Embracing coral atolls, white sandy beaches and rugged volcanic islands, this collection of south seas islands has its own very special magic - so described on a map
Cook Islands consists of 15 Islands in the south pacific ocean, which spread over more then 2 million square km. The islands are divided into the northern and southern groups.
The northern group islands are Penryhn, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Nassau and Suwarrow (Danger Island usually not named).
The southern group islands are the part of Cooks which I'd visited.
Main Island and seat of government. With 19 thousand citizen, half of Cook Island population, it is the largest of all. It'll be the first Island you arrive by airplane.
Mangaia
is the oldest island in the pacific, about 18 million years old. It's also the southern most island of the Cooks. An outer reef and sixty metre high ring of fossilized coral cliffs (makatea) surround the island. It has a very dramatic landscape and is full of caves.
Aitutaki
Unquestionably the most picturesque of the Cooks southern group islands. The Lagoon is up to 6m deep.
Atiu
Only 450 citizens permanently living on Atiu. 6 churches from different religious, 4 shops, a backery, 2 famous coffee producers.
Atiu is a growing volcanic island. You see the corals up to 12m over sea level within the bush.
Mauke
Is a raised atoll surrounded by makatea like Atiu and Mangaia and has also numerous limestone caves. The best-known is the 'cave of 100 rooms'. It have only two accommodations, one at the airport and one's the home of the police officer, who's brother is George the birdman from Atiu.
Mitiaro
Maybe the least known in the southern group, also called Nga Pu Toru. In the centre of Mitiaro are two lakes full of freshwater eels (itiki), also you'll find Tilapia (bream). I was told by a local Cooks that diving should be the very best there. About 180 people live on Mitiaro in a very Polynesian way. It's the smallest and least populated in the southern group
Palmerston
is the western most islands of the Cooks southern group and ahve around 50 inhabitants permanently presented. All are Marsters, descended from William Marsters and his three Polynesian wives. It looks as an atoll more like the northern group
Manuae & Te Au O Tu
Two islets in a large swallow lagoon make up this island, which is a important seabird and turtle breeding ground.
Takutea
This sanctuary 16 Km far from Atiu protect the breeding site of a number of seabirds, including the frigates and tropicbirds. The highest Point is only 6m over sealevel.
Some useful phrases in Mauri:
Kia Orana - "welcome" also translated to mean "may you have a long life"
Meitaki maata - thank you very much
Popongi - good morning
Aere ra - good bye
E'ea tona moni - how much is that/this?
Pe ea koe - how are you?
Toku ingoa ko - my name is
Aue te reka e - "I like", nice, delicious
