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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 35 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Cook Islands
t. Palmerston Island is the only true atoll in the Cook Islands.
t. You also can pay with Cook Island Dollars.
f. No, it's not. It's Greenwich Mean Time less ten hours.
f. In that direction the nearest island is the French Polynesian island Tahiti.
f. Rarotonga is the largest island.
t. The two main languages are English and Cook Islands Maori,
f. The capital Avarua is situated on the island of Rarotonga.
t. The other Northern Cook Islands are: Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Rakahanga and Suwarrow.
| Frisbie's 'Island of Desire' isolated insular and renowned for its unusual social customs, this island lies far to the north-west. Nearly 800 miles from Rarotonga and 280 miles north-east of Samoa. Only recently opened up to air-services, the population have preserved innovative ways of sustaining a comfortable life almost oblivious to the outside world. A substantially different dialect, finely woven mat and a passion for Kirikiti (island cricket of Samoan origin) are some of the things that set this island aside from the rest of the Cook Islands. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| The small tight-knit community shows its pride in the neatness of the villages: Takaue and Arai. Much of the centre of the island is covered by the two brackish lakes: host to a plentiful supplies of itiki (eel), a local delicacy. The island also produces tiporo, a fragrant lime. Life on this island very much revolves around the village, the community activities include sports and handicrafts. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| The unique social fabric of this atoll arises from the last century when Englishman William Masters settled here with his two Rarotongan wives. The resulting small population now share the same surname and speak a local dialect, itself a mixture of Cook Island and English languages. Accessible only by sea, a few adventurous travellers visit the island each year to experience life on this remote outpost. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| A fascinating island, riddled with caves and surrounded by Makatea (raised coral) cliffs, white sand beaches and coves. The fertile interior is farmed for coffee and pineapple. This island is famous for its cave dwelling Kopeka bird and Tumunu bush beer parties. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| Southern most and oldest island of the group, renowned for it's 'ei pupu' (shell leis). It is surrounded with coral cliffs and Makatea amongst which are an amazing series of limestone caves. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| This island, 50 miles east of Aitutaki, was once inhabited by contract workers employed on copra production. Declared now as a marine reserve, the island is occasionally visited by residents of Aitutaki who travel by small boat or aircraft. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| The northern most island of the Cook Islands. This island has the largest lagoon area of the Cook Islands' atolls measuring some 18 miles across with depths of up to 350 feet. Like its nearest neighbour Manihiki, copra production (the drying of coconut flesh for vegetable oil extraction) has now been replaced by pearl farming and shell products as a primary source of income. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| A visit to the Cook Islands is not complete without seeing this beautiful island. The breathtaking allure of its crystal clear turquoise waters and sparkling white beaches is an essential ingredient in any Cook Islands holiday. This island is 220 kilometres north of Raratonga and less than an hourīs flight away. It is partly volcanic and partly of atoll origin. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| This island was for many years the home of a hermit, Tom Neale, who wrote of his life in a book: 'An Island to Oneself'. Today a caretaker and his family live on the atoll for most of the year, their solitude disturbed only by the occasional visiting yacht. This island is now a conservation reserve. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| This island, a sanctuary declared to protect the breeding site of a number of seabirds, lies 12 miles northwest of Atiu. Members of the Atiu community make regular trips to the island to monitor the sanctuary's condition. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| Situated 25 miles north of neighboring Manihiki, this island is an atoll with a picturesque, almost totally enclosed lagoon. There is no airport and access is limited to a three hour ride by a small craft from Manihiki or a three day voyage by inter-island ship from Raratonga. A number of residents find regular work in the pearl industry on nearby Manihiki. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| Uncommercialised and with a relaxed pace of life, this island offers peace and seclusion 'off the beaten track'. Three villages, Areora, Ngatiaru and Kimiangatau are close to the western coast of the island leaving the arable inland area for a variety of food crops and other farming activity. A rugged Makatea is evident around some sections of the coastline containing interesting water caves and forming secluded white sand coves. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| This is the vibrant centre of the Cook Islands. Itīs circular shape is dominated by high mountain peaks from which lush rain forests cascade to a palm-fringed shore. The island is almost completely encircled by a reef, which harbours a lagoon of clear turquoise waters and many inviting white sand beaches. Beyond the reef, the indigo blue of the ocean provides a vivid contrast and a bountiful supply of fish. Visitors are welcomed at the International Airport on the island. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| A small island in the satellite community of Pukapuka with a population of approximately 100 people. There being no airport, access is limited to inter-islands ship from Rarotonga, a voyage of three days. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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| A large atoll with a deep lagoon, which is intensively farmed for cultured black pearls. These treasures are becoming widely sought after throughout the world, being produced only in the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. Much of the population on the island is involved in pearl production in some form or another. Every dawn is the start of a busy day on the lagoon, cleaning and caring for the black lipped oyster, diving or collecting (infant oysters). However, time is still found to make brilliant finely woven rito specially prepared coconut fibre hats, fans and shell adornments. These are often used with dramatic effect in costumes of traditional dancers of the island. I'm on what island? | Cook Islands - The 15 Islands
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Captain Cook . The Cook Islands are named after the great British explorer, Captain Cook. Captain James Cook first sighted the Manuae atoll in the Southern Group of islands in 1773 and then discovered the islands of Palmerston, Tukutea, Mangaia and Atiu in 1777.
Black Pearl. As in French Polynesia, the cultured black pearl is one of the most highly sought after jewels in the Cook Islands. The northern group islands of Manihiki and Penrhyn are world famous for producing beautiful black pearls. Diving for these beautiful pearls is a prestigious activity in the Cook Islands.
motor scooter. Everyone in the Cook Islands gets around the island by motor scooter. There certainly are cars, bicycles and a bus as well but the scooters are the kings of the road. A warning for tourists - the 'Rarotonga tattoo' is an all too common injury suffered by visitors. It is where the back of the leg gets burned by the exhaust pipe as you get off your scooter!
New Zealand Dollar. The Cook Islands are a semi-independent protectorate of New Zealand. Thus, the New Zealand dollar is used as the national currency. There are also some local coins which are used, but these are now becoming less common.
Kia Orana. Everywhere you go in the Cook Islands, you are welcomed with a hearty 'Kia Orana'. It not only means hello but also carries a meaning of 'long life to you'.
Rarotonga. Rarotonga is the largest island in the Cook Islands and is by far the most populated. The national parliament, the national stadium and the international airport are all on the island of Rarotonga. Aitutaki is in the Cook Islands. Tonga and Papeete are not.
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