The Complete Travel Guide to the Southern Cook Islands

Jutting out of the Pacific Ocean, dramatic volcanic mountains pierce the sky and then slope down to encircling sandy beaches. In between are the island's towns and quaint villages, which achieve the perfect blend of Western and Pacific living. Meanwhile, the resorts and boutique villas lining the beaches provide that idyllic Pacific holiday experience. This is Rarotonga.

The largest island and the capital of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, is often believed to be the country of the Cook Islands (but as you'll find out in this travel guide to the Southern Cook Islands, there's so much more). It's the island that most travellers make it to, home to the Cook Islands' international airport, a cruise ship port of call and irresistible holiday packages.

In short, Rarotonga is one big resort, providing endless options for dining, snorkelling, watersports or just relaxing on the island that only takes 45 minutes to drive around.

What to Do on Rarotonga

• Hit the snorkelling hotspots straight from the beach
• Venture through tropical jungle and up volcanic peaks on Rarotonga’s hiking trails like the Raemaru Track
• Experience a Rarotonga “island night”
• Have a close encounter with Raro’s beautiful marine life on a turtle swimming tour
• Join the locals for a progressive dinner tour with Cook Islands Tours.

For much much more ideas, check out the 50 Best Things to Do on Rarotonga.

Plan Your Trip to Rarotonga

Intrigued? Start planning your trip to Rarotonga, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Rarotonga.

Often described as the most beautiful lagoon in the Pacific (and the world), Aitutaki is the second-most visited island in the Southern Cook Islands. Its azure lagoon is a highlight, dotted with motu (islands) that are pristine, uninhabited and entice all sorts of lagoon cruises.

Despite having a population of around 1,700, Aitutaki is where you start to see facilities and services start to reduce in the Cook Islands' smaller islands, providing a more tranquil experience than the "rat race" that many describe Rarotonga as.

What to Do in Aitutaki

• Cruise the Aitutaki Lagoon on a tour, private charter or sunset cruise
• Hike to the top of Maunga Pu
• Experience kitesurfing at Honeymoon Island
• Swim with humpback whales
• Try your luck at bonefishing, spearfishing or deep sea fishing.

For more ideas, check out the 20 Best Things to Do on Aitutaki.

Plan Your Trip to Aitutaki

Inspired? Start planning your trip to Aitutaki, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Aitutaki.

Atiu is one of the other Southern Group islands that is an uplifted coral atoll, characterised by its rugged limestone terrain, known locally as makatea. The traditional name of Atiu, "Enuamanu", pretty much sums up what the island is about, meaning "Land of Birds".

It's an eco-lovers paradise with a vibrant yet rare bird population, while the island's limestone caves and secluded beaches are other drawcards. The locals have their own unusual traditions that you're welcome to join in on, such as drinking "bush beer" at their local bars known as tumunu, while a boutique coffee industry on the island offers more foodie delights.

What to Do on Atiu

• Trek through the jungle to Anatakitaki Cave (Kopeka Cave)
• Try the local bush beer at a Tumunu
• Do crafts, learn about Atiuan history and feast on an umu with Punarea Culture Tours
• Taste locally grown coffee...

... And much more that we list in the 20 Best Things to Do on Atiu.

Plan Your Trip to Atiu

Interested? Start planning your trip to Atiu, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Atiu.

Mangaia is by far the oldest island in the Cook Islands and one of the oldest in the South Pacific, where the history can be felt even as you sight the terraces of makatea ringing around a central plateau when your plane comes into landing.

Exploring the ancient coral atoll is what an escape to Mangaia is all about, from the highest lookouts to deep down in the island’s caves, the latter of which hides glittering limestone and the preserved remains of Mangaian ancestors.

In between, you’ll find pockets of deserted beaches sloping into the reef and villages where locals offer generous hospitality despite the island only receiving a handful of tourists per year.

What to Do on Mangaia

• See the glittering caves of Tuatini or Te Rua Rere
• Climb down the cliff ladder to the hidden paradise of Ara’oa Beach
• Hike up to Mt Rangimotia, the highest point on the island
• Check out the Saragossa Shipwreck
• Snorkel or reef walk at the Tuaati Rock Pools.

For more inspiration on activities, take a look at the 15 Best Things to Do on Mangaia.

Plan Your Trip to Mangaia

Compelled? Start planning your trip to Mangaia, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Mangaia.

An 18.4 km² (11.4 mi²) island with a population of less than 300, Mauke is one of the smallest of the Southern Cook Islands.

The uplifted coral atoll is rich in fertile soil, giving it the name the “Garden Island“, which is clear to see with the lush jungle bouncing from the makatea. In the fissures of the island’s makatea are various caves, typically with a refreshing pool at the bottom, while the coastal makatea is separated by pockets of serene and secluded white-sand beaches.

