Rarotonga is the capital of the Cook Islands, located at about 10 degrees south of the Equator, directly south of Hawaii. We spent a week there and found it to be a beautiful, low-key and untroubled land. The island is nearly circular, aboy 30 miles around and is ringed by a coral reef. The lagoon that lies between the reef and the island is filled with brightly colored tropical fish, and the snorkelling is fantastic.