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The Cook islands comprise 15 islands of volcanic origin widely dispersed in the centre of the Pacific Ocean, with the farthest islands being over 1400km apart. They are formed into two groups - the Northern Cook Islands which are Atolls (sunken volcanoes) and the Southern Cook islands which are comprise both volcanic islands and Atolls.

The main tourist island is Rarotonga where the international airport is located. It is approximately 32km in circumference and is surrounded by a lagoon which extends out to a coral reef. The island's centre is made up of volcanic peaks covered in thick rainforest. Visiting the island is like travelling back in time. The stress of modern day life soon gives way to a pace of life that is difficult to believe exists. It starts as soon as your flight lands and a band turns up to entertain you while you are passing through customs. Not long after you will find yourself wandering lazily along a beach of pearl white sand lined with coconut palms, swimming amongst the tropical fish of the lagoon and in the evening sipping the local beer whilst watching the ocean being lit by distant lightening storms. There are plenty of small bars and restaurants dotted throughout island where you can be entertained by the lively local Polynesian dance troop and if that's not lively enough, you can find a handful of night clubs in Avarua that stay open until midnight and on Friday nights until 2 in the morning.

For those wishing to explore the island, guided hiking or motorised tours of the interior are available. There is also a regular daily bus service (except Sundays) that circles the island. Other popular ways of seeing the island are by bicycle or motor scooter both of which can be easily hired but you will need a Cook Island driving license for the motor scooter. This can be obtained for a small fee and by taking a test involving driving around a block without falling off.

As days roll by you may find yourself taking a leisurely stroll with the locals down to the airport to watch the plane land or wandering into one of the tiny local stores dotted throughout the island where eggs fresh from the hen are sold in brown paper bags and where their stock consists of just a few cans of each item.

Sunday is a magical day on the Cook Islands, where everything closes and the islanders troop to church in their best attire to fill the whole island with their joyous singing before going off to the beach for their Sunday picnic.

If it all becomes too stressful you may decide to take a short flight to the neighbouring island of Aitutaki where the distinctive triangular shape of its outer perimeter encloses a lagoon of warm crystal clear turquoise water. Swim in the lagoon and you will be surrounded by a multitude of tropical fish and if you lucky the odd turtle or two. Night life on Aitutaki is even less frenetic with fewer bar and restaurants, but you can still find a bar where the local dance troop perform. While people do take day trips from Rarotonga to Aitutaki it is well worth an extended stay.

While five star resorts can be found on both islands staying in a bungalow, lodge, beach hut or villa in one of the smaller resorts seems more in keeping with the ambiance of the island - this is the land of the real tropical getaway. Indeed, if paradise exists on this planet then this must surely be it!