"The relaxation therapy begins the moment I arrive at Rarotonga airport to find a ukulele-strumming man singing welcome songs. Local mamas with flower crowns bustle around the baggage carousel introducing travellers to their hotel and transport reps. Soon I’m tootling along the main road – the 32km Ara Tapu, with no traffic lights and speed limits set between 30kmh and 50kmh – heading to my hotel. Within the hour I’m toes in the sand, sun on my face, staring at a world of blues in a palm-lined lagoon. I can feel my muscles and mind unwinding."

Writer Laura DeCook is a well-seasoned traveller, but what special destination keeps calling her back? None other than our own little paradise. Read why "the magic of the island is too special not to share with others" in this curated guide to Rarotonga.

Read the full article here.