Small World Travel

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands scattered over some 2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean (see map). They lie in the centre of the Polynesian Triangle, flanked to the west by the Kingdom of Tonga and the Samoas and to the east by Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia.

Our culture stems from the Polynesian arrival in the islands around 800AD. This was part of the great Polynesian migration. In the 11th century a famous chief named Toi built the first inland coral road in Rarotonga, called the Ara Metua. Nearly two centuries later the chiefs, Karika, from Samoa, and Tangiia Nui, from Tahiti, joined forces at sea to conquer the earlier inhabitants.

The Cook Islands culture lives on in the vibrant performance of song and dance. Cook Islanders are considered among the finest Polynesian singers and dancers and awards come often in international contests. Unlike most Western dancers, Polynesians tell a story with their bodies that matches the words of the song. Cook Islands dancing is fast, frenzied and erotic, with hip swinging and suggestive gestures.

When in the Cook Islands as a visitor, it appears that time stands still and the whole country exists just for your pleasure, with welcome smiles, warm eyes, and a friendly sense of humour. Lose track of time, you won't even know what day it is! So leave your energies on relaxing and soaking up the tropical lifestyle in the midst swaying coconut trees and balmy sea breezes.

The Cook Islands offers you a diverse range of visitor experiences in a setting that rivals many of the better known and more mature tourist destinations. What differentiates Rarotonga from many other places, however, is that it is compact and all activities and attractions are within easy reach of everyone, regardless of their choice of accommodation style.

Rarotonga:

Rarotonga is the vibrant centre of the Cook Islands. It's circular shapeis dominated by high mountain peaks from which lush rain forests cascade to a palm-fringed shore. The island is almost completely encircled by a reef, which harbours a lagoon of clear turquoise waters and many inviting white sand beaches. Beyond the reef, the indigo blue of the ocean provides a vivid contrast and a bountiful supply of fish.

We welcome our visitors at Rarotonga's International Airport. This is where most people choose to stay, with increasing interest being expressed for outer island excursions. You will find an excellent choice of accommodation sprinked around the island's perimeter.

Avarua is the main town on the island and the commercial centre of the Cook Islands. During business hours, it has a friendly, bustling atmosphere together with a good selection of shops, banks, cafes and visitor facilities. It is also the main port and host to many cruising yachts.

Rarotonga's Visitor Centre is located in downtown Avarua (see map). Visitors are made most welcome and can drop in for any information, souvenir clothing, or guidance between the hours of 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday; or on Saturday, from 9am till noon.

As the entire island is only 32 kilometres in circumference, getting around is easy. There are two main roads on Rarotonga - you can circle the island on the Ara Tapu sealed road, through the villages and past the beaches; or you can take the older inland road, which winds through fields of taro, pawpaw, bananas and local farmlands.

The motor scooter is a popular, fun way to see the sights, however bikes, cars and jeeps are also available from local rental agencies. The "Island Bus" offers a convenient low cost method of transport, operating regular schedules around the island (in both directions). It will pick you up and set you down anywhere on request.

Aitutaki:

A visit to the Cook Islands is not complete without seeing our beautiful island of Aitutaki. The breathtaking allure of it's crystal clear turquoise waters and sparkling white beaches is an essential ingredient in any Cook Island holiday. This is a place of unsurpassed natural beauty and tranquillity, providing a simple tonic to sooth away the pressures of the outside world.

Aitutaki is 220 kilometres north of Rarotonga (see map) and less than an hour's flight away. It is partly volcanic and partly of atoll origin. It's highest hill, Maungapu is said to be the top of Rarotonga's Raemaru Peak, brought back by victorious warriors. The spectacular lagoon (45 kilometres around) is abundant with coloured fish of many varieties, it's perimeter sprinkled with many small and charming uninhabited islands (motus).

In years gone by, Aitutaki lagoon was a re-fuelling stop for TEAL (now Air New Zealand) flying boats travelling the renowned 'Coral Route' through the South Pacific.

Visitors who stay should set their watches to "island time". In this laid-back atmosphere you will find a variety of accommodation facilities, an assortment of different shops scattered thoughout the villages and a number of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. As on Rarotonga, the popular mode of transport is the motor scooter.

Day trips from Rarotonga can include an island tour and a lagoon cruise to visit Tapuaetai (One Foot Island). Lunch is prepared for you, whilst you relax and work on your tan, explore the beaches, go snorkeling or hand feed the fish - an unforgettable experience.

