Cook Islands: Could this be our next travel bubble?
It’s hard not to be envious of our Kiwi friends across the Tasman, who are now able to holiday in the Cook Islands.
It’s hard not to be envious of our Kiwi friends across the Tasman, who are now able to jump on a plane for a quarantine-free holiday in the Cook Islands.
When it comes to the idea of tropical paradise, it doesn’t get much better than this cluster of isles in the South Pacific, accessible from Auckland in 3½ hours.
The vast lagoon of Aitutaki, about 50 minutes by plane from the main island of Rarotonga, is one of the archipelago’s most popular attractions. Visitors come here to snorkel and scuba-dive, go deep-sea fishing and explore the 15 motus or islets that dot the turquoise waters.
With the nation relying on tourism for about 75 per cent of its GDP, locals have struggled through the pandemic. T+L suspects plenty of Australians would volunteer to help boost their recovery.