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About Cook Islands

General Information About Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are made up of fifteen small islands located in the South Pacific Ocean and have a total land area of approximately 240 square kilometres.

The Cook Islands lie north-east of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and Fiji and were first settled in the 6th century AD by Polynesian people, who migrated from Tahiti. Nowadays, the population is just under 20,000, although many more Cook Islanders live in New Zealand.

There are fifteen major islands in the Cook Islands, which are divided into two distinct groups of coral atolls: the Southern Cook Islands and the Northern Cook Islands. The islands were formed by volcanic activity; the northern group is older and consists of six atolls (sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth).

Southern Cook Islands

The southern group of islands is made up of:

• Aitutaki (Araura Enua)
• Atiu (Enua Manu or Island of Birds)
• Mangaia (Auau Enua)
• Manuae
• Ma'uke (Akatokamanava)
• Mitiaro (Nukuroa)
• Nga-pu-Toru (Three Roots, the group name for the easternmost islands of the Southern Cook Islands)
• Palmerston Island (Pamati)
• Rarotonga (Tumutevarovaro)
• Takutea
• Winslow Reef (submerged)

Northern Cook Islands

The northern group of islands is made up of:

• Manihiki (Te Fuinga O niva)
• Nassau
• Penrhyn Island (Tongareva or Mangarongaro)
• Pukapuka (Te ulu o te watu)
• Rakahanga (Tapuahua)
• Suwarrow also called Suvorov
• Tema Reef (submerged)

Cook Islands Language

The Cook Islands Māori language, also known as Māori Kūki 'Āirani or Rarotongan, is the official language of the Cook Islands. Most Cook Islanders also call it Te reo Ipukarea, literally "the language of the Ancestral Homeland".

Many Cook Islanders also speak English as well, making it an ideal destination for English-speaking visitors.

Important Cook Island Dates

The following are a list of holidays observed in Cook Islands:

Cook Island Flight Times

The Cook Islands are served by Air New Zealand, which offers regular flights from New Zealand and Los Angeles. Pacific Blue also has flights from Auckland twice a week, and both airlines offer frequent connections from Australia.

From London to Rarotonga is 24 hours (with stopover in Los Angeles).

Cook Island Time Differences

Cook Islands is 10 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT -10). There is no daylight saving in Cook Islands.

Cook Island Shopping

Shops are usually open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm weekdays, and 8:00 am to midday on Saturdays.

Local markets are great places to purchase flowers, fruit, vegetables and handicrafts. Popular handicrafts include clothing, necklaces and souvenirs.

Cook Island Flag

The Flag of the Cook Islands is based on the traditional design for former British colonies in the Pacific region. It is a blue ensign containing the Union Flag in the upper left, and on the right, fifteen stars in a ring. The Union Flag is symbolic of the nation's historic ties to the United Kingdom. The stars stand for the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands.

About Rarotonga

Rarotonga is the youngest island in the Cook Islands, and a popular holiday destination. Avarua, the main town of Rarotonga, is the capital of the Cook Islands.

Cook Islands & Rarotonga Information

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