Cook Islands (Pacific Islands)

The Cook Islands is a collection of fifteen small islands in the heart of Polynesian South Pacific. More than half of these are no more than tiny coral atolls. The Cook Islands is a self-governing dependency of New Zealand with its own parliament.

Rarotonga is the main island and population centre and accounts for almost 90% of the country's tourism. The island is small - 67 sq. km in size - and its population of 11,500 live around the coastal road. Rarotonga's attractions are its resort beaches, tropical mountains and laid back Polynesian lifestyle. Aitutaki is the only other tourist centre. Here is one of the finest lagoons in the entire Pacific with excellent snorkelling and day trips to the tiny atolls surrounding the lagoon. Only three other islands (Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia) offer tourist accommodation and these islands all have quite an unusual landscape of dramatic cliffs and limestone caves. These are good islands to explore and to experience the traditional Polynesian culture and lifestyle. The vast northern islands has only a few tiny atolls and these are rarely visited by travellers. The low-lying atolls are famous for the production of black pearls.

Traditional dance performances is one of the icons of Polynesian life. Erotic hip swaying movements and upbeat drumming has come to resemble the archetypal Polynesian person - aesthetic and extremely seductive. Cook Island dancing is performed regularly at the resorts and there are several colourful competitions each year that are well worth experiencing.

The 15 Cook Islands are scattered across the south Pacific over about two million square kilometres, an area the size of India. These unspoilt Polynesian tropical gems have a combined population of an average country town: about 14,000 unique and friendly souls. Most Cook Islanders dwell on the capital island of Rarotonga, which is also where most of the 70,000-odd annual visitors stop off, arriving at the island's international airport.

Circular Rarotonga is almost completely enclosed by a reef, harbouring a lagoon of clear turquoise water and white sandy beaches. The small island is dominated by a high mountain peak from which lush rain forests cascade down to the palm-fringed shore. The commercial centre of the islands is the friendly, bustling town of Avarua on Rarotonga, which has banks, shops and tourist facilities as well as a busy port and yacht basin. The outer islands are becoming increasingly popular for excursions, but remain largely unspoiled by tourism.

The Cook Islanders have their own language and government, and enjoy a vigorous and diverse culture with significant differences between each island. Even if you go no further than Rarotonga, though, you will be ensured of a dream 'South Seas' holiday experience on the pristine beaches, snorkelling the reef, or exploring the island by bus, motor scooter, bicycle or jeep.

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