Introducing Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
Scattered over a vast expanse of empty ocean the size of Western Europe, the tiny Cook Islands is a castaway’s dream come true. If you’ve ever fantasised about escaping to a remote desert island, far from the hustle and hum of the modern world, then look no further than these 15 fascinating islands, where you’ll find a thousand years of Polynesian culture sitting side by side with some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the South Pacific. The jewel in the crown is Rarotonga, the largest island – a bewitching blend of craggy mountains, dense jungle and glorious bone-white beaches – but you really need to get out and explore some of the other islands as well. The hook-shaped atoll of Aitutaki, the second most visited by tourists, sits at the top of one of the world’s largest coral lagoons, packed with giant clams and technicolour tropical fish, and ringed by smaller uninhabited islets, known as motu, around its outer edges. Then there’s the small, rocky island of ‘Atiu, with its limestone caves, coffee plantations and bush-beer drinking; the makatea islands of Mau’ke, Mitiaro and Mangaia, where traditional village life still predominates; and the far-flung black pearl fields of Penrhyn and Manihiki, which most visitors never get the chance to see.
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But don’t plan on doing too much. Time, like most other things in the Cook Islands, has a mind of its own. Days roll by with the island tides: one morning you’ll be exploring taro plantations, swimming in underground caves and dancing till dawn with the locals, and the next, a plane will be waiting to take you home. Make the most of it while you can – paradise is a pretty tough place to find.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
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Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
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Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Overview
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Our Top Picks For Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
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1 Aitutaki
Discover the underwater wonderland of Aitutaki's world-famous lagoon
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2 Atiu
Seek out the underground cave of Anatakitaki, home to the kopeka ('Atiuan swiftlet)
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3 Mangaia
Hike to the top of Mangaia's lofty makatea cliffs for awe-inspiring views
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4 Mitiaro
Take a dip in a crystal-clear underground pool
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5 Northern Group
Visit a black pearl farm in the vast lagoons of Manihiki or Penrhyn
Fast Facts about Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- Drop in Southern Group population since last census
26.2%
- Average life expectancy
69.8 years
- Annual hours of sunshine
2246
- Estimated number of pigs in the Cook Islands
16,000
- Land area
238 sq km
- Cost of imported goods
NZ$112 million
- Value of exported goods
NZ$11 million
- Population according to 2001 census
14, 990
- Ratio of annual tourists to residents
5:1
- Sea area
1.8 million sq km