COOK ISLANDS PORTS

PLANETCRUISE > DESTINATIONS > HAWAII SOUTHPACIFIC

Rarotonga

Pacific Cruise to Rarotonga, an Unspoiled Island of Staggering Beauty - Cook Islands

Cruise to the Cook Islands, which lie at the very heart of Polynesia, and Rarotonga is its capital. White-sand beaches ring the nearly circular island. Sharp ridges cloaked in lush vegetation rise from the interior. And the friendly Polynesians are legendary—warm, charming and generous. Indeed, the outside world has not yet spoiled this tropical paradise. Rarotonga's largest village is Avarua. In addition to its scenery, the island is famed for its great snorkeling and diving sites, excellent sport fishing, and a relaxed and easygoing lifestyle. When Europeans arrived, they were surprised to discover an all-weather paved road that was centuries old. The "Great Road of Toi" is paved with volcanic rock. The open-air stone temple of Arai-Te-Tonga Marae formed the royal court of the Ariki or high chief, and remains a sacred place to Rarotongans. Te Rua Manga is the volcanic formation rising near the island's centre is known as "The Needle."