Family Holiday Destinations Podcast

Why the Cook Islands Should Be on the Radar for Aussie Families

• Jessica Palmer • Season 2 • Episode 1

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In this episode of the Family Holiday Destinations podcast, I’m sharing a mix of family travel news, practical updates, and a story inspired by one exciting announcement: new direct Jetstar flights from Brisbane to Rarotonga, launching in May 2026.

With the Cook Islands now more accessible for Australian families, I revisit one of my favourite travel memories - a slower, barefoot family stay on the island of Aitutaki - and reflect on why this part of the South Pacific leaves such a lasting impression.

I also share some simple tips for visiting the Cook Islands on a budget, even when travelling with kids.

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Thanks for tuning in to the Family Holiday Destinations podcast! For more travel tips, destination guides, and family-friendly inspiration, visit our website at familyholidaydestinations.com. Until next time, happy travels and safe adventures!

Welcome to the Family Holiday Destinations podