5
THE COOK ISLANDS
A visit to the Cook Islands, 15 tiny islets far-flung
over a swathe of the deep-blue, breezy Pacific
Ocean, is bound to rejuvenate even the most jaded.
And locals on the main island, Rarotonga, are
welcoming visitors off an increasing number of
international flights to their Polynesian paradise.
Although life in the Cooks is laid-back in the extreme, there are
a plethora of outdoor adventures to enjoy, and a kaleidoscope of sea
life awaits snorkellers to its pristine coral reefs. A 45-minute flight
north of Rarotonga reveals the jewel of Aitutaki, its idyllic turquoise
lagoon often lauded as ‘the most beautiful lagoon in the world’,
while heading further afield in the Cooks takes you to places
where few have been before.PHOTOGRAPH: MATTEO COLOMBO / GETTY IMAGES