According to the Google search engine, there are more than five and a half million sites with the words "Cook Islands" in them. It feels sometimes like I've visited all of them! The purpose of this page is to suggest some of the most interesting and useful. I've grouped them broadly according to type. If you've got a site which you think belongs in this list, send me an email.
Anything and Everything About the Islands
Modesty is clearly not foremost at www.ck which describes itself as "The definitive Cook Islands Web Site - the original, the biggest and the best". There are sections on history, culture, art, books about the islands, investment, travel, events, who's who and of course the islands themselves. It's also available in German and French. I particularly liked the section filled with recipes, among which is one for what the creator calls a "fun flavoured" breakfast! The site certainly lives up to its claims.
The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation web site seems to have food on its mind too. Their home page serves up "your recipe for true paradise" and says that within their site they've assembled "all the ingredients you will need for your perfect Cook Islands holiday". It's incredibly comprehensive and because of who they are, you know the information is accurate and up to date. Easy to navigate, well written and highly recommended.
Jane Resture shares my passion for the Pacific, and her Cook Island pages are full of colourful pictures, information and even links to Pacific Islands radio stations you can listen to over the net. Favourite part of that site for me is the old postcards of the islands...something you won't see on any other Cook Islands site. I would also recommend subscribing to her monthly newsletter about the Oceania - like the web site, it's well written and full of fascinating information. Well done Jane!
Specialist Sites
Top of my list here is the website created by the people of Atiu island. I've summed up the island in one page...they've done dozens. The information ranges from beaches and accommodation to coffee production and cannibalism. Don't worry...they give visitors a warm welcome now, rather than eat them! Everything about the site is first class and the gallery of pictures is outstanding.
The Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation has fascinating pages about the turtle survey on Palmerston. They are also undertaking a survey of humpback whales in and around the waters of the Cook Islands. That project began in 1998 and continues until 2008. The turtle site has some stunning pictures, video clips and windows wallpaper for download. The Center is non-profit making organisation founded to conserve cetaceans and the ecosystems they inhabit. And that's important work for all of us. Long may it continue.
Best of the Rest
And this is a selection of some of those five million other sites which I think are worth a visit....
South Pacific Organizer deserves a special mention. It's the work of guidebook writer, David Stanley whose remarkable travels have taken him to 178 of the planet's 245 countries and territories. His Cook Islands pages provide all the essential information, abridged from the 5th edition of his "Moon Handbooks Tahiti: including the Cook Islands". And it's three guidebooks for the price of one because it also covers Easter Island. The rest of his site also offers a fascinating insight into some of the world's most beautiful places.
ISLAND SEARCH is a remarkable resource because it only features islands. You can find out more about the Cook Islands by clicking here to go directly to the site's section about them. Or if you click here, you'll go to the home page and discover more islands than you ever knew existed. A fantastic site with loads of useful information.
Read unbiased opinions about hotels and vacations at TripAdvisor.
Trip Advisor provides a comprehensive travel search engine and directory that helps consumers research their travel plans via the web. It's the 6th most popular travel website worldwide, and includes a special section on the Cook Islands. You can go directly to that section by clicking here.
