Travel to Cook Islands





The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands scattered over some 850,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.
It was during the Great Polynesian Migration (which began about 1500BC), that our ancestors first arrived on these islands. Their giant double-hulled canoes - ‘Vaka’s’ - guided by the stars and the power of ancient Polynesian navigation, arrived here approximately 800AD. It is said that Chief Toi arrived in the Cook Islands during the original migration. Toi presided over the creation of a grand road, built of coral, laird through the inland swamps. This all-weather road is still in existence despite being almost 1000 years old. Now tar sealed, it lies inland and is called the Ara Metua.
The first Europeans were the Spanish explorers Alvaro de Mendana, who sighted Pukapuka in 1595 and Pedro Fernandez de Quiros who sighted Rakahanga in 1606.
There was no further European contact until over 160 years later in 1773 when Captain James Cook, for whom the island group was eventually named, sighted Manuae atoll which he named Hervey Island. On a later voyage, he also discovered Palmerston, Takutea, Mangaia and Atiu in 1777.
The Cook Islands become a favorite stop for whalers in the 1850s, the British flag was raised in 1888 at which time Aitutaki and Rarotonga were included in the boundaries of New Zealand.
Today, an international airport in Rarotonga handles daily connections from several destinations including the US.
15 islands in the heart of the South Pacific spread over 850,000 square miles with a population of approximately 15,000. The Islands most visited are Rarotonga and Aitutaki which are only 140 miles apart
People
Closely linked in culture and language to the Maori in New Zealand, the Maohi of French Polynesia, the Rapuni of Easter Island and the Kanaka Maoli of Hawaii with about 87 per cent of Cook Islanders are Polynesian Cook Island Maori.
It is the natural charm of the Cook Island people that lures visitors in. Friendly, high-spirited and welcoming – they are the great entertainers of the Pacific and regarded as the best dancers and drummers in Polynesia. Festivals are an important part of the annual calendar, where the competition between the islands to produce the most outstanding performers is part of the national pride.
Language
Cook Islands Maori is the local language but everyone also speaks English.
History
Both Ru and Tangiia, from French Polynesia, are believed to have landed on Aitutaki and Rarotonga respectively around 800 AD. Written history of the Cooks began with the sighting of Pukapuka by the Spaniard Alvaro de Mendaa in 1595 followed by a landing on Rakahanga in 1606 by another Spanish explorer, Pedro Quiros.
In 1764 the British arrived off Pukapuka and named it Danger Island because they could not land. Between 1773 and 1779 Captain James Cook sighted and landed on many of the southern group but never came close to Rarotonga.
In 1789 Captain William Bligh landed on Aitutaki, while the first official European sighting of Rarotonga happened in 1813 by a missionary, John Williams. The first known landing occurred in 1814 with the crew of the Cumberland. Trouble broke out between the sailors and the Islanders and many were killed from both sides. The islands saw no more Europeans until missionaries arrived from England in 1821. Christianity quickly took hold in the culture and retains that grip today.
The Kingdom of Rarotonga was established in 1858 and became a British protectorate in 1888 per the request of Queen Makea Takau. She was attempting to avoid French expansionism. It became a New Zealand protectorate from 1901 until 1965 after which it became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand.
Today, the Cook Islands are essentially independent but are still officially placed under New Zealand sovereignty where it is tasked with overseeing the country’s foreign relations and defense.
Currency
The currency in the Cook Islands is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$), supplemented by notes and coinage for local use. The unique local coins and notes are not negotiable outside the Cook Islands, but are keenly sought by collectors worldwide.
Weather
The Cook Islands are a year round warm and sunny country. April to November is the drier months with June to August being the cooler months. November to March is the warmer humid season with the sporadic topical showers. It time of year is also cyclone season but they are not a regular occurrence so don’t be deterred.
Health Requirements
None except entering from a Yellow Fever area.
Visa Requirements
No visa required for US passport holders staying up to 31 days. A valid passport and a return ticket are required
Tipping & Porterage