Air Rarotonga operate regular schedules daily (except Sunday). One Day Excursions departing from Rarotonga at 8am and returning at 6:30pm. Include hotel transfers, airfares, lagoon cruise, snorkelling and lunch.

Atiu:

A fascinating island, riddled with caves and surrounded by Makatea (raised coral) cliffs, white sand beaches and coves. The fertile interior is farmed for coffee and pineapple. Atiu is famous for it's cave dwelling Kopeka bird and Tumunu bush beer parties.

Mangaia:

Southern most and oldest island of the group, renowned for it's 'ei pupu' (shell lies). It is surrounded with coral cliffs and Makatea amongst which are an amazing series of limestone caves.

Manuae:

Manuae, 50 miles east of Aitutaki was once inhabited by contract workers employed on copra production.

Declared now as a marine reserve, the island is ocasionally visited by residents of Aitutaki who travel by small boat or aircraft.

Mauke:

Uncommercialised and with a relaxed pace of life, Mauke offers peace and seclusion 'off the beaten track'. Three villages, Areoa, Ngatiarua and Kimiangatau are close to the western coast of the island leaving the arable inland area for a variety of food crops and other farming activity.

A rugged Makatea is evident around some sections of the coastline containing interesting water caves and forming secluded white sand coves.

Mitiaro:

The small tight-knit community shows it's pride in the neatness of the villages, Takaue and Arai. Much of the centre of the island is covered by the two brackish lakes; host to a plentiful supplies of itiki (eel), a local delicacy.

The island also produces tiporo - a fragrant lime. Life in Mitiaro very much revolves around the village, the community activities include sports and handycrafts.

Palmerston:

The unique social fabric of this atoll arises from the last century when Englishman William Masters settled here with his two Rarotongan wives. The resulting small population now share the same surname and speak a local dialect, itself a mixture of Cook Island and English languages. Accessible only by sea, a few adventurous travellers visit the island each year to experience life on this remote outpost.

Takutea:

Takutea, a sanctuary declared to protect the breeding site of a number of seabirds, lies 50 miles northeast of Atiu. Members of the Atiu community make regular trips to the island to monitor the sanctuaries condition.

Manihiki:

A large atoll with a deep lagoon, which is intensively farmed for cultured black pearls. These treasures are becoming widely sought after throughout the world, being produced only in the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. Much of the population on the island is involved in pearl production in some form or another. Every dawn is the start of a busy day on the lagoon cleaning and caring for the black lipped oyster, diving or collecting spats (infant oysters).However, time is still found to make brilliant finely woven rito specially prepared coconut fibre hats, fans and shell adornments. These are often used with dramatic effect in costumes of traditional dancers of the island.

Nassau:

A small island in the satellite community of Pukapuka with a population of approximately 100 people. There being no airport, access is limited to inter-island ship from Rarotonga, a voyage of three days.

Tongareva ( PENRHYN ):

The northernmost island of the Cook Islands. Tongareva has the largest lagoon area of the Cook Island's atolls measuring some 18 miles across with depths of up to 350 feet. Like it's nearest neighbour Manihiki, copra production (the drying of coconut flesh for vegetable oil extraction has now been replaced by pearl farming and shell products as a primary source of income.

PukaPuka:

Frisbie's "Island of Desire" Isolated insular and renowned for its unusual social customs, Pukapuka lies far to the north-west, nearly 800 miles from Rarotonga and 280 miles north-east of Samoa. Only recently opened up to air-services, the population have preserved innovative ways of sustaining a comfortable life almost oblivious to the outside world.

A substantially different dialect, finely woven mat and a passion for Kirikiti (island cricket of Samoan origin) are some of the things that set Pukapuka aside from the rest of the Cook Islands.

Rakahanga:

Situated 25 miles northeast of neighboring Manihiki, Rakahanga is an atoll with a picturesque, almost totally enclosed lagoon. There is no airport and access is limited to a three hour ride by small craft from Manihiki or a three day voyage by inter-island ship from Rarotonga. A number of residents find regular work in the pearl industry on nearby Manihiki.

Suwarrow:

Suwarrow was for many years the home of a hermit, Tom Neale, who wrote of his life in a book An Island to oneself. Today a caretaker and his family live on the atoll for most of the year, their solitude disturbed only by the occasional visiting yacht. Suwarrow is now a conservation reserve.