Strewn across the South Pacific like a handful of pearls, the Cook Islands are the living vision of Polynesia. Here are the top things to do on the islands.
White sand beaches in the Cook Islands await weary travellers.
Photo: 123RF
This comes as the May 1st opening of a two-way bubble touted by the Cook Islands prime minister, Mark Brown, looms impossibly close.
Industry providers have had over a year to prepare, said the Council s Liana Scott, and they are ready to receive visitors.
It s estimated the Cook Islands loses $NZ1-million in revenue every day the border stays closed, said Scott, so the sooner a safe travel bubble can be opened the better. It s been more than a year of preparedness so we re just keen on getting some numbers through to assist with the economy, said Scott.
Country Life
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Travel has been on hold for most of 2020, but as the world begins to look to the future it s time to start dreaming again. Rosie Paterson puts a new spin on the phrase island hopping, with her round up of the most under-the-radar ones out there.
For more inspiration, make sure you pick up Country Life’s December 30 issue it’s our annual travel special, full of many more ideas for adventures far and near.
São Tomé and Príncipe, Gulf of Guinea
This two-island nation is Africa’s second smallest and incredibly safe once the largest world’s largest producers of cacao, before the Portuguese Empire collapsed. Príncipe is the favourite: home to just 7,000 people and carpeted in vibrant green jungle. There are a handful of places to stay (Bom Bom and Sundy Praia), but thankfully, the island still feels wonderfully undiscovered.
Photo: 123rf.com
In a joint statement this morning the prime ministers of the two countries, Jacinda Ardern and Mark Brown, said officials are working together to safely arrange two-way travel in the first quarter of next year.
The Cook Islands are Covid free.
Ardern says the priority is and will remain keeping both countries safe from Covid-19.
Photo: 123rf
Before a two-way travel opens up, New Zealand will open up one-way quarantine-free travel from the Cook Islands as a first step for people who need to access essential services. The arrangement recognises the special ties between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. It will allow people to travel more easily between our two countries, while acknowledging that the priority remains to protect our populations from Covid-19, Ardern said.