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• The best swimming beaches are at Muri Lagoon and Titikaveka.
• A variety of tours are available, including inland trekking, historical tours, guided walking trips, sightseeing by air, and horse-drawn and motorised drives around the islands. Kayaking tours in the lagoon are also available, as are lagoon cruises to the coral reefs in glass-bottomed boats or in a semi-submersible vessel. The three-hour ‘cultural village tour’ offers the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations in weaving, coconut husking, fire making, carving and other Cook Islands' traditions.
• 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. There are pony treks to the waterfall, an opportunity not to be missed – advance booking is recommended.
• 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.
• Scuba-diving and snorkelling are excellent. Visibility is seldom less than 30m (100ft) and the scenery is quite varied, with canyons, caves, 73 types of live coral and a rich marine life. Some of the best dive sites include the Matavera Drop-off; the Ngatangiia Swimthroughs (particularly well-known for its unusual and rare fish species); Koromiri Coral Garden; Mataora Wreck (purposely sunk in December 1990); Papua Canyon (known for its eagle ray population); and Sand River.
• Whale watching can be practised in the Cook Islands: the humpback whale season is from July to October. In addition to observing the whales from a boat, it is possible to swim with them wearing a snorkel
• Game fishing excursions are available. Visitors can also watch flying fish being netted at night in outrigger canoes equipped with bright lights. Aitutaki's magnificent 50-sq-km (19-sq-mile) lagoon is suitable for fly and bait fishing. It holds the world all-tackle record for Hump Head Maori Wrasse.
• The island of Rarotonga offers 13 marked trails. The most popular include the Cross Island Trek (through the centre of the island on trails known to be ancestral war paths); Pa’s Mountain Walk (through the lush interior); Te Kou Trek (with steep ascents and good views); and the Ikurangi Trek (for experienced hikers only, also providing the opportunity for rock climbing around the top of the mountain). The Takitumu Conservation Area Walk also offers birdwatching. Guided lagoon reef walks are possible at low tide along Rarotonga’s coral fringe.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• A variety of tours are available, including inland trekking, historical tours, guided walking trips, sightseeing by air, and horse-drawn and motorised drives around the islands. Kayaking tours in the lagoon are also available, as are lagoon cruises to the coral reefs in glass-bottomed boats or in a semi-submersible vessel. The three-hour ‘cultural village tour’ offers the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations in weaving, coconut husking, fire making, carving and other Cook Islands' traditions.
• 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. There are pony treks to the waterfall, an opportunity not to be missed – advance booking is recommended.
• 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.
• Scuba-diving and snorkelling are excellent. Visibility is seldom less than 30m (100ft) and the scenery is quite varied, with canyons, caves, 73 types of live coral and a rich marine life. Some of the best dive sites include the Matavera Drop-off; the Ngatangiia Swimthroughs (particularly well-known for its unusual and rare fish species); Koromiri Coral Garden; Mataora Wreck (purposely sunk in December 1990); Papua Canyon (known for its eagle ray population); and Sand River.
• Whale watching can be practised in the Cook Islands: the humpback whale season is from July to October. In addition to observing the whales from a boat, it is possible to swim with them wearing a snorkel
• Game fishing excursions are available. Visitors can also watch flying fish being netted at night in outrigger canoes equipped with bright lights. Aitutaki's magnificent 50-sq-km (19-sq-mile) lagoon is suitable for fly and bait fishing. It holds the world all-tackle record for Hump Head Maori Wrasse.
• The island of Rarotonga offers 13 marked trails. The most popular include the Cross Island Trek (through the centre of the island on trails known to be ancestral war paths); Pa’s Mountain Walk (through the lush interior); Te Kou Trek (with steep ascents and good views); and the Ikurangi Trek (for experienced hikers only, also providing the opportunity for rock climbing around the top of the mountain). The Takitumu Conservation Area Walk also offers birdwatching. Guided lagoon reef walks are possible at low tide along Rarotonga’s coral fringe.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.