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Overview
"Kia orana!" is the greeting of the Cook Islands meaning "may you live long".. The Cook Islands is an archipelago of 15 islands which lie in the centre of the Polyneisan Triangle. Eastward you will find the islands of French Polynesia and Tahiti, then westward the Kingdom of Tonga and Samoas. Rarotonga is the main capital with sandy-white, shell covered beaches and a centre of mountain and tropical rainforest. It is truly a South Pacific paradise to explore...The Cook lslands are scattered over some 2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean.This archipelago operates as a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand.
Cook Islands culture was shaped by the arrival of Polynesians around 800AD from Tupua'i, what is now called French Polynesia. British navigator Captain James Cook
arrived in 1773 and 1777 and named the islands the Hervey Islands.The name ‘Cook Islands' appeared on a Russian naval chart published in the 1820's in honour of Captain Cook. The historical influence of European culture and particularly the arrival of Christian missionaries changed many of the island traditions.Today, the Cook Islanders have been able to preserve a harmonious balance between pride in their Polynesian heritage alongside their commitment to Christian faith. Christianity plays an important role in daily life with Sundays a day of celebration and prayer at church services.
To the south, the hook-shaped atoll of Aitutaki is popular as a romantic honeymoon getaway. Aitutaki hosts one of the world's largest coral lagoons full of tropical sealife in their vividly coloured underwater paradise for you to submerge into and explore. For more of a taste of adventure, you can visit the islands of Atiu and Mangaia with tropical forest surrounds.There are limestone caves to explore inland and around the outer rims of the islands are raised coral reefs to wander. ‘Atiu hosts coffee plantations and the makatea islands of Mau'ke, Mitiaro and Mangaia, give the experience of traditional village life.
The Domestic carrier Air Rarotonga has regular scheduled flights to the Southern group and some Northern island groups.
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