Despite the small number of tourists per year (about 90 000) who visit mostly the main island Raortonga, the majority of islands are not affected of tourist activity. They offer the rare chance to the people from the cities to spend a really different vacation. There are not huge hotels, just four beach huts. This is the perfect place for people who look for something really different form the stereotypes, related to the ocean resorts in the South Pacific. Every island has its special features and guarantees a really different experience. That`s why, polynesiatour.blogspot.com will introduce you a small summary for most of the islands. And here we go:
Rarotonga Island is the youngest of the south group of the islands. The highest peak is 658 meters. The temperatures from May to October are between 18 C and 28 C but from November to April they are between 21 C and 29 C. These are the summer period of the island. The name of the island is derives from “raro” which means “down” and “tonga” which means “south”. Here is located the international airport “Air Rrotonga” and the capital - Avarua.
Atiu Island, or also called “The Island of Birds” is twice smaller than Rarotonga. Here is located the lake “Te Roto”. The island is very fertile – here are cultivated bananas, tropical fruits, etc.
Mangaia Island is alias “The Garden of The Cook Islands”. This is the southernmost island of the group and the bigger one after Rarotonga. It is an object of huge geological interest because its age – it is older than 18 million years and is said to be the oldest island in the Pacific Ocean. There are lots of beautiful caves and the most impressive is Teruarere.
In the south-east part is located the Mauke island. Tourists can be hosted in Mauke Cove Lodge – an old coral limestone house, which has 5 rooms (one room is for one man only) with common bathroom, kitchen and a bar.
Palmerston Island is the island of the 200 ports. Atoll Palmerston is located 500 km north-west of Rarotonga. It is the only one real atoll in the south part of the Cook Islands. It consists of 6 sandy little islands scattered around the coral riff. The strong winds are usual for this island, especially in January and in February.
Manihiki – also called “The Island of Pearls” – is the most beautiful island in the whole group! The Manihiki atoll contains 40 little islands that surround a 4 kilometers long lagoon. The treasure of the island is its plenty of black pearls and that`s what makes this island very famous.
A really good example for very clean atoll is Penrhyn Island (also known as Tongareva). It is located 1365 kilometers north-east of Rarotnga and is located over the highest underwater volcano on the Cook Islands. The island is surrounded by a 77 kilometers long coral “ring”. There are a lot of wonderful black pearls, Tourists can stay in Tarakore.
Pukapuka or “the island of fear” is the most isolated island in the group. It consists of atoll, three little islands and sandy shoal. It is located 1150 kilometers north-west of Rarotonga. The island is not easily accessible, because Air Raratonga`s planes go there only in case the weather is good. The people there live and work totally isolated from the other Polynesians. Despite this, the island is well-known for its amazing beauty. Pukapuka is the first one of the Cook Islands discovered by the Europeans.
Rakahanga is the island of the beautiful people. The atoll Rakahanga consists of a lagoon surrounded by two big islands and seven little islands.
Suwarrow Island (also known as Suvorov and “the mysterious island”) is the southernmost island of the northern group. The Suwarrow atoll has one of the most beautiful ports in the Pacific Ocean. The island has a mysterious past and Robert Louis Stevenson describes it as “The most Romantic island in the world.”
This collection of islands is practically not damaged by the harmful influence of the tourists. The islands are a perfect place for diving, yachting and many other activities.
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