The Cook Islands are full of fascinating stories and facts. Here are just a few which I hope you'll not only find interesting, but will encourage you to explore this site and the Islands themselves
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Deserted MANUAE was the first of the islands that Captain Cook discovered. Special permission is needed to visit it
VISIT VIRTUALLY INSTEADPALMERSTON is the only one of the Cook Islands that Captain James Cook set foot on himself. Today it's owned and populated by the descendants of a 19th century Englishman who founded a dynasty there
follow in his footstepsAITUTAKI was discovered accidentally by Captain William Bligh 17 days before the mutiny on his ship, 'Bounty'. He called it "a charming little spot"
DISCOVER IT FOR YOURSELFThe Cook Islands were given their name by a famous Russian explorer and map maker, Adam Johann Von Krusenstern. They were known before that as the Hervey (or Hervey's) Islands
start exploringSeen from the air, ATIU's five villages form the shape of a stick man
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ATIU
Some of the world's finest black pearls are farmed in the vast and beautiful lagoon of MANIHIKI but it's an industry and island under serious threat from climate change
Treasure buried on SUWARROW in 1876 has never been found because an "x marks the spot" map was lost
DIG UP MORE ABOUT SUWARROWLegend says the gods drew MITIARO up from the depths of the ocean and fairies made it habitable with soil from nearby Atiu and Mauke
DISCOVER THE MITIARO MAGICA church at the centre of MAUKE was literally divided down the middle when it was built because locals couldn’t agree on its interior decoration
FIND THE CHURCH INPENRHYN (aka Tongareva) has an airfield thanks to American GIs who built it as part of an alternative supply route from Hawaii to Australia and New Zealand during World War II. And the remains of this bomber lie in the undergrowth
UNCOVER PENRHYNAt 18 million years old, MANGAIA is the oldest island in the Pacific and boasts the world's largest banyan tree and a work of engineering that has been compared to Sydney Harbour Bridge
step back in time The remains of a wrecked cargo ship lie rusting among the palm trees in the middle of NASSAU which is described as a tiny garden of Eden
At 652 metres Te Rua Manga on RAROTONGA is the highest point in all the islands and was blessed in 2000 by the Dalai Lama as one of the eight energy centres of the world. Guided climbs are popular and provide great views of the island
GET A VIEW OF WHAT TO DO According to islanders on neighbouring Atiu, surfers can enjoy 400 metre wide rides where two ocean currents come together off deserted TAKUTEA
Islanders on PUKAPUKA play their own form of cricket with a three sided bat and 20-40 players. Games last an indefinite number of days and insulting the other players is all part of the fun!
BOWL OVER TO PUKAPUKA