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The South Pacific
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Cook Islands Land / Geography
While most visitors are much more interested in the beauty of the Cook Islands than in their geological make-up, the islands are actually quite fascinating if you take a few moments to discover them in-depth.
The Land
Geologists will tell you that nearly every type of oceanic island is found among the 15 islands of the Cook nation. The southern islands, which include the largest – Rarotonga, are a continuation of the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. Rarotonga is considered a “high” volcanic island, while the second most-visited island, Aitutaki, is a middle-aged volcanic island surrounded by an atoll-like barrier reef.
The sparsely populated northern group islands stand on the Manihiki Plateau and are either sand cays without lagoons or typical lagoon atolls. These “low” islands are often covered with water during hurricanes or other violent storms.
Regardless of which islands you choose to explore, the tropical climate is nearly always pleasant, though the interiors on the larger islands are often rainier than the coastal beaches and the summer months can bring hurricanes.
Islands of Note
Often, visitors rarely travel beyond the two most popular islands of the southern group – Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Each island, however, is significantly different and traveling beyond the most popular tourist areas can be quite exhilarating and fascinating.
Mangaia, for example, is believed to be the oldest of all Pacific islands, at about 18 million years old! Nature lovers enjoy exploring this unique “garden” isle and its amazing caves.
Perhaps you’d prefer to visit the islanders in Mauke, where they craft leis for export to Hawaii as well as woven baskets and mats and lovely bowls fashioned from miro wood. White sandy beaches and coves and lush interior forests ripe for hiking are abundant on this far southeastern island, accessible several days a week by airplane.
Eco-tourists can visit the decidedly-British island of Palmerston, where nearly all the inhabitants have the same last name! Hop a ride on the research vessel Bounty Bay to enjoy diving and other eco-tourism adventures on this tiny atoll, the only one in the southern group.
Often touted as the most stunning of all the Cook Islands, Manihiki Atoll is actually a group of 40 tiny islets surrounding a lagoon measuring about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. This northern group island is most famous for its black pearls and visitors who fly here from Rarotonga can view pearl divers at work. Another northern island, Penrhyn, produces rare golden pearls that are a sight to behold. Flights to both of these islands occur about once weekly, weather permitting.
Flora
When one speaks of vegetation on the Cook Islands, they’re usually referring to the northern volcanic islands, which are lush with flowering trees and shrubs. Both coconut and banana plantations are plentiful and avocados and papayas are abundant. The northern atolls are mostly sandy, with the occasional coconut palm swaying in the breeze.
Fauna
The only animals native to the Cook Islands are rats and bats! Birds have traditionally been the most interesting animal to watch on the islands, however, hunters have significantly reduced the bird population, though conservationists are attempting to change laws to protect endangered species.
In 2001, the Cook Islands declared its waters a whale sanctuary, so visitors can view pilot whales year round and humpback whales from July through September as they migrate north from the Antarctic.