8 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE COOK ISLANDS 1. IT ONLY TAKES 20 MINUTES TO GET TO ANYWHERE IN RAROTONGA: The main island of Rarotonga, home to the Cook Islands’ capital Avarua, is only 32 kilometers around - so nothing is ever very far away! The main road circumnavigates the whole island which means you can get almost anywhere in a maximum of 20 minutes. Say goodbye to traffic jams, google maps and spending hours in the car! 2. IT’S ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHERE THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SMILE IN YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE PHOTO! The Cook Islands are known for their friendly, welcoming people - so it’s probably no surprise that it is one of the only places in the world that actually encourages you to smile when you get your driver’s license photo! A happy Cook Islands’ license is a nice little souvenir to take home, and let’s be honest, it’s hard not to smile when you are in paradise. 3. NO BUILDING IS ALLOWED TO BE TALLER THAN A COCONUT TREE: Plenty of other island nations have been influenced by the western world and large concrete buildings are not uncommon next to beautiful crystal clear lagoons or amongst lush tropical forests. The fact that there is a law restricting the height of buildings is one of the amazing things that makes the Cook Islands so unique. There is no such thing as a ‘high rise’ in this island nation and the locals like it that way! 4. THERE ARE NO POISONOUS SNAKES OR SPIDERS: Tourists coming into Australia are often told horror stories of gigantic venomous spiders and killer snakes - the Cook Islands are bliss for those who aren’t a fan of these creepy crawly creatures! You will be relieved to know you won’t find a single venomous snake or spider anywhere. Leave your phobias at home and walk comfortably through the rainforest, explore waterfalls and take grass tracks down to the lagoon without a fear in the world! 5. THE MAXIMUM SPEED IS 50KM PER HOUR: Due to the small size of these island and the relaxed nature of island life, there is no need to drive anywhere in a hurry. The speed limit in built up areas is 30km per hour, while you can go up to 50km on less populated stretches of road. Turn up the Bob Marley and feel the breeze in your hair as you coast around at a leisurely pace. 6. THERE ARE NO FAST FOOD CHAINS: Another way this nation has remained authentic is by staying away from fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC! Don’t worry, you won’t go hungry - Local cuisine is truly delightful & Rarotonga is a foodie’s paradise. Fresh fruit, local vegetables and seafood are readily available and if you do still feel like a burger, Palace Burger offers the Rarotongan alternative to a drive through. Still not satisfied? Head down to Vili’s Burgers near the night market in Muri Beach to bust your burger cravings! 7. THERE ARE NO DOGS ON AITUTAKI ISLAND: Encountering furry friends on your beach walk in many South Pacific destinations is common place, so it’s interesting that the island of Aitutaki has no dogs! While no one knows exactly why - local legend has it that the Chief’s daughter was bitten by a dog, so he prohibited them. 8. SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER OF BLACK PEARLS IN THE WORLD: The Cook Islands have been commercially cultivating black pearls since the 1970’s and are the second largest producer globally, after Tahiti. The majority of production comes from farms in the remote island of Manihiki, which is about 1,299 kilometers north of Rarotonga. spacificatravel.com
8 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE COOK ISLANDS
1. IT ONLY TAKES 20 MINUTES TO GET TO ANYWHERE IN RAROTONGA:
The main island of Rarotonga, home to the Cook Islands’ capital Avarua, is only 32 kilometers around - so nothing is ever very far away! The main road circumnavigates the whole island which means you can get almost anywhere in a maximum of 20 minutes. Say goodbye to traffic jams, google maps and spending hours in the car!
2. IT’S ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHERE THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SMILE IN YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE PHOTO!
The Cook Islands are known for their friendly, welcoming people - so it’s probably no surprise that it is one of the only places in the world that actually encourages you to smile when you get your driver’s license photo! A happy Cook Islands’ license is a nice little souvenir to take home, and let’s be honest, it’s hard not to smile when you are in paradise.
3. NO BUILDING IS ALLOWED TO BE TALLER THAN A COCONUT TREE:
Plenty of other island nations have been influenced by the western world and large concrete buildings are not uncommon next to beautiful crystal clear lagoons or amongst lush tropical forests. The fact that there is a law restricting the height of buildings is one of the amazing things that makes the Cook Islands so unique. There is no such thing as a ‘high rise’ in this island nation and the locals like it that way!
4. THERE ARE NO POISONOUS SNAKES OR SPIDERS:
Tourists coming into Australia are often told horror stories of gigantic venomous spiders and killer snakes - the Cook Islands are bliss for those who aren’t a fan of these creepy crawly creatures! You will be relieved to know you won’t find a single venomous snake or spider anywhere. Leave your phobias at home and walk comfortably through the rainforest, explore waterfalls and take grass tracks down to the lagoon without a fear in the world!
5. THE MAXIMUM SPEED IS 50KM PER HOUR:
Due to the small size of these island and the relaxed nature of island life, there is no need to drive anywhere in a hurry. The speed limit in built up areas is 30km per hour, while you can go up to 50km on less populated stretches of road. Turn up the Bob Marley and feel the breeze in your hair as you coast around at a leisurely pace.
6. THERE ARE NO FAST FOOD CHAINS:
Another way this nation has remained authentic is by staying away from fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC! Don’t worry, you won’t go hungry - Local cuisine is truly delightful & Rarotonga is a foodie’s paradise. Fresh fruit, local vegetables and seafood are readily available and if you do still feel like a burger, Palace Burger offers the Rarotongan alternative to a drive through. Still not satisfied? Head down to Vili’s Burgers near the night market in Muri Beach to bust your burger cravings!
7. THERE ARE NO DOGS ON AITUTAKI ISLAND:
Encountering furry friends on your beach walk in many South Pacific destinations is common place, so it’s interesting that the island of Aitutaki has no dogs! While no one knows exactly why - local legend has it that the Chief’s daughter was bitten by a dog, so he prohibited them.
8. SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER OF BLACK PEARLS IN THE WORLD:
The Cook Islands have been commercially cultivating black pearls since the 1970’s and are the second largest producer globally, after Tahiti. The majority of production comes from farms in the remote island of Manihiki, which is about 1,299 kilometers north of Rarotonga.
spacificatravel.com
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