Although the very few that come to Mauke mainly do so for the natural splendour and tranquillity of the island, the villages harbouring its friendly locals show that there’s more to the island.

While the villages may have been divided in the past (and they have a quirky church to prove it), they are united now through vibrant yearly events and unmatched hospitality at their visitor accommodations.

What to Do on Mauke

• Go for a swim in Vai Tango Cave
• Swing like Tarzan on the largest banyan tree in the South Pacific
• Bathe in a sea cave pool at Kopupooki Beach (Stomach Rock)
• Take a Tour of “The Divided Church“
• Relax at the beach garden and watch the sunset at Te Oneroa Beach.

Find out more about these experiences and more in the 15 Best Things to Do on Mauke.

Plan Your Trip to Mauke

Tempted? Start planning your trip to Mauke, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Mauke.

The final frontier of holidays in the Southern Cook Islands, Mitiaro is a tiny, unspoiled, and welcoming destination. The 22.3 km² (13.9 mi²) island has a population of around 155 residents, a significant percentage of whom open their homes to visitors, providing the only accommodation on the island.

It’s a truly traditional Cook Islands experience where you’ll dine with the locals, borrow your host’s scooter/pick-up truck and experience the villages’ weekly events.

But the friendly locals aren’t the only draw to Mitiaro, as this makatea island is awash in some of the most breathtaking swimming caves in the Cook Islands. It is also lined with pockets of beautiful and secluded beaches.

What to Do on Mitiaro

• Jump into the deep cave pool of Vai Nauri
• Soothe the skin in the sulphur pools of Vai Marere
• Get the “private beach” experience at Mitiaro’s many beaches
• Head out on a boat (or relax by) Rotoiti and Rotonui lakes
• Take a tour to Te Pare Fort, the only fort in the Cook Islands.

More awesome ideas can be found in our 15 Best Things to Do on Mitiaro.

Plan Your Trip to Mitiaro

Got you hooked? Start planning your trip to Mitiaro, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Mitiaro.

Pure white sandy islets surround an azure lagoon, and Palmerston lies far between the Southern and Northern islands of the Cook Islands. It is the final frontier for exploring the Southern Group. Unlike its sisters in the Southern Group, there is no tourism industry here; however, the 35 inhabitants are extremely welcoming to anyone who makes the effort to visit this isolated coral atoll.

It’s part of the custom for the first inhabitant to greet visitors as their host, a tradition passed down since the island was established by the forefather to whom everyone here is related.

What to Do in Palmerston

• Visit the island's only school
• Fish with the locals
• Experience bosun bird hunting
• Help with community projects
• Experience a Sunday church service.

Plan Your Trip to Palmerston

Captured by the allure of Palmerston? Start planning your trip to Palmerston, including how to get there, where to stay and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Palmerston.

A verdant uplifted atoll temptingly visible from the island of Atiu, Takutea is rarely explored except, of course, if you are a bird…

This bird and turtle sanctuary is not only a physically challenging island to land on with its fully locked encircling reef but getting permission to visit here is a bureaucratic nightmare.

Nevertheless, those who are lucky enough to sight Takutea from afar will enjoy the view of its encircling seabirds and the fishing opportunities that surround it. In contrast, those with high skills can enjoy the surfing and diving opportunities.

What to Do Near Takutea

• Enjoy watching the birds circling the island, including red-tailed tropicbirds, red-footed and brown-footed boobies, great frigates, brown and black noddies, and more.
• Scuba dive at unspoiled coral reefs near the island.
• Attempt the challenging surf waves off the shores.

Plan Your Trip to Takutea

Feeling enticed? Start planning your trip to Takutea, including how to get there and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Takutea.

The two horseshoe islands, facing each other in a ringed lagoon, are collectively known as Manuae, located some 101 km (63 miles) southwest of Aitutaki. They are also some of the least-visited islands in the Cook Islands. The island to the west is Manuae, and the island to the east is known as Te Au O Tu.

The atoll is the true definition of the word; it is on the peak of a submerged volcano. However, those wishing to see this stunning piece of paradise for themselves will have to overcome many hurdles to visit this uninhabited sanctuary. That’s why it has mostly been left to the turtles and seabirds.

What to Do in Manuae

• See the ultra-rare bristle-thighed curlew
• Snorkel and dive among spectacular coral
• Try fishing at these abundant yet rarely used fishing grounds.

Plan Your Trip to Manuae

Fascinated? Start planning your trip to Manuae, including how to get there and what to do, with The Complete Travel Guide to Manuae.