The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. The 15 small islands have a total land area of 240 square km, but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone covers 1,800,000 square kmof ocean. There are island councils on all of the inhabited outer islands. The ten Outer Islands councils are:
- Atitutaki
- Mangaia
- Atiu
- Ma`uke
- Mitiaro
- Manihiki
- Penrhyn
- Rakhahanga
- Pukapuka
- Palmerston.
For the perfect vacation escape,the tiny
island of Rarotonga in the
South Pacific Ocean is best place. This island is the second southern most of the Cooks. Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands at just 67.2 sq km. Home to a population of more than 9,500, this gorgeous isle is filled with friendly natives, incredible beaches, an azure lagoon and soaring mountains, making it one of the most stunningly beautiful islands in the world.It is situated in the Southern Island Group, this tropical paradise is a wonderful retreat and the best place to enjoy. Here life moves at its own pace, otherwise known as ‘Raro time,’ with a mellow laidback atmosphere making it the ideal destination for those looking to kickback and relax. There are plenty of activities to enjoy on
Rarotonga from diving and snorkeling to fishing, hiking, sailing, kayaking, swimming, horseback riding and surfing. It also has banks, ATMs, internet cafes and a hospital.
The second largest of the
Cook Islands, Mangaia is known for its rich lush greenery and tropical vegetation. Akin to
Rarotonga in size, Mangaia is roughly 51.8 sq km, but is home to only around 700 people. Known for its pineapples, which are reputed to be big, sweet and extremely juicy, Mangaia is also famous for its Mangaian taro, which is rated as the tastiest in the
Cook Islands by some. It was discovered by Captain Cook on his second voyage to the Cook Islands, Mangaia was first set foot on by Captain Cook in 1777.There are three main villages on Mangaia, Oneroa, Tamarua and Ivirua, while much of the islands interior is hilly and steep with makatea cliffs in many places that rise from the coast and run inland. Ferns, trees, shrubs, vines and coconut palms grow on the makatea here, which provides some beautifully greenery. A climb up the makatea cliffs provides some stunning views of the island and the ocean surrounding Mangaia. Oneroa is the most important with the hospital, church, telecom office and tourism office located here. Pokino’s Store in town is not only a good place to shop, but is an ANZ agent as well, which means you can cash NZ travelers checks and get credit card cash advances.
Another gorgeous place Aitutaki provides tourists with a tranquil atmosphere to relax in. Just 18.3 sq km in size, this ‘almost atoll’ is a good vacation destination with its gorgeous blue lagoon and magnificent sunsets. The second most populated of the Cook Islands.It is located 225km north of
Rarotonga in the Southern Pacific, this beautiful island sits in a triangular shaped lagoon, with the lagoon’s outer reef dotted with a dozen small islands. Made up of one major isle and 20 or so islets, Aitutaki for many is the idyllic beach paradise. The snorkeling and diving in the lagoon is simply breathtaking, with the ‘island nights’ performances here rated as the best in the Cooks.
An uninhabited but beautiful atoll, Manuae is a protected marine reserve. With a total land area of just 6.2 sq km, Manuae sits some 100 km southeast of Aitutaki. Manuae and Te Au O Tu both lie on the peak of an underwater volcano.This atoll has the honor of being the first
Cook Island to be discovered by Captain James Cook on
September 23, 1773. He originally named
Manuae Sandwich Island, but later changed it to
Hervey Islands after the Lord Admiral Hervey.A significant breeding ground for a number of seabirds in the Central Pacific, the Manuae Atoll also plays host to female marine turtles, who come ashore here every year to lay their eggs. The waters around this atoll are abundant with marine life and are a well-known fishing destination for locals and tourist alike.A former penal colony, today not many people visit this atoll, however, if you wish to come here, you can do so aboard the research vessel, the
Bounty Bay. This boat carries tourists from
Rarotonga to Manuae and provides some excellent diving and eco-tourism activities.
The islands of Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro are located in close proximity to one another, these three islands are similar geographically and are closely tied to one another historically as well. Atiu is the largest of the three islands and is the third largest of the
Cook Islands at 26.9 sq km. Atiu offers some wonderful limestone caves to explore. These caves were used in ancient times as burial sites.Traditionally known as
Land of Birds, according to legend when Atiu was first discovered only birds and insects were found living here. What is also unique about Atiu is its rather colorful and often bloody history, as its natives were regarded as the greatest warriors of the
Cook Islands..It was discovered by Captain James Cook in the April of 1777, when he stopped here for supplies. The ideal island for the active soul, there are plenty of things to do on Atiu. Excellent beaches, old marae, good walking trails and superb vistas mean that you will never get bored while you are here. Many people often tour Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro together because they are so close to each other.The geology of Atiu is particularly interesting as this island emerged from the sea as a volcano cone over 11 million years ago. Today, much of the island is covered in makatea, which is home to dense vegetation and greenery. If you are thinking about climbing these makatea be very careful as it is very sharp. There is a police station also.
The Palmerston Atoll is the most isolated of the
Cook Islands, sitting far west from the rest of the Southern Group. With no neighboring islands nearby, Palmerston is a great getaway for those who love nature or who simply want a unique vacation away from humdrum of city life. If you like bird watching and enjoy seeing turtles, dolphins and whales swimming about, then visit the Palmerston Atoll. Made up of 30 or so small islands, the Palmerston lagoon is 11 km wide at is broadest point and currently has a population of 52 people. It was spotted in 1774 by Captain James Cook, Palmerston Atoll today has no real organized accommodations for tourists and guests who wish to stay here. However, a tradition that is still carried on today is that the first person to welcome you will let you stay in his or her own home.
People can also watch ‘island nights’ performance, which combines dinner with a traditional dance display. Colorful and vibrant, dancers perform traditional ceremonial dances, which were once used to honor the gods. Energetic and lively, these performances are a sight to behold with lots of graceful and elegant movements. Extremely popular and incredibly well executed these tribal dances are superb to watch with Cook Islanders rated as the best dancers in Polynesia.
The food on Cook Islands is also first rate with plenty of fine restaurants on the islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki. However, one thing that you need to keep in mind is that food here can be quite expensive, the reason being that a lot of the food is usually imported from Australia and New Zealand. But if you are checking out the local cuisine food is usually more cheaper and affordable. A great way to taste the local delicacies is at an ‘island nights’ buffet or at barbeque. Some spectator sports worth checking out on the Cook Islands are cricket and rugby, which are played by both the young and the old. .
