Their lack of size means that you can stroll out of your resort, take a local bus, and explore the island easily, finding your own perfect spot. And there are plenty from which to choose. Avarua, for example, is the capital of Rarotonga and it is tiny; yet it abounds in good restaurants, irresistible shops and local markets. From here you can visit towering inland mountain peaks for massive, panoramic seascapes. Or throw yourself – literally – into the kaleidoscopic marine world that awaits beneath the surface of the Pacific. The beaches and the swimming – on any of the 15 islands – are beyond compare. Especially if your luxury, tailor-made holiday to the South Pacific includes a short hop to the beautiful lagoon, powder white sand and pale azure waters of nearby Aitutaki Island.

But the sea is only part of the Cook Islands’ attraction. There are 4×4 safari expeditions to discover the wildlife and flora of the islands, guided tropical garden tours, game fishing trips…