Kia orana – Long may you live – this is how you are welcomed to one of the most beautiful atolls in the South Pacific, the Cook Islands. You will hear this sentence countless times as soon as you arrive here. And it’s not just a phrase. The people who live over here mean exactly that. They are friendly and the lightness of being is their top priority. This is not surprising, because once you have seen the turquoise lagoons and white sandy beaches where palm trees stand before the sea, you will always long to return here.
Let me take you to paradise, where I saw the bluest water and where the Milky Way sparkled above me at night.
As always, at the end of this Cook Islands Travel Guide you will find a map where I have marked all the spots for your vacation in the Cook Islands that you should not miss.
Where are the Cook Islands located and how can they be reached?
The Cook Islands are a South Pacific archipelago located between Hawaii and New Zealand, comprising 15 islands of volcanic origin. Discovered by James Cook around 250 years ago, the archipelago was named after him.
You can reach the Cook Islands by plane to Rarotonga International Airport on the main island of the same name. From here, island flights depart for Aitutaki, the second largest island in the Cook Islands.
How many days should you plan for your Cook Islands vacation?
You should plan at least a week for your trip to the Cook Islands, alone to make the long flight worthwhile. Perhaps you can combine your trip with a previous stay in New Zealand or Australia. Then, like us, you would fly across the international date line and arrive here yesterday. That is an incredible experience.
When is the best time to travel to the Cook Islands?
The Cook Islands have a tropical climate, with temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius all year round. To enjoy the beach and sea to the full, you should spend your vacation in the Cook Islands outside of the rainy season. The best months for this are June to October.
The ultimate guide for the Cook Islands: Aitutaki & Rarotonga
My travel tips for Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Aitutaki – a dream of an island – is not only the most beautiful and popular of the Cook Islands, but also one of the most picturesque in the entire Pacific. It is an 18 square kilometer inhabited atoll bordered by a massive outer reef. When I saw the lagoon for the first time, I knew it immediately: this is the bluest water I have ever seen. The Aitutaki lagoon is considered one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world.
After your 45-minute flight on a small plane from Rarotonga, you can see for yourself that I wasn’t exaggerating. Quiet island life awaits you. There is only one road that leads around the island and there are only a few slow-moving cars. Most accommodations offer bicycles to explore the beautiful Cook Islands of Aitutaki. A rental car is not necessary.
You shouldn’t miss the these activities and places on Aitutaki during your Cook Islands trip:
Swimming with whales on Aitutaki
During the winter months in the southern hemisphere, humpback whales come to the South Pacific (from around July to October) to mate or give birth and nurse their calves before returning to the cold but nutrient-rich waters of Antarctica. However, you should know that there is no guarantee of spotting whales, as they are wild animals after all. However, Aitutaki is one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales and even snorkel with them. This is not allowed everywhere. On Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands, you are only allowed to watch them from a distance from a boat. But even when snorkeling on Aitutaki, the whales are observed from a safe distance for humans and animals. However, young calves are often curious and therefore come closer.
My recommendation: Book your tour with Dive Aitutaki – Bubbles Below. They organize small tours with a very experienced guide and captain.
Lagoon tour – a must do on Aitutaki
A boat tour through the blue lagoon is simply fantastic and unforgettable – an absolute must-do. The trip takes you to small islands, snorkeling spots and sandbanks. The color of the water is so incredible that you simply can’t get enough of it.
One highlight of the tour is One Foot Island (Tapuaetai). You even get a stamp in your passport if you have it with you. Here, palm trees blow in the wind, surrounded by nothing but deep blue water and white sand – the South Pacific at its best. One Foot Island is a popular excursion destination during a vacation in the Cook Islands, but only a short stop is made here on the tour. If you want more time to enjoy the small island at your own pace, you should charter a private boat. Especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon, there is a very good chance that you will even be alone.
My tip for your boat tour: We did our tour with Teking Lagoon Cruises. It was very entertaining on one of the rather small boats and the stops were great. There was a BBQ break on Honeymoon Island. Even better, but also more expensive, are private tours with individual stops and more time in different places.
Hiking on Aitutaki, Cook Islands
If you are the adventurous type, you will definitely want to take a tour to the highest point of Aitutaki during your Cook Islands travels. This is located in the middle of the island. There are two paths from different sides, each leading to a great viewpoint. One is Maunga Pu, which offers you a better view but is not completely accessible by bike or scooter. In some places, you will have to push or park your vehicle to walk up a steep gravel path. Although Maunga Pu is the highest point on the island at 124m, it is more of a hill than a mountain.
The second viewpoint is called Piraki Lookout. You can get there directly by bike or scooter. In any case, you can enjoy a great panoramic view of the island and the blue lagoon from both points.
We set off on our bikes to the Maunga Pu viewpoint in the early evening. When we were already quite high up, a thunderstorm approached. The dark clouds came closer and closer, but luckily they passed us by on both sides. Apart from a bit of wind, we didn’t get anything from the tropical rainstorm. On the way back, we felt infinitely free and happy as we cycled towards an incredibly beautiful sunset in the middle of nowhere. These are moments I will never forget in my life.
Traditional dance show on Aitutaki
Dance shows take place in the evenings in most of the accommodations. Accompanied by a dinner of traditional dishes, singing and dancing are performed in beautiful costumes. But watch out, if you’re like me, you’ll be invited to dance along. That was really fun!
Restaurant tips on Aitutaki, Cook Islands
- The Boat Shed – This is where we had the best dinner on Aitutaki at a fair price. The Boat Shed is located directly on the ferry to the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort.
- The Pacific Resort Aitutaki Restaurant – Located by the pool and beach with an incredibly beautiful ambience.
- WokKai – a cute roadside snack bar with fresh wok dishes and homemade cakes
The best accommodation on Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Luxury: Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort
The adults-only resort is located on a small private island off Aitutaki, separated only by a narrow channel and therefore accessible by ferry. It feels like you are in the Maldives. You will find small beach villas and seven overwater villas – the only ones in the Cook Islands. The interior design is less luxurious, more rustic and very cozy. The highlight of all the villas is of course the gigantic view over the blue lagoon – a paradisiacal retreat to relax in. Probably the most beautiful accommodation on the Cook Islands!
Mid-range: Tamanu Beach Resort
The cute bungalows on the beach are divided into two separate areas: Larger family bungalows and Adults Only double bed bungalows. They are also furnished in a rustic style and have a great terrace and a bathroom with an outdoor shower. You have a fantastic view of the sunset from the beach and the resort pool. In the right months, you can even spot whales behind the reef edge. The resort is a beautiful and relaxed accommodation in the Cook Islands!
My travel tips for Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands, is significantly larger than Aitutaki. Around 14,000 people live here. There is also only one coastal road on Rarotonga, which runs 32 km around the island. It might be worthwhile for you to hire a car. Cabs are available for a fixed price per person, but are relatively expensive.
You can’t miss these activities and places on Rarotonga during your travels to the Cook Islands:
Diving and snorkeling on Rarotonga
With its many different spots, Rarotonga is perfect for diving and snorkeling. Healthy and impressive coral reefs with colorful fish, turtles, reef sharks and rays await you here. If you’re visiting between July and October, you can hear the humpback whales singing while diving, which is absolutely fantastic. We were enchanted by it.
We booked our diving tour with Pacific Divers, but there are also other good providers
The snorkeling on Rarotonga is also very impressive. Popular snorkeling spots are Black Rock (close to the airport), Titikaveka Beach or Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve.
Hiking on Rarotonga
The Needle (Te Rua Manga) is a unique rock formation in the middle of Rarotonga, which rises 413 meters into the air. From here you have a spectacular view over the island. If you are not afraid of heights, it is definitely worth planning this hike into your vacation on the Cook Islands. The level of difficulty is moderate and hiking boots are an absolute must!
On the way to the foot of The Needle, you have to climb over roots or stones in some places. It starts off as an easy, then steep climb through the forest, which provides shade until you reach the rock formation. have already reached the rock formation. Once there, you can climb up The Needle. You can get halfway up with the help of attached ropes. The view is simply gigantic, it almost took my breath away. Incidentally, we were accompanied by a rooster almost all the way to the summit. Chickens just live freely in nature here. He didn’t want to leave our side, it was kind of cute.
It took us 3.5 – 4 hours to hike to The Needle on Rarotonga, including photo breaks.
I have marked the GPS coordinates for the parking lot on my Cook Islands map.
Restaurant tips on Rarotonga
- Beluga Café – It is simply ideal and delicious for breakfast or lunch. However, it closes in the early afternoon.
- The Waterline Restaurant – This highly recommended restaurant is just a few minutes’ walk from the Magic Reef Resort
- The Falafel Shack – It is a small cozy food truck on the beach with absolutely delicious food
The most beautiful accommodation on Rarotonga, Cook Islands
The Magic Reef Bungalows
The lovingly designed and furnished bungalows with kitchen are located either directly on the beach or just a few steps away. You can also enjoy a great view of the sunset from here. The owner is very welcoming and will help you with any questions or give you useful tips. You can rent snorkeling equipment free of charge at the resort and hire an electric car for a fair daily rate. For me, this is the best accommodation on Rarotonga!
My maps for the Cook Islands:
You can open and save the map via Google Maps to find all the places mentioned in this post!
A day that ends with a sunset on the beach is simply a good day. So every day of your vacation on the Cook Islands should be a good one. For those who dream the South Pacific dream, it becomes reality here.
For me, Aitutaki in the Cook Islands in particular is a hidden gem that should definitely be on your bucket list – gorgeous white beaches and an incredible blue lagoon. And not to forget the warm-hearted people who live in the Cook Islands and radiate so much happiness. My time here will stay in my memory forever.
I hope this article with my tips for your travels to the Cook Islands will convince you to set foot in paradise yourself and help you plan your own vacation.
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