HOW TO SELL COOK ISLANDS
COOK ISLANDS Emerald and Sapphire
BY ANNA SELBY Volcanic peaks, coral reefs, the heady
smell of frangipani and gardenia blown on a tropical breeze. The Cook Islands should not be a
hard sell – it’s difficult to think of a more romantic destination. Think swaying palms, sand as white and pure as confectionery sugar, grass skirts and coconuts. Then there are the warm lagoons that shimmer emerald and sapphire in the sun and with shoals of fish you would normally expect to find in an aquarium. The Cooks consist of just 15 dream islands, several of them uninhabited, and they are at that happy stage of being welcoming to visitors while retaining a very special Polynesian character.
46 June 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Rarotonga The Cooks' capital is Rarotonga, an almost circular volcanic island with a lush green mountainous interior and white coral beach fringing the coast. You can get to know Rarotonga surprisingly quickly: it takes just 50 minutes for the bus (there's one clockwise, one anti-clockwise) to complete the circle taking in Avarua, the capital ‘city’, the harbour, the market (fabulous pareus – Cook Island sarongs – and black pearls), villages, resort and boutique hotels and lots of churches. The Cooks embrace religion and just about everyone goes to church on Sundays. This is an experience not to be missed – the singing is unaccompanied four-part harmonies and raises the
COOK ISLANDS What's New...
• ANZ has introduced a weekly flight to Rarotonga from Sydney
• Air Pacific plans to launch flights from Rarotonga to Fiji and on to Hong Kong
• The Cook Islands are now represented in the UK by McCluskey International. Contact
info@mccluskey.co.uk
roof. Church is usually followed by a family or village umu (earth oven) feast in which pork, fish, kumara, taro and breadfruit are cooked together and served with coconut cream – delicious! For a romantic dinner, recommend Trader Jacks on the harbour or Sails on Muri Beach.. Rumours Luxury Villas and Spa
was voted Best Resort Spa in the Cook Islands in the 2011 World Travel Awards. To celebrate the luxury villa property has a special offer that sees guests staying in any villa category for seven nights or more receive spa treatments up to the value of $300, to use at the on-resort
From left: Coconuts don't come much fresher than this; bone fi shing in the lagoon and inviting island faces
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