Tipping is not encouraged in the Cook Islands. Tip with a smile and ‘meitaki ma’ata’ (thank you). Polynesian custom says that if you give something for nothing, the person receiving will owe you - and that’s how a tip is perceived.
Bargaining can also be taken as an insult.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard and Bankcard are accepted at most places on Rarotonga. American Express and Diners Club are accepted at more-expensive hotels and restaurants.
Money
Both the New Zealand dollar and the Cook Islands dollar and is divided by 100 cents.
Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2, $5
Notes: $3, $10, $20, $50
Electrical Appliances
Voltage is 220 AC/50 cycle. If you are traveling from a part of the world where your appliances are 110v you will need a voltage transformer.
Water
Drink bottled or boiled water only.
Related Destinations
Abel Tasman National Park
Adelaide
Aitutaki
Alice Springs
Atiu
Auckland
Ayers Rock Uluru
Barossa Valley
Bay of Islands
Bay of Plenty
Blue Mountains
Bora Bora
Brisbane
Broken Hill
Broome
Byron Bay
Cairns
Christchurch
Clare Valley
Coober Pedy
Coral Coast
Cradle Mountain National Park
Daintree National Park
Dandenong Ranges
Darwin
Daylesford-Macedon Ranges
Devonport
Dunedin
East Kimberley
{markers}
Eastland
{/markers}
Eyre Peninsula
Flinders Ranges
Fraser Island
Freycinet National Park
Glaciers and West Coast
Gold Coast
Grampians
Great Ocean Road
{markers}
Hamilton & Waikato
{/markers}
Hawkes Bay
Hobart
Hunter Valley
Kaikoura
Kakadu National Park
Kangaroo Island
Katherine
Kings Canyon
Kuranda
Launceston
Lord Howe Island
Mamanuca Islands
Manihi
Margaret River
Melbourne
Monkey Mia
Moorea
Mornington Peninsula
Mount Cook
Nadi
Nelson and Marlborough
Ningaloo and Exmouth
North Island
Palm Cove Northern Beaches
Papeete
Perth
Phillip Island
Port Arthur
Port Douglas
Queenstown and Wanaka
Rangiroa
Rarotonga
Resort Islands
Rotorua
{markers}
Ruapehu
{/markers}
Samoa
Savusavu
South Island
Stewart Island
Strahan - West Coast
Sunshine Coast
Sydney
Taha’a
Taupo
Tavenui
Te Anau
The Coromandel
The Whitsundays
Tikehau
Explore the rest of our Cook Islands destinations:
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Adelaide
- Aitutaki
- Alice Springs
- Atiu
- Auckland
- Australia
- Ayers Rock Uluru
- Barossa Valley
- Bay of Islands
- Bay of Plenty
- Blue Mountains
- Bora Bora
- Brisbane
- Broken Hill
- Broome
- Byron Bay
- Cairns
- Christchurch
- Clare Valley
- Coober Pedy
- Cook Islands
- Coral Coast
- Cradle Mountain National Park
- Daintree National Park
- Dandenong Ranges
- Darwin
- Daylesford-Macedon Ranges
- Devonport
- Dunedin
- East Kimberley
- Eastland
- Eyre Peninsula
- Fiji
- Flinders Ranges
- Fraser Island
- Freycinet National Park
- Glaciers and West Coast
- Gold Coast
- Grampians
- Great Ocean Road
- Hamilton & Waikato
- Hawkes Bay
- Hobart
- Hunter Valley
- Kaikoura
- Kakadu National Park
- Kangaroo Island
- Katherine
- Kings Canyon
- Kuranda
- Launceston
- Lord Howe Island
- Mamanuca Islands
- Manihi
- Margaret River
- Melbourne
- Monkey Mia
- Moorea
- Mornington Peninsula
- Mount Cook
- Nadi
- Nelson and Marlborough
- New South Wales
- New Zealand
- Ningaloo and Exmouth
- North Island
- Northern Territory
- Palm Cove Northern Beaches
- Papeete
- Perth
- Phillip Island
- Port Arthur
- Port Douglas
- Queensland
- Queenstown and Wanaka
- Rangiroa
- Rarotonga
- Resort Islands
- Rotorua
- Ruapehu
- Samoa
- Savusavu
- South Australia
- South Island
- Stewart Island
- Strahan - West Coast
- Sunshine Coast
- Sydney
- Taha’a
- Tahiti
- Tasmania
- Taupo
- Tavenui
- Te Anau
- The Coromandel
- The Kimberleys
- The Whitsundays
- Tikehau
- Victoria
Build your own custom brochure
Finally, information the way you want it, when you want. Create your own customized information brochure from anything on our site with this magical tool called a brochure builder. Add destination information, hotels, resort and lodges and even vacations that you are interested in. Simply find a product you are interested in, and click to add to your brochure.
Once you have finalized your selection, press select and your own customized brochure will be created, filled with all sorts of hints and tips to get you started. What a great way to get your friends and family interested in a trip, or perhaps to surprise your husband or wife with, or even to just have a memory of your own vacation?
The selection on this website is just a small showcase of the offerings available, ask the travel experts for more details. We're here to inspire!
Hotels

Tamanu Beach Resort
Tamanu Beach Resort is a stunning beachfront property located on the…
Learn More
Vacations

Little Polynesian…
Nestled on the southern tip of Rarotonga, Little Polynesian Resort is…
Learn More
Follow Us