Sights in Rarotonga & The Cook Islands
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Cook Island Christian Church
The CICC is a fine old white-coral building, much in the same mould as other CICCs in the Cooks. It was built in 1853, when Aaron Buzacott was the resident missionary. The interesting graveyard around the church is worth a leisurely browse. At the front you'll find a monument to the pioneering Polynesian missionary, Papeiha.
Just to the left (as you face the church) is the grave of Albert Henry, the first prime minister of the independent Cook Islands. You can't miss it - it's the one with a life-size bust of the man himself. Other well-known people buried here include author Robert Dean Frisbie. Travellers are welcome to attend services.
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Beachcomber Gallery
One of the best arts and crafts galleries on the island, the Beachcomber Gallery has a great selection of jewellery, carvings, pearls, craftwork and paintings locally sourced in the islands. You can sometimes visit the workshop behind the main building to see how the black-pearl jewellery and shell carvings are made.
This large gallery occupies a building constructed in 1845 as a Sunday school. The building was on the verge of ruin before its restoration in 1992 - you can clearly see where the new roof sits on top of the old walls (though quite where the present Renaissance theme came from is anyone's guess).
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Aitutaki Lagoon
Aitutaki's marvellous lagoon, dotted with sand bars, coral ridges and 21 uninhabited motu (lagoon islets), is colourful and full of life. Maina Motu offers great snorkelling on the coral formations near its shore and around large powder-white sand bars. Tapuaeta'i (One Foot Island) has a lovely white stretch of beach and brilliant, pale-turquoise water.
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Anatakitaki
The most famous of the many caves on 'Atiu, which is riddled with limestone caverns complete with stalactites and stalagmites, is Anatakitaki, also known as the 'Kopeka Cave'. A hauntingly large and beautiful cave, it is the home of the kopeka, a rare bird, similar to a swift, which lives only on 'Atiu. You must visit with a local guide.
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Muri Beach
Muri Beach, on Muri's lagoon on the southeast side of the island, is particularly beautiful. The shallow water has a sandy bottom dotted with countless sea cucumbers and some coral formations. Out towards the reef are four small islets or motu: Taakoka, Koromiri, Oneroa and Motutapu. Taakoka is volcanic; the others are sand cays.
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Sir Geoffrey Henry National Culture Centre
Conceived by former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Henry, the National Culture Centre comprises six cultural divisons: the National Auditorium, the National Museum, the National Library, the National Archives, Performing Arts, and the Anthropology Unit. A number of government ministries are also based here.
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