Located halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, boasting an idyllic climate, pure relaxation, romance and endless adventures, the Cook Islands is an ideal choice if you are after a remote getaway with picture-perfect beaches, fascinating culture and welcoming locals.
There are no chain resorts on any of the islands, no high rises due to a local agreement meaning no buildings taller than a coconut tree, no traffic lights and only one roundabout in the whole country. Although there is a very local and laid-back feel, you can still experience luxury with a great choice of exclusive accommodations, high-end dining options, opulent spas and a wide range of activities available.
After lengthy border closures due to the pandemic, many of the Cook Islands’ flight routes were pulled; however, they have recently had both pre-existing and new routes opening up, making the destination an increasingly attractive destination to consider. You can now fly direct to Rarotonga, the country’s main island, from Auckland, Tahiti and Hawaii, plus a Sydney route opening this month.
Stunning Beaches
Lined with palm trees and framed with bright blue skies, the unspoilt white sand beaches should meet everyone’s vision of a perfect tropical landscape, which is why the Cook Islands is regularly voted as one of the world’s most beautiful places.
Rarotonga is just 32 km in circumference, and you can drive around the island in 45 minutes, meaning that you can easily beach hop all day, finding the perfect beach to enjoy a sunrise, breakfast, lunch, or that sunset cocktail.
Only a 50-minute flight north of Rarotonga is Aitutaki, a spectacularly beautiful island with a triangular-shaped reef surrounding a bright turquoise lagoon containing 15 small motus (islets). The crystal-clear water is home to an array of tropical fish, and its pristine white-sand beaches are private and secluded.
For an off-the-beaten-track experience, the Cook Islands’ outer islands, which are spread over two million square km of the South Pacific Ocean, have a remote, unspoiled appeal.
Experience Authentic Polynesia
Cook Islanders are incredibly proud of their Polynesian heritage, and they are always keen to share it with guests.
The ancient culture can be experienced in everyday life on the islands, and visitors can explore these in numerous ways, including cultural tours and performances, island nights, or during a Sunday service at one of the beautiful white coral and limestone churches.
The Progressive Dinner is a unique dining experience that is highly recommended. Guests get to visit three local homes, enjoying a different homemade course at each stop and interacting with the hosts who entertain with local stories and songs.
Active Exploration
Rarotonga is easy to explore on two wheels. The Storytellers Eco Cycle Tour is a great guided tour that takes you on a journey through sleepy villages and into the jungle, with stops to taste local fruits and learn about local natural medicine and hear stories about life on the islands.
If you prefer to be driven, there are jeep safari tours that offer adventures into the interior of the Rarotonga or the adrenaline-fuelled and very muddy buggy tours which take you through dirt tracks and even around the grounds of an abandoned hotel.
A must-do for hikers is the ‘Cross Island’ trek on Rarotonga. Pa’s trek is a 3-4-hour hike across Rarotonga from north to south, including a rope climb to Needle Rock and then on to a refreshing dip in Wigmore Falls.
Arii Moana walking tour is the newest eco-educational tour exploring Rarotonga’s hard coral reefs, learning about marine life. This is a guided reef walk taken at low tide with duo Kura Happ, Jacopo Dozzo and their pet pooch, Mahi, allowing visitors to discover the island culture and marine life from another point of view without having to snorkel or dive.
The interactive Tumutoa Tours will have you learning hands-on how Cook Islanders once lived and the traditional skills many locals still practice today. The Tumutoa Warrior shares the knowledge passed down to him through hands-on demonstration and through a variety of tours.
There are a number of different cruising and boating tours from Rarotonga or Aitutaki that enable you to explore the Cook Islands’ stunningly expansive, crystal clear waters and picture-perfect motus.
Just below the surface, you can see a huge amount of colourful sea life, including green turtles, huge trevally fish and giant mussels with purple lips. For a more adventurous tour of the waters, there are snorkelling, SUP and sea-scooter tours, or you can experience the underwater world on a diving tour.
Where to stay
Accommodation offerings include villas, family-friendly accommodations, adult-only hotels and resorts or smaller boutique offerings.
The secluded Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa is one of the most luxurious villa offerings on Rarotonga, with units boasting a private courtyard and plunge pool and inside luxurious bedrooms, bathroom, fully fitted kitchen and laundry, plus, guests are able to use the facilities of Pacific Resort Rarotonga which has restaurants, bars, kids club and public pool.
In Aitutaki, Pacific Resort Aitutaki, part of the Small Luxury Hotels group, is a sumptuous luxury offering set on the shore of Aitutaki’s beautiful lagoon. Choose one of its beachfront bungalows and villas, and you are able to step out of your bedroom straight onto the stunning white sand beach or sit back on the veranda and enjoy the spectacular sunset, drink in hand.
By Anna Watt.
Lead image courtesy of David Kirkland. Other images used in this piece are the copyright of the author, Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa and Pacific Resort Aitutaki.
If you would like more information on the Cook Islands, visit www.cookislands.travel.
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