Cook Islands

Discover the Cook Islands just as Captain Cook did ... unspoilt, unhurried, unique.

The Cook Islands is a necklace of natural pearls in the heart of the South Pacific. Rarotonga is the capital island, with a centre of high mountains clothed in rainforest and encircled by white sandy beaches and shimmering turquoise lagoons.

The pace here is supremely relaxed, the mood carefree, the culture vibrant, and the people probably the friendliest you'll meet anywhere.

RAROTONGA has excellent lagoons fringed by white-sand beaches and living coral reefs, making swimming and snorkelling safe and enjoyable. Inland areas have a dramatic rugged profile with a lush  rainforest cover, valleys feature small plantations and colourful village gardens of vibrant tropical flora. The local people take pride in keeping their homes and villages clean and tidy. The natural environment is unspoiled and unpolluted. Several cultural events and various festivals are held throughout the year. Restaurants , bars, cafes and social clubs are plentiful.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

CLIMATE: The climate is pleasantly tropical throughout the year; Rarotonga has a mean temperature of 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) and an average annual rainfall of 2010mm (79 inches). The ‘summer’ (November - April) is wet and humid; the ‘winter’ (May - October) is predominantly dry. Overall Rarotonga enjoys a fairly even climate with few extremes, and there is no rainy season as is usual closer to the equator.

CURRENCY: The Cook Islands unit of currency is the New Zealand Dollar . This is supplemented by some Cook Island coins: $1, $2 and $5. The coins are not negotiable outside the Cook Islands, but make for interesting souvenirs. New Zealand dollars may be purchased at the airport, ANZ or Westpac Bank, or Western Union,  downtown Avarua. The Australian Dollar buys approx. $1.20 NZ

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A visitor's visa is not required for stays of 31 days or less. Passports need to be valid for at least six months after the return date. An onwards airline ticket and prior accommodation bookings are required. Extension of visitor stays may be granted on a monthly basis at the discretion of the Immigration Department.

LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE: The people are Polynesian of the Maori race with close ethnic affinity to the indigenous people of Tahiti (Maohi), New Zealand (Maori), and Hawaii (Kamaina). Most Cook Islanders are bilingual - speaking both Maori and English. The northern islands were most probably settled around 800AD by migrants from the west - Samoa and Tonga. The southern group inhabitants are largely descendant from voyagers from the Society Islands and the Marquesas. The total population of the Cook Islands is 15,000, of whom 8,000 live on Rarotonga - the business and economic hub, with 70,000 visitors coming each year. The people of the Cook Islands are naturally friendly, easy going and sociable. They are also resourceful and hold pride in their ethnic identity. The islanders are a fairly conservative and generally religious people and their lifestyle is fairly relaxed, casual and informal. Serious crime is not a major problem in the Cook Islands. On the capital island of Rarotonga, the lifestyle is more varied and the standard of living is of a higher standard than in the smaller, more remote, outer islands.

DIVING ESSENTIALS: Certification Card and log book, gear bag, BCD, torch with batteries and charger, mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, computer, camera and film

DEPARTURE TAX: Most taxes are prepaid taxes and included on your airline tickets. Departure tax from Raratonga is $25.00 New Zealand dollars per adult and NZ$10.00 for children 2 to 11 years.

HEALTH REQUIRMENTS: Refer to your doctor for the latest health and inoculations required for this destination.