Have you seen the fantastic travelogues for the Cook Islands on TV, well don’t be misled into thinking its merely fantastic because when you get there you will find its actually better than they have described it. The Cook Islands are paradise on earth and there is no more beautiful place on the face of the planet. The capital is Avarua on the island of Raratonga and it is here that you will arrive when you fly in from Australia or New Zealand. The official currency is the new Zealand dollar and almost everyone speaks English, even thought the official language is Cook islands Maori. The Cook Islands are group of 15 islands and they are locate southeast of Samoa, east of Tonga and west from Tahiti. The islands are scattered over some two million kilometres of ocean. Polynesian occupation in the Cook islands has been continuous since around 800 AD when the Polynesian chief Toi landed here on his giant double hulled canoe. The first Europeans sighted the islands in 1605 but it wasn’t until around 1773 that Captain James Cook visited. William Bligh also sighted Aitutaki before the famous mutiny on the Bounty. In 1888 Rarotonga and Aitutaki were included in the boundaries of New Zealand.

Rarotonga is the largest island and is also the main commercial center. It is home to the majority of the Cook Islands tourism infrastructure and there are many international resorts to choose from scattered around the island. The perimeter of Rarotonga is a procession of palm fringed bays and fantastic beaches while the interior is covered in rainforest. Avarua contains many great restaurants and bars and has an excellent nightlife. The island is surrounded by a lagoon and beautiful coral reefs that make diving here one of the islands greatest attractions. Avarua has a picturesque harbour and there are charter boats for diving and fishing activities. Many cruising yachts visit the Cook islands and there are often many anchored in the bay.

Aitutaki is the other main tourism destination in the Cook islands trips. Access is by air from Rarotonga direct to Aitutaki. This island is surrounded by one of the most perfect coral lagoons in the entire South Pacific region. Magnificent resorts are situated on the beachfront, only a stones throw from the turquoise water. Snorkelling and diving can be done right from the door of your accommodation. Some of the resorts are located on small islands almost floating in the crystal clear waters of the lagoon. Individual thatched bures built on stilts above the water provide the most perfect holiday accommodation you can imagine. This is the place to truly enjoy fine food, great wine and in surroundings that you can only imagine.

If you are considering having a holiday in the South Pacific for any reason, then investigate the possibilities that are available in the magical Cook islands.

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