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| A mix of coral atolls and volcanic islands – a good few of the nine Southern islands could be listed as “must see before I die”. An idyllic climate, stunning scenery, warm-hearted people and a desirable way of life where “hurry” has not been coined, make them irresistible. Bush clad volcanic peaks descend to glistening white sands and the inevitable palm-fringed blue lagoons. Rarotonga - the capital - and Aitutaki – breathtakingly beautiful – dominate the call of the conch.
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Rarotonga is the hub and the capital of the Cook Islands. It's 32km wide and is encircled by a “ring” road – Ara Tapu.
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| Araura, Ararau, Utataki. Aitutaki, or Honeymoon Island, is the archetypal tropical island and the Eden of the Cooks where peace is paramount. |
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Enuamanu - land of the birds. Atiu is a volcanic core bordered by coral and cliff with lush green forests and white crested surf.
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| Nukuroa - Mitiaro is home to 200 people living a life of the past. With fish skulking around the reefs and cool underground caves and freshwater pools. |
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| Au’ Au - enchanting Mangaia is 18 million years old and is the southernmost island of the Cooks – making it the coolest. It is unspoiled and naturally serene. |
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Enua-Iti - Takutea - is a small uninhabited island. Coconut palms cover this tiny coral cay with its pristine unbroken reef.
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Manuae and its neighbouring islet Te Au O Tu is set in a sheer shallow lagoon. Elusive, remote and uninhabited.
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| Akatokamanava – Mauke – is the exotic garden isle. Fishermen fringe the reef and pockets of golden beaches and secret caves. |
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| Home Island – Palmerston is a perfect tropical island, strung with tiny islets and sandy cays like a necklace around the vast blue lagoon. |
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Six of these beautiful Cook Islands lie to the north. Described as “the stuff that dreams are made of”, their remote appeal pulls at the hearts of explorers, adventurers, authors and artists. Each island is unique. Discover the largest atoll, Penrhyn , the intriguing island of Suwarrow with a population of two, Pukapuka with its own language and Manihiki with its treasure trove of black pearls. The palm-fringed pearly white sands framing turquoise lagoons will prove irresistible. |
 | | | | Te Ulu-o-Te-Watu – Pukapuka is an ancient island with historical ties to Samoa which go as far back as 2000 years. | | | |  | | | | Tongareva - Penrhyn - is the largest and northernmost island. It’s deep blue lagoon waters cover 233squ.metres. | | | |  | | | | Manihiki is a necklace of tiny coral atolls strung around a vast lagoon and is the epicentre of the famous black pearl industry. | | | |  | | | | As sister island to Manihiki – which supposedly broke off from the atoll – Rakahanga is one of the most isolated islands and is at risk of disappearing. | | | |  | | | Treasure Island – Suwarrow is dubbed the “most romantic island in the world” – it’s isolated and uninhabited for most of the year.
| | | |  | | | Nassau is a tiny island and set on a coral reef – a sand cay with no lagoon yet lush with vegetation, copra plantations.
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