Page 9 - Pacific Paradises 2019

— Cook Islands —

PENRHYN
RAKAHANGA

PUKAPUKA MANIHIKI

NASSAU

SUWARROW

PALMERSTON
ATOLL

AITUTAKI MANUAE
MITIARO
Avarua MAUKE
RAROTONGA ATIU
Arorangi RAROTONGA

Muri
MANGAIA
Titikaveka

COOK ISLANDS

The Cook Islands lie in the dominated by high mountain peaks The people
centre of the Polynesian triangle from which lush rainforests cascade to Cook Islanders are of Polynesian descent,
and are now easily reached from the palm-fringed shore. All visitors are and are called Cook Island Maori. They
Australia on Air New Zealand’s welcomed at the Rarotonga International are culturally and linguistically similar to
direct service from Sydney (6 Airport with the warm local greeting Kia Tahitians and New Zealand Maori and are
hours) or via Auckland with Air Orana (Greetings, may you live on) and a an open, friendly people, happy to share
New Zealand Pacific Blue (Virgin fragrant flower garland or ei. their lifestyle.
Australia) and Jetstar.
Avarua is the main town on Rarotonga Nature
The group is made up of 15 islands, and has a great selection of shops, cafes The Cook Islands host a diverse range of
scattered over two million square and restaurants located around the island. flora and fauna. Marine turtles can be
kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. They fall From Rarotonga you can visit the Sister found in some of the outer islands and
into two distinct groups. The Southern Islands such as Aitutaki, famous for its humpback whales can be sighted from
Group comprises nine islands including spectacular white sand beaches and azure July through to October. A protective reef
the capital, Avarua in Rarotonga, where lagoons, only a 40-minute flight away on encircles the islands. The lagoons play host
the majority of the population resides. Air Rarotonga, with several flights daily. to a variety of vivid and interesting coral
Domestic travel to the outer islands is Atiu, northeast of Rarotonga, offers and marine life. The Cook Islands has an
provided by Air Rarotonga and six of untouched beaches and coral reefs riddled interesting range of geological structures,
the nine islands are accessible by regular with caves. Mangaia is surrounded by from the high volcanic peaks of Rarotonga
air services. The more remote Northern a narrow fringing reef backed by the (653 metres) to the raised coral structure
Group has six islands, three of which, formidable cliffs of makatea (raised coral) of Mangaia and Atiu and the coral atoll
Manihiki, Penrhyn and Pukupuka, are that reach heights of up to 60 metres. structures of the Northern Group.
accessible by air.
Mauke has caves located in the cliffs of the The sights
Capital and major centres coral reef and Mitiaro offers subterranean The six CICC Churches around Rarotonga
Vibrant and lively, Rarotonga is a hive pools and freshwater lakes that are full of are magnificent landmarks built of coral
of activity and its circular shape is itiki (freshwater eels), a local delicacy. and lime and well worth a visit, particularly

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