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COUNTRY INFORMATION - COOK ISLANDS

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Location Of Cook Islands
The Cook Islands are situated 2,200 miles north-east of New Zealand and 600 miles south-west of Tahiti in the South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia. The islands fall into two groups: the scattered Northern Group are all coral atolls while the Southern Group is of volcanic origin. Rarotonga is the largest and highest island with a rugged volcanic interior, its highest peak being Te Manga, at 2,140ft. Coral reef surrounds the island and the population lives between reef and hills where rich soil supports both tropical and subtropical vegetation. Most of the island is covered by thick evergreen bush. Most of the larger islands include lagoons surrounded by small areas of fertile land above which rise volcanic hills. The best beaches found on Aitutaki are also part of the eight-island Southern Group. The Northern Group comprises seven islands, the largest being Penrhyn, Manihiki and Pukapuka.

Airports
Rarotonga international airport is 2 miles west of Avarua and the travel time is around 10 minutes. Hotel coaches meet each flight. Taxis and buses are also available.

Language
The official languages are English and Cook Islands Maori.

Places To Go
The developed resorts are situated on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, and provide various amenities. The best swimming beaches are at Muri Lagoon and Titikaveka. A variety of tours are available, including lagoon cruises, inland trekking, historical tours, guided walking trips, sightseeing by air, and horse-drawn and motorised drives around the islands. A scenic drive into the Takuvaine/Avatiu Valleys offers a panorama of lush tropical scenery. Papua (Wigmore’s) Waterfall, the only waterfall on the island, is located at Vaimaanga. The museum at Takamoa has excellent examples of Cook Islands handicrafts. The 3-hour & #8216;cultural village tour’ offers the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations in weaving, coconut husking, fire making, carving and other Cook Islands traditions.

During the year various festivals take place. These are generally celebrated with singing and dancing, often with a strange mixture of traditional ritual grafted on to the somewhat later Christian music and ceremony. The choirs of the Cook Islands are renowned. Places of historical interest include: the Takamoa Mission House, built in 1842, and believed to be the second-oldest building in the South Pacific; the old Palace of Makea at Taputapuatea; Pa’s Palace in Takitumu, which is built of coral and lime; and Arai-Te-Tonga (Marae), consisting of stone structures which, in the islands’ pre-European history, formed a koutu, or royal court, where the investiture of chiefs took place. This spot is still regarded as sacred.

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation
PO Box 14,
Rarotonga,
Cook Islands
Tel: 29435.
Fax: 21435.
E-mail: tourism@cookislands.gov.ck
Website: www.cook-islands.com

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation
Level One,
127 Symonds Street,
Auckland,
New Zealand
Postal address:
PO Box 37391,
Parnell,
Auckland,
New Zealand
Tel: (9) 366 1106.
Fax: (9) 309 1876.
E-mail: albert-tourism@cookislands.co.nz

Cook Islands High Commission
PO Box 12-242,
56 Mulgrave Street,
Thorndon,
Wellington,
New Zealand
Tel: (4) 472 5126/7.
Fax: (4) 472 5121.
E-mail: cookhcnz@clear.net.nz
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:30-12:30 and 13:30-16:30.

Cook Islands Tourist Bureau
36 Southwark Bridge Road,
London
SE1 9EU,
UK
Tel: (020) 7202 6364.
Fax: (020) 7928 0722.
E-mail: pr@hillsbalfour.com
Website: www.spto.orgor www.hillsbalfour.comor www.cook-islands.com

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation
Suite 202,
280 Nelson Street,
Vancouver,
BC V6B 2E2,
Canada
Tel: (604) 301 1190 or (888) 994 2665 (toll-free in USA and Canada).
Fax: (604) 687 3454.
E-mail: cookislands@earthlink.net
Website: www.cook-islands.com

CIA World Factbook - Cook Islands

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