBER 2025
We did a guided three-hour bus tour if the island of Rarotonga. A lovely drive on the inner circle road away from the usual tourist spots. We had a light lunch at a private house. There were many chickens at lunch trying to jump on the table and get a snack. That evening we attended the manager's cocktail party. We were very impressed with all the Fijian staff who were away from their families but always happy, helpful and a delight, including the manager.
[The Rarotongan Resort Manager's cocktail party] A great night and lovely music (14 seconds)
[Island Drum Feast at The Rarotongan Resort] Dinner and a show. A great performance (4 min 53 seconds)
We did a guided three-hour bus tour if the island of Rarotonga. A lovely drive on the inner circle road away from the usual tourist spots. We had a light lunch at a private house. There were many chickens at lunch trying to jump on the table and get a snack. That evening we attended the manager's cocktail party. We were very impressed with all the Fijian staff who were away from their families but always happy, helpful and a delight, including the manager.
[The Rarotongan Resort Manager's cocktail party] A great night and lovely music (14 seconds)
[Island Drum Feast at The Rarotongan Resort] Dinner and a show. A great performance (4 min 53 seconds)
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TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2025
A great day to go to the Captain Tama glass bottom boat and snorkelling tour. This was in a different part of the lagoon. They had four boats, and the one we picked what turned out to be the best one, with Captain Smoothie as our guide. After the snorkelling we had lunch and then entertainment by the four boat crews, including our Captain Smoothie. After the Manger's welcome, we had an awesome in-house cultural display. Back at the Rarotongan Resort we again had Managers drinks, this time at our Sanctuary side of the resort. Lovely singing from the staff. We also had our fishbowl cocktail this night.
[Captain Tama preparing to leave] There were four boats, and we picked the best one (30 seconds)
[Captain Smoothie introduces the plan for the day] Just heading out from the beach (5 minutes 20 seconds)
[Captain Smoothie sets the rules for snorkelling] This funny man entertained us all day (2 min 42 seconds)
[Singing on the way home] Captain Smoothie sings a few songs on the boat ride back (1 min 12 seconds)
[Which boat was the loudest? Ours!] Captain smoothie sings some more (4 min 57 seconds)
[Local music from Captain Tama Crew] (1 min 14 seconds)
[More music and coconut demonstration] Captain Smoothie shows the use of a coconut. So funny! (28 min 31 seconds)
[Sarong tying] Captain smoothie shows a number of ways sarongs can be tied. Super funny. (21 min 6 seconds)
[Staff singing at Manager's party] At the Rarotongan Resort before crab racing (21 seconds)
[Crab racing at Rarotongan Resort] Introduction to the racing (4 min 24 seconds)
[Children's crab race] The first crab race was for children who were up close with the crabs (7 min 7 seconds)
[Adults Crab race] The adults had to deal with bigger crabs (2 min 38 seconds)
A great day to go to the Captain Tama glass bottom boat and snorkelling tour. This was in a different part of the lagoon. They had four boats, and the one we picked what turned out to be the best one, with Captain Smoothie as our guide. After the snorkelling we had lunch and then entertainment by the four boat crews, including our Captain Smoothie. After the Manger's welcome, we had an awesome in-house cultural display. Back at the Rarotongan Resort we again had Managers drinks, this time at our Sanctuary side of the resort. Lovely singing from the staff. We also had our fishbowl cocktail this night.
[Captain Tama preparing to leave] There were four boats, and we picked the best one (30 seconds)
[Captain Smoothie introduces the plan for the day] Just heading out from the beach (5 minutes 20 seconds)
[Captain Smoothie sets the rules for snorkelling] This funny man entertained us all day (2 min 42 seconds)
[Singing on the way home] Captain Smoothie sings a few songs on the boat ride back (1 min 12 seconds)
[Which boat was the loudest? Ours!] Captain smoothie sings some more (4 min 57 seconds)
[Local music from Captain Tama Crew] (1 min 14 seconds)
[More music and coconut demonstration] Captain Smoothie shows the use of a coconut. So funny! (28 min 31 seconds)
[Sarong tying] Captain smoothie shows a number of ways sarongs can be tied. Super funny. (21 min 6 seconds)
[Staff singing at Manager's party] At the Rarotongan Resort before crab racing (21 seconds)
[Crab racing at Rarotongan Resort] Introduction to the racing (4 min 24 seconds)
[Children's crab race] The first crab race was for children who were up close with the crabs (7 min 7 seconds)
[Adults Crab race] The adults had to deal with bigger crabs (2 min 38 seconds)
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WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER 2025
In the morning, we had the amazing activities co-ordinator Moi show us how to do sarong printing. We caught the clockwise bus to town and hopped off at the market, then walking up through town and stopping at a number of shops. Catching another clockwise bus home at around lunch time the bus was packed. Some called it the party bus. Helmets have only recently been required on Rarotonga, and the most common type is an interesting design.
In the morning, we had the amazing activities co-ordinator Moi show us how to do sarong printing. We caught the clockwise bus to town and hopped off at the market, then walking up through town and stopping at a number of shops. Catching another clockwise bus home at around lunch time the bus was packed. Some called it the party bus. Helmets have only recently been required on Rarotonga, and the most common type is an interesting design.
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THURSDAY 16 OCTOBER 2025
The first rain of the week didn't last long. John tried stand up paddle barding and didn't do well but it was a bucket list item ticked. After the rain John did a snorkelling lesson at the Rarotongan resort with the wonderful activities co-ordinator, Moi. Later Moi took a small group snorkelling to do fish feeding. We all became distracted when turtles were seen. Later John did a short run on the treadmill in the gym. Later in the afternoon there was crab racing. Huge fun!
[Stand up paddle boarding] First (and last) attempt at Rarotonga Resort lagoon (1min 57 seconds)
[Fish feeding] With Moi (activities co-ordinator) at Rarotonga Resort (25 seconds)
[Swim with turtles] After fish feeding some turtles nearby were found (13 seconds)
[More snorkelling with turtles] This one was trying to swim away (29 seconds)
[Another turtle] In the lagoon at Sanctuary Resort (15 seconds)
[Final turtle video] All from surface snorkelling at Rarotonga Resort lagoon (23 seconds)
The first rain of the week didn't last long. John tried stand up paddle barding and didn't do well but it was a bucket list item ticked. After the rain John did a snorkelling lesson at the Rarotongan resort with the wonderful activities co-ordinator, Moi. Later Moi took a small group snorkelling to do fish feeding. We all became distracted when turtles were seen. Later John did a short run on the treadmill in the gym. Later in the afternoon there was crab racing. Huge fun!
[Stand up paddle boarding] First (and last) attempt at Rarotonga Resort lagoon (1min 57 seconds)
[Fish feeding] With Moi (activities co-ordinator) at Rarotonga Resort (25 seconds)
[Swim with turtles] After fish feeding some turtles nearby were found (13 seconds)
[More snorkelling with turtles] This one was trying to swim away (29 seconds)
[Another turtle] In the lagoon at Sanctuary Resort (15 seconds)
[Final turtle video] All from surface snorkelling at Rarotonga Resort lagoon (23 seconds)
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FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER 2025
A very early flight home with our bus pick up at 5.30am.
A very early flight home with our bus pick up at 5.30am.
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