Bali, Tahiti, Fiji and Bora Bora, are islands that engender visions of warm sea breezes, turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Although these islands are certainly beautiful and definitely worthy of the praise they receive, I often wonder why other beautiful islands go unnoticed in a world hungry from remote island destinations.

Rarotonga is one such island, an island, while beautiful goes largely unnoticed among mainstream tourists. With a name that rolls off the tongue, Rarotonga, the capital of the Cook Islands is a captivating island that is home to 9,500 friendly Cook Islanders.

The island itself is remarkable, the island is surrounded by a large lagoon that extends into a beautiful coral reef with the south east portion of the island being ideal for swimming, diving and boating. The island features white sand beaches that ring the island, dense interior vegetation, and variety of rare birds.

The island is relatively easy to access as it has an international airport and cruise ships often anchor off shore. So the next time you are cruising the South Pacific consider visiting the Cook Islands and its capital Rarotonga.

Interesting facts about Rarotonga:

• It has only two bus routes, clockwise and counter clockwise.
• The travel writer Robert Dean Frisbie died on the island, after having lived there only briefly.
• The central peak of the Island is known as Te Rua Manga, ‘the needle’.
• The island has a three dollar bill in circulation

Image Source: South Seas Beach Adventures