Official Name: Cook Islands

Area: Australia & Oceania

Size: 236 km²

Coastline: 120 km

Independence: are still officially placed under New Zealand sovereignty

Form of Govt.: Westminster parliamentary

Head of Govt.: Prime minister

Capital: Avarua

Largest City: Avarua

Demographics (2005): 18,700.   76 /km² 

GDP per Capita (2005): $9,100

Languages: English and Cook Islands Māori

Geography: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in South. Rarotonga, the main island is the hub of the Cook Islands and also its biggest island. Rarotonga is a volcanic island (although the volcano’s are long extinct). This means its interior is mountainous and laden with lush tropical rain forests. The island is encircled by a reef providing some idyllic swimming spots. Rarotongan’s live on the coast.

Climate: The climate in the Cook Islands is equable. The rainy season is between November and March, but the rain usually falls in the form of late afternoon storms which cool the air temperature, which averages around 28 degrees this time of year. The cooler, dry season, when temperatures range from 20 to 26 degrees, runs from April to October. Severe weather is seldom experienced.