The Cook Islands are 15 islands with a total area of only 240 km, spread over a sea area of 2.2 million square kilometers. Of the approximately 18,000 inhabitants of these islands, 4,500 live in the capital Avarua on Rarotonga. The Cook Islands are 12 hours behind Central European Time during our summer time, and 11 hours later in winter.
Rarotonga is an island with a circumference of 32 km. Life here takes a contemplative and leisurely pace. The islanders on the Cook Islands are friendly and full of life, as they are almost everywhere else in the South Seas. With the temperatures prevailing on the Cook Islands, you can always use a little refreshment.
In the shops, cheap goods specially made for tourists are often offered. But you can also find well-made original Polynesian works in a few selected shops.
The Roratongan Express stops at the pre-booked bus stops. The trip is a small experience of a special kind. You sit next to each other lengthwise and enjoy the cooling wind (no windows) or chat with your neighbors. The buses are operated by one-man companies. The technical condition cannot be assessed by European standards. But they are colorfully decorated. At this South Seas-style town sign with the most important destinations, it takes us a long time to decide where our journey should go now.
