Overview

The Cook Islands offers a holiday experience like no other Pacific island can offer just under nine hours from Australia - laidback, casual and completely immersed in one of the friendliest cultures on earth. You can elect to be part of the community, with its love of good food, outdoor activity, music and sports, or switch off from the world and enjoy your own company, far from the stress of modern life.

Wherever you are in the Cook Islands, you'll be enchanted by its stunning beauty, from the dramatic mountains of Rarotonga to the turquoise lagoons of Aitutaki, with water the colour of liquid jewels and beaches which boast the whitest sand.

Luxuriate in your own private space or dive into the lagoon to see the spectacular underwater world that awaits, knowing that you'll never have to contend with the usual crowds or trappings of other tourist destinations.

The outer islands of the Cook Islands offer further adventure, each with its own character and unique geography; whether you are seeking the world’s best fishing in Manuae, the rare birdlife of Atiu or the beautiful pearls of the Penrhyns. If you like festivals, then enjoy the drama of the International Rugby Sevens or spectacular Vaka Eiva, where hundreds of canoes race regatta style.

Why go there?

The Cook Islands has so much to offer, from lying on a pristine beach doing absolutely nothing, to meeting with the locals down at Trader Jack's at the marina, watching the local fishing vessels bring in their catch of the day in scenes reminiscent of the country's colourful colonial past. This combination of serving great seafood in historical settings is found in some of the local restaurants such as Tamarind, a tradition carried on throughout the islands in the region.

While the wonderful character of the Cook Islands has not changed over the years, the standard of accommodation has, with the new range of apartments and villas offering so much more to visitors, some of whom like the option of preparing their own meals as well as dining out. There are many shops which offer gourmet products, wine and outstanding coffee, one the region's export products.

Galleries, spas, shops and traditional tourist operators are all on offer in the Cook Islands, catering to your every request, from snorkelling in the lagoon or trekking across Rarotonga, or cycling around the whole island. There's even the opportunity to do a progressive dining experience, meeting the friendly local families who are so much a part of the fabric of life and culture in the Cook Islands.

Aitutaki, one of the world's most romantic destinations, is only an hour from Rarotonga by internal flight, and the plethora of other islands spreads itself through the region literally like a string of pearls, offering everything one could desire in a Pacific holiday – swimming, fishing, snorkelling, culture, history, community, but without the cost or the crowds of anywhere else in the Pacific.

How to get there?

Travelling to the Cook Islands is easy. Regular daily flights are available with either Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue with great connections from most Australian domestic airports via Auckland to Rarotonga, the capital of the Cook Islands.

• Air New Zealand flies direct to Rarotonga everyday from Auckland, and with over 120 flights from Australia to New Zealand each week, getting there is easy.

  Please click here to check Air New Zealand's schedules and everyday low airfares.

• Pacific Blue flies to Rarotonga from a various Australian and New Zealand locations.

  Please click here for the Pacific Blue website to make enquires and reservations.

• Air Rarotonga offers frequent flights from Papeete in Tahiti, French Polynesia, making it possible to combine Tahiti and the Cook Islands.

  Please click here for the Air Rarotonga website to make enquiries and reservations.

Best time to travel

There is no better time to travel than now. The Cook Islands enjoys lovely weather all year round. Some of the best times to visit are around the Christmas-New Year festive season through to April/May. Flowers are in bloom, fragrant frangipanis, gardenias and fresh fruit in abundance, mangoes, guavas. Pawpaw, bananas and coconuts are available year-round. The days are longer, but its summertime so enjoy those hot days lazing on the beach with a cocktail! The Winter falls between July & September with Summer is from December to April but the difference in temperature is only a couple of degrees.