Read a snippet from luxury boating magazine, Ocean, and their luxury guide to the Cook Islands:
Sitting pretty in the Pacific to the southwest of Tahiti, the Cook Islands may get less press than their French Polynesian counterparts, but they offer a paradisical alternative with adventure in spades.
Set in the heart of the South Pacific, the Cook Islands burst forth like a handful of pearls tossed by a mischievous god. Comprising 15 islands in two groups between French Polynesia and Samoa, and spread over 2 million square kilometres of ocean, here the sky and sea engage in an eternal tango, their blues so intense they’d make a peacock weep with envy.
Rarotonga, the sassy queen of this island coterie, thrums with a vibrant energy that puts New York to shame. Its heartbeat? The rhythmic slap of waves against shores pristine enough to make your average beach blush. Like a tipsy serpent, a single road wraps itself around the island’s waist, ferrying an intoxicating cocktail of life, laughter and just a dash of chaos.
Fifteen thousand souls have hit the cosmic jackpot, calling this slice of paradise home. Coconut palms stretch skyward, nature’s middle fingers to the very concept of skyscrapers. For those looking for a getaway to paradise, or for those travelling by yacht, the Cook Islands offer shoreside comfort and sea-borne seduction in spades.
Time here is more flexible than a yoga instructor after a double espresso. Ancient maraes – sacred places traditionally used for religious ceremonies – stand guard, their stones etched with stories.
In this sun-drenched wonderland, where palm trees flirt shamelessly with the sky, adventure doesn’t just knock – it kicks down the door and demands you join the party. The Cook Islands are where the humdrum of daily life goes to reinvent itself, emerging as fabulous and unexpected as a butterfly in a tutu.
Seek treasures of the deep
The markets of Rarotonga are treasure troves bursting with secrets as dark and lustrous
as the famed black pearls. In Avarua and the Punanga Nui Market, artisans showcase woven fans that capture the island breeze and earrings that sparkle like captured moonlight. Each crafted piece tells a story, a slice of Rarotonga to carry home, so you leave with more than just sun-kissed skin.
Dive into liquid crystal
On private snorkelling tours, get ready to glide through an underwater paradise that’ll leave you both breathless and begging for more. Coral gardens bloom beneath you and fish shimmer like living jewels as they dart by. With Snorkel Cook Islands, your three- hour odyssey concludes with a feast that’s fit for island royalty.
Uncover ancient mysteries
Strap on your explorer’s hat and traverse the ancient Ara Metua Road, where every step echoes with history on private tours with Raro Tours. Maraes whisper tales of long- ago rituals while hidden gardens burst with tropical abundance. Every turn reveals a new wonder, a piece of Rarotonga’s soul laid bare for those adventurous enough to seek it. Get ready to soak up the culture and maybe even channel your inner Indiana Jones!
Vaka Cruise
On the Vaka Cruise, you glide across turqouise waters like ancient Polynesian journeyers on traditional outrigger canoes. The Vaka hums softly as it drifts between motus – sandy reef islets – where the sea cradles its glamour beneath the surface. Dive into a kaleidoscope of coral, let the crew serenade you with ukuleles, and feel as if the ocean itself is joining in on your adventure.
Attend a service
On Sunday mornings, the island’s heart beats to the rhythm of hymns, sung in Māori and lifted high within the small, whitewashed walls of the Cook Island Christian Church,
a relic of the 1850s. The congregation, bright in their Sunday best, welcomes all who
wish to witness this celebration of faith and tradition. Stay after the service, share a meal and hear the stories of the church and the community, wrapped in warmth and the glow of a culture that wears its past like a veritable crown.
Hike to the base of The Needle
The cross-island trek is a journey through where the rainforest grows thick and green and the path winds like a question only the island can answer. At its peak proudly stands Te Rua Manga, The Needle, a towering stone watcher reaching 413 metres. The trail twists and turns beneath the canopy, leading you to the base of this volcanic giant.
Motu Beachfront Art Villas
Strung like lanterns across a shimmering Titikaveka Lagoon, MOTU Beachfront Art Villas was originally the Royale Takitumu Resort before this intimate haven was reborn in 2020 as a luxurious, adults-only retreat. MOTU, the first boutique art hotel in the South Pacific, doubles as a living gallery, where Pasifika art is found in every corner. Sculptures by Fatu Feu’u and Brent Holley greet you as you wander the lush grounds.
Inside the villas, vaulted ceilings rise above beds draped in art, while white walls become a canvas for vibrant Pasifika pieces. There’s rattan furniture and traditional tivaevae quilts. Outside, the lagoon stretches out beyond, filled with coral gardens and the dance of tropical fish.
