Penrhyn Island Travel Guide
Travel to Penrhyn Island - Remotest Cook Island
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Sometimes called by its Maori name Tongareva (meaning "south of the empty space", Penrhyn is the most remote of the Cook Islands and almost 4 hours by air from Rarotonga. The island is just 9 degrees below the equator and its nearest neighbouring islands are Rakahanga and Manihiki over 300kms away.
Penrhyn has a remarkably blue water lagoon covering 233 square kilometres, surrounded by a ring of coral some 77km long. Cultured black pearl farming began here recently. Penhryn women make the finest rito craftwork (from young coconut fronds). Hats, bags, fans and mats made here are the best to be found in the Pacific.
The name Penrhyn cates from the ship 'Lady Penrhyn' which passed by the islands in 1878.
The present population of the island rely on the ocean for most of their food as well as locally grown plants such as coconut and breadfruit. Every morning (except on Sundays) men from the island head out in small tin boats to spear or trawl for fish for their families. The islanders' diet is supplemented by imported rice and flour shipped in from Rarotonga. The boats are infrequent (usually every 3 months); however, the boat is often late and the people of Penrhyn are forced to make do with what food they can provide for themselves.
The modern inhabitants of the island are devout church goers, 75% of the population belong to the Cook Islands Christian Church while the remaining 25% belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
Getting Around
The island has an airstrip, built by the Americans in the 1940s, but flights are few and far between. A large passage in the lagoon allows inter-island ships to enter the lagoon, and the island has become popular as a stopover for yachts crossing the Pacific from Panama to New Zealand.
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