EXPLORING MANGAIA in the COOK ISLANDS
If you've been to Mangaia and stayed at Babes Place, chances are at some point Moetu will make her delicious pancakes for breakfast, add a bit of strawberry jam and you're good to go.
Mama Patricia also dropped off some of her yummy pumpkin scones, these went down a treat!
Off to church we went, visiting the Oneroa Ekalesia CICC Church which services the 3 Puna's of Oneroa; Keia, Tavaenga and Veitatei.
The original church was built in 1830, a wooden chapel at Ari-ari-o-te-rangi makatea (doorway to heaven), which is now the site of the hospital. Years later the church was damaged by cyclone. The present-day church opened 12 August 1891 stands at Taukea marae, and named 'Salema e Punanga'.
After church we were treated to a picnic lunch at my favourite beach in Mangaia, Araoa!
A gorgeous and secluded beach tucked away within surrounding makatea (raised fossilized coral) is a great spot for swimming and adventuring through the rocks. We got it on a wave pool day, so this just added to the fun.
Lunch was a spread of puakanio tarenga (goat curry), fried fish, mamio, salad, sausages, sponge cake, and nu. Couldn't bring myself to eat the curry after seeing so many wild goats the past few days, despite having eaten this dish multiple times before, so it was fried fish for me!
Meitaki Aunty Ura and Poroa for the yummy spread!
We headed back to the villas for a little siesta before carrying on the adventures in the evening.
We planned to head back to Tua'ati Rock Pool to do some manu's and then a visit to the 1904 shipwreck on the south coast, Saragossa. Needless to say the siesta took longer than expected so we did not make it.
Instead, we got a special visit from Mama Gillian
and Metuar who brought over a yummy whiskey cake to celebrate Kura and Rima 30th birthday.
Mama Gill also gifted them with a lovely thick mixed colour pupu necklace. Such a lovely surprise! Sadly, I was still engaged in my siesta so I missed the whole visit (I blame it on the sun stroke)
Our last dinner on the island was a treat! Moetu had put together a buffet of ungakoa, ariri and paua that was complimented with pumpkin poke, chicken, rukau, salad, rice and nu. So yummy!
A quick walk across the road to the beach to watch our last Mangaian sunset for a while, then it was into packing for our flight tomorrow. If we're up early enough we'll head to Karanga Nui Beach for sunrise!
#PineaparasOnTour
We booked the 'Mangaia Staycation Package'
Flights + Accommodation + Meals + Tours
Enquiries to Island Hopper Vacations
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