COOK ISLANDS ~ Aitutaki ~

... "Kia Orana", welcome to the Cook Islands, the best-kept secret of the South Pacific.... breathtakingly beautiful view of the jewel of the Cook Islands... Aitutaki a magnificent and remote island means "a little paradise"... most famous for is its large brilliant lagoon... surrounded by the deep blue of the ocean, its luminous, dazzling turquoise waters make such a dramatic contrast... the lagoon is large, taking about an hour in a boat to cross it... from the air, the barrier reef is a wobbly white line that links the fish-hook shaped dark green main island with a scattering of motu around the edge... it's the second most visited island in the Cook Islands group.... popular activities are windsurfing, kayaking, boat cruises, lagoon tours, diving and snorkel trips...Thanks a lot Azzi!ヽ(•‿•)ノ
🌞💜🌞 "A little slice of heaven"🌞💜🌞

The 15 islands of the Cooks are located halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, widely scattered across the ocean.

Aitutaki is the second largest of the Cook Islands a sparsely populated island directly north of capital Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and west of Tahiti. It is a triangular-shaped 'almost'-atoll rising up 4000 metres from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of three volcanic and 12 coral islets (motu).

The Polynesian islanders arrived about 900 A.D., and thrived on the fertile volcanic area surrounding the hill of Maungapu. The first European contact was Captain William Bligh’s arrival on board the Bounty, in 1789.

Stamps:

Suwarrow Atoll National Park
(Issued 30-05-2019)

COOK ISLANDS ~Rarotonga - Avatiu Harbour ~

...Beautiful postcard nr2 from David showing  a tropical paradise.... I can't thank you enough David for making the effort to send so many gorgeous postcards...and to see the postoffice HERE from where it was sent makes it even more special... ㋡

© Photo: Noel Bartley
Rarotonga is the capital island of the Cook Islands. It is the largest and youngest island (named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770). Rarotonga is almost completely encircled by reefs, creating beautiful safe lagoons. This island of volcanic origin rises 600 meters (2000 feet) and is inhabited only around the coastal belt.

Avatiu is the only port and main harbour in Rarotonga, near the main town of Avarua.

Stamps:

Tourism - Island Views
(Issued 22-07-2011)

COOK ISLANDS ~Rarotonga~

Got this wonderful postcard today from "The heart of Polynesia",The Cook Islands... Another dream destination and my first new place in 2012!!
Hopefully the start of many more...:D:D Thank you very much Rod!!

Sooo lovely stamps too...

A net of 15 islands in the heart of the South Pacific spread over an area the size of India with a population no bigger than a small New Zealand country town, 11,400 souls. These unique and friendly Polynesians have their own language and government and enjoy a vigorous and diverse culture with significant differences between each island.

RAROTONGA is the youngest island in the Cook Islands (named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770). Raratonga is almost completely encircled by reefs, creating beautiful safe lagoons. This island of volcanic origin rises 600 meters (2000 feet) and is inhabited only around the coastal belt.