The 15 tiny Cook Islands are divided into two groups, scattered over 2 milion square kilmometres of the Pacific Ocean. Nine of the 15 make up the Southern Group.
They include the capital island, RAROTONGA where nearly two thirds of the total population of the islands live. Its nearest neighbour is the breathtakingly beautiful AITUTAKI. The other islands in the group are MANGAIA, ATIU, MAUKE, MITIARO, PALMERSTON , TAKUTEA and MANUAE .
The lagoon atoll of MANUAE is owned by the people of Aitutaki. TAKUTEA is tiny sand cay owned by the people of Atui. Both islands are uninhabited. PALMERSTON - 300 miles west of RAROTONGA - is a lagoon atoll populated by the descendants of one English settler and his four wives! Few tourists visit these islands as they are accessible only by sea.
