Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Travel Information and Travel Guide

Introducing Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands can be visited as a destination on its own, as a stopover when crossing the Pacific, or as part of a Circle Pacific or round-the-world trip. The vast majority of people visit the Cook Islands as a short stopover on flights across the Pacific, usually staying only a few days on the main island of Rarotonga. But if you can, it's worth allowing at least a couple of weeks to visit some of the outer islands of the Southern Group, where you'll be able to get right off the tourist trail and experience a much more traditional side of the Cook Islands. Many travellers manage to make it over to Aitutaki and its wonderful lagoon, but the other islands are all well worth exploring: 'Atiu with its unique ecology and bird life, Ma'uke with its makatea (coral reef) caves and deserted beaches, Mitiaro with its lakes and underground pools, and Mangaia with its towering coral cliffs and inland plantations. And if you're really in search of that desert island atmosphere, you could also consider visiting the far-flung islands of the Northern Group, which most tourists (and, in fact, most Cook Islanders) never see.

Last updated: Nov 6, 2008