6 Compelling Reasons to Visit the Cook Islands

With destination heavyweights such as New Zealand, French Polynesia and Hawaii for neighbours, it’s not surprising that the Cook Islands doesn’t make the list very often. However, as I discovered on a recent jaunt, this unassuming group of 15 islands in the Pacific with vistas to rival high-profile island paradises and zany details aplenty, delivers an experience unlike any other.

 

 

1. For Its Unique Take on Nationhood

Before my trip to the Cook Islands, a question I struggled to answer was if it is a separate country. Now that I’m back, having experienced it first hand an’ all, the truth is I’m still not sure! So the official answer to the nationhood question is ‘the Cook Islands is an independent country in a voluntary association with New Zealand’. What this means is that all Cookies (yup, that’s what they call themselves) are also technically Kiwis, but the reverse is not true.

This unusual sovereignty situation means that when it comes to money matters, the New Zealand Dollar and the Cook Island Dollar are on par. In actuality, while Cook Island coins are very much in circulation, when it comes to notes there are only NZDs to be seen. The Cook Island currency note has to be sourced from the local bank – an exercise well worth the effort, considering it is now available only in the rather unorthodox denomination of 3 dollars!

 

 

2. To Get Away from the Familiar

There is no dearth of quality accommodation or good food in the Cook Islands, but not one of them is courtesy the big brands you are familiar with back home. While globalisation has ensured that we no longer have to travel to Morocco to dig into a mean tagine, it has also brought about a bland uniformity in what we consume. The familiar sights of a Sheraton, Zara or the ubiquitous golden arch in a strange land could be a reassurance for some or an eyesore for others, but in the Cooks you will not come across any of them. In that respect, the islands definitely help accomplish the universal holiday goal of ‘getting away from it all’.

 

 

3. To Travel Back in Time

Like the nationhood reason, this is not a factor that’s likely to have a direct bearing on your holiday (other than, maybe, jetlag) but is one of those fascinating things to be filed away under the ‘cheap thrills’ category. Cook Islands is located just east of the international date line, thus putting it in a time-zone that’s behind most countries. So if you live in Australia this in itself is really no big deal. Most countries are behind us anyway. But to hop on to a six-hour flight (short haul by Aussie standards) and arrive somewhere that is nearly a full day (20 hours) behind was bizarre indeed.

 

4. For the Bluest Waters

This is primarily THE reason people travel to the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is teeming with gorgeous beaches and reefs, but the second-most visited of the islands, Aitutaki is surrounded by a lagoon so blue that it makes every epithet bestowed on it seem wanting. Save for a handful of cruises (a must do!), the lagoon is largely free of traffic. Turquoise waters of varying hues punctuated by sand banks with some palms thrown in for effect make for the kind of panoramas that would have your inner Moana do cartwheels! On a different note, though not necessarily a good thing, Aitutaki also has the distinction of being a completely ‘dog free’ island .

 

 

 

5. To Swim with GTs

From frolicking with playful dolphins to risking it all with sharks, there’s a wide variety of marine life close encounters available the world over. However, the Cook Islands is the only place where you can swim with Giant Trevallies in the wild. These massive fish abound in the shallow patches of the Aitutaki lagoon and are happy to let swimmers and snorkelers be. They don’t mind an occasional pat, but are always on the look out for a quick snack…so keep those fingers tucked away!

 

 

 

6. To Dine in Local Homes

One dinner. Three courses. Three homes. What better way to spend an evening in a new country than partaking a meal with the locals in their own homes. The food was delightful of course, but what really set the evening apart was the infectious sunny disposition of the hosts and their recounting of those personal stories that bring these islands to life.

Activities such as these offer fantastic insights into native life, especially in a place like the Cooks where a visit could easily end up being just about sun, sand and superfluity. It opens up a travel middle-road of sorts for short-stay travellers who don’t have the bandwidth, or indeed desire, to go completely intrepid.

 

 

Fact File:

Getting In

There are direct flights to Rarotonga from Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles and some of the other Pacific islands. Visas are not required for nationals of any country for stays of up to 31 days.

Cook Islands Maori and English are the official languages.

Where to Go

Rarotonga is the main island and the one international visitors arrive into. It is not uncommon for visitors to spend all their time here, as from aquatic pursuits to cultural ones there’s enough to keep one occupied for weeks.

Should you want to get out, Aitutaki island is a 45-minute flight north of Rarotonga (www.airraro.com). Given the low passenger to pilot ratio, these flights don’t come cheap, but the island is well worth a visit nevertheless.  Among the other islands, Aitu and Mauke get a few visitors, but they are for all practical purposes well off the beaten track.

Getting Around

Rarotonga is 21 miles in circumference. There are two bus services operating every hour – one goes clockwise and the other runs anti-clockwise. Most accommodations are dotted along the bus route. However, for more flexibility it would be worth your while to hire a car or a scooter for the duration of your stay.

There is no public transport in Aitutaki. Cars, bikes and scooters are available for hire.

Where to Stay

From cottages to boutique resorts, there is accommodation to suit a variety of tastes in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. No matter where you are on these islands, you are never too far from the sea and so beachside rooms are almost the norm. Be aware that unlike a Fiji or the Maldives, there isn’t an unlimited supply of hotel rooms and some of the better ones get booked out months in advance. However, self-catering standalone cottages abound and Airbnb is also growing in popularity.

What to Eat

As one would expect on an island, the seafood is incredibly fresh and meaty. The most ubiquitous dish is ‘ika mata’ –  raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk. Each family has its own version of this flavoursome salad and I was lucky to score a recipe from one of the homes we dined at.

Vegetarians won’t go hungry as at every meal a selection of root vegetables is served up in creative ways. Pawpaws and watermelons are plentiful on the island and they find their way to an array of savoury and sweet dishes. Banana ‘poke’ with its delicious wobbliness and taro greens ‘rukau’ are some of the other must-try local food.

 

Resources:

Flights within Cook Islands: http://www.airraro.com/en

Lagoon cruise: https://www.thevakacruise.com

Dinner in local homes: https://cookislandstours.co.ck/experiences/progressive-dinner/