Treasure Island
Northern Cook Islands, Cook Islands
This is one of the few atolls in the Northern Group with an accessible lagoon and occasional cruising yachties are amongst the fortunate few to visit its pristine shores.
The island was designated a National Park in 1978 due to its plentiful marine and bird life, it has become a breeding ground for the red-tailed tropic bird and the lesser frigatebird. Numerous coconut crabs, sharks and turtles all live in the reefs waters.
Suwarrow was made famous by New Zealand hermit Tom Neale who wrote about his experiences living here in his book ‘An Island to Oneself’
Background
Suwarrow has a mysterious past. It was described by Mrs Robert Louis Stevenson as "the most romantic island in the world" . Although it is a tempting thought, it was not the model for "Treasure Island" by her husband Robert Louis Stevenson, since he knew nothing of Suwarrow when he wrote his famous book.
In the mid-19th century a ship out of Tahiti carrying out salvage work on a wreck on Suwarrow's reef unearthed a box containing $15,000 in coins. In 1876 a New Zealander, Henry Mair, discovered silver pieces of eight in a turtle nest, leading to its 'nickname' of Treasure Island.