Cook Islands Holiday Guide
Beautiful South Pacific Holidays

Cook Islands Holiday Planner

The Cook Islands is a little piece of heaven on earth, yet nothing on its own stands out as uniquely iconic. Blend the beautiful Polynesian culture with its glorious beaches and a well developed tourist infrastructure, a holiday in the Cook Islands is up there with the best the South Pacific has to offer.

For tourists, the main iconic attractions are its rare black pearls, its brilliant dancers and the stunning beauty of Aitutaki Lagoon. Come here for beaches, tranquillity and lush tropical scenery ...

What are the best islands to visit?

Rarotonga and Aitutaki are the only islands with hotels for mainstream tourists and whilst families tend to stick to Rarotonga, both islands have areas appealing to both couples on a honeymoon or those with kids in tow ... only two large resorts have kids clubs and many accommodation don't even have 24-hr receptions - this is a truly laid back holiday destination.

Rarotonga is a mini holiday island with plenty of locally owned accommodations, day tours and restaurants along its palm fringed beaches. Aitutaki can be visited on a day tour, but to really enjoy the spectacular lagoon its best to visit for a few nights at least.

There is growing interest in eco-tourism to some of the other islands in the Cooks, mostly to Atiu Island but there are guesthouses on also Mauke and Mangaia also.

Cook Islands Travel Guide

There are two main groups of islands in the north and south of the country. The North consists of tiny atolls with very small and isolated populations. The Southern Cook Islands comprises both Rarotonga and Aitutaki which account for almost all tourist activity, with just a handful of guesthouses on the rocky islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke and Mangaia.

Rarotonga Island

Rarotonga is the main island in the Cook Islands and where almost 90% of tourists spend their entire holiday and it has the international airport and plenty of beach front accommodation. Here, you can visit the local brewery, enjoy a cosmopolitan restaurant scene, and watch a game of rugby.

Rarotonga has lush tropical mountains, pretty coastal scenes, lots of picturesque sandy beaches and plenty of independent restaurants to enjoy. The island takes under an hour to circumnavigate, with mopeds being the most popular way of getting around. For a holiday, the island is well developed and decidedly geared towards tourism with an almost continuous parade of self catering beach bungalows, holiday homes and exclusive boutique beach resorts around the island. The cross island hike (4 hours) is popular for those looking to stretch their legs.

Aitutaki Lagoon

Second in popularity is Aitutaki, especially for romantic breaks or honeymoons and to snorkel its stunning lagoon and visit uninhabited coral cays on a day cruise. Said to be one of the most beautiful island in all of the vast Pacific Ocean, Aitutaki is less developed than Bora Bora, although there is a spa, hotels and golf course. Make the folks back home jealous by sending a postcard home from One Foot Island, which has one of the world's remotest post offices. Snorkelling and diving are popular activities – you can investigate submerged wrecks and see schools of colourful fish.

Aitutaki is a 45-minute flight north of Rarotonga (up to six daily flights) and offers one of the most exquisite lagoons in the world with lots of small uninhabited islets and sand bars to explore. The island is even more laid back than Rarotonga with just a handful of accommodations and basic grocery shops in the main villages. Lagoon cruises are the highlight with good snorkelling and decent scuba diving along the outer reefs. To really get a sense of being in a island paradise, stay here for at least three nights so you can unwind to the islands tranquil rhythm - this is the place where holiday-makers often return year after year ... and some for even months at a time!

Atiu Island

More adventurous travellers might consider venturing off the beaten track and visiting the island of Atiu to marvel at some of its extraordinary caves or experience the traditional Maori culture. Here and in other outer islands, you can escape from your worries and really unwind – try chilling out and having some of the local bush beer.

The Northern Cook Islands are amongst the most isolated islands in the world. and receive virtually no tourists apart from a few passing yachties and some of the more extreme backpackers seeking utter isolation. Come here to enjoy the village culture, spectacular cliffs and the feeling that you've really gotten away from it all but you'll have to stay with locals or in very basic government guesthouses.