The Southern Cook Islands are a loose group of mostly volcanic, hilly islands and a few coral atolls. It is home to most of the islands' population, and to its capital and largest town, Avarua. The Southern Cook Islands are separated from the Northern Cook Islands by a wide stretch of the Pacific Ocean, with the nearest part of the Northern chain being Suwarrow, 500 km (310 mi) due north of Palmerston Island.

Southern Cook Islands account for some 94% of the Cooks' population (2016) and 91% of the land area.

The Southern Cook Islands comprise nine islands, seven of which are inhabited: Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston, Rarotonga, and Takutea.

The two chains are geographically different: although both chains are formed from coral atolls which grew around volcanoes, the northern islands are far older, and the volcanic cones have sunk. As such, the northern chain is much lower lying than the southern chain.

The southern group is the more economically developed of the two chains, having far more connection with the rest of the world than the northern chain.

Map of Southern Cook Islands

• -21.233333-159.7833331 Rarotonga – the most visited island and the location of the capital, Avarua
• -18.85-159.792 Aitutaki – the second major destination, with developed facilities
• -19.983333-158.1166673 Atiu – an inhabited coffee-growing island, with birdlife, beaches and caves, offers opportunity to access uninhabited Takutea
• -21.921389-157.9230564 Mangaia – the most southern of the islands, inhabited, accessible by air, with accommodation
• -20.1583-157.34175 Mauke – inhabited, with some accommodation, three flights a week
• -19.85-157.7166676 Mitiaro – inhabited, with some accommodation, three flights a week
• -18.066667-163.1666677 Palmerston Island – tiny island, small population, interesting history, no air access
• -19.25-158.9333338 Manuae – an uninhabited coral atoll, no air access, no accommodation

Rarotonga International Airport (RAR ^IATA) is the main gateway. There are daily services from Auckland (3½ hours) and weekly services from Sydney, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.

See the Rarotonga article for airport details.

Air Rarotonga offers scheduled services between the islands. Barges service the inhabited islands, but do not operate to a schedule. Charter flights are available.

There are no major hazards in the Cook Islands. There are no poisonous wild or marine life in the Cook Islands other than sharks in the far northern island groups. Crime is rare but does occur most likely in the form of petty theft. Police are contactable on the emergency number 999.

• Northern Cook Islands
• French Polynesia