Little known to the wider world, Rarotonga, the capital of the scattered nation of the Cook Islands, is a relaxing and easygoing place of beauty and style. Its small population, around 10,000 by disputed estimates, lives on the coast of the circular island, while the interior is lush, rugged, and jungle-clad, offering even the day-tripper the opportunity for challenging walks and sensational views. Since it's a former colony of New Zealand, it has the distinct feel of a New Zealand Polynesian outpost—including New Zealand newspapers and television—as well as the distinctive accent. It has long been believed that New Zealand's indigenous Maori people originally hailed from Rarotonga, which means “south wind.”