Cook Islands

Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aitutaki_Lagune.JPG
Author: Ciell


Cook Islands is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It is today a self-governing entity in free association with New Zealand. Cook Islands covers 240 sq km (91 sq mi) and has a population of about 20,000 (2011 estimate). Its capital and biggest city is Avarua, located on Rarotonga Island.

Cook Islands comprise 15 main islands spread over an area of 2.2 million sq km of ocean. They are composed of two groups of islands and atolls, known collectively as the Northern Cook Islands and Southern Cook Islands. The islands were formed by volcanic activities.

Motu Maina, an islet at the southwest corner of Aitutakis lagoon, Cook Islands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Motu_Maina.JPG
Author: Mr Bullitt


Cook Islands is ten hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-10). Traffic is driven on the left here, just as in Britain and New Zealand. The phone IDD code for Cook Islands is +682. The electricity is 240V/50Hz using Australian plug.

Today the economy of Cook Islands is heavily dependent on tourism. The country does not have major natural resources and is often dependent on foreign aid, with a large share of support coming from New Zealand. In 2005, Cook Islands had an estimated GDP at purchasing power parity of $183.2 million, equivalent to $9,100 per capita.

The Cook Islands have been inhabited by Polynesians since at least the 6th century AD. The first Europeans to sight them were the Spanish, with Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira having recorded sighting Pukapuka in 1595, naming it San Bernardo. The first recorded landing by a European in the Cook Islands was that of Portuguese-Spaniard Pedro Fernández de Quirós, on Rakahanga in 1606.

Avarua, Cook Islands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avarua,_february_2006.jpg
Author: Mr Bullitt


British missionary efforts in the Cook Islands began in the 19th century. This led to most of the islanders converting to Christianity. The Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888. The protectorate status was transferred to New Zealand in 1901, despite local opposition. Cook Islands remained a New Zealand protectorate until 1965, when it was given self-governing status. Today it is considered technically independent, though to be exact it is "self-governing in free association with New Zealand".

Planning your visit to Cook Islands

The main gateway to Cook Islands is Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), which receives regular flights from Auckland, Fiji and Los Angeles, among others.

Muri Beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muri_Beach,_Rarotonga,_Cook_Islands.jpg
Author: Gemma Longman

Major Cities in Cook Islands

Southern Cook Islands

Northern Cook Islands

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About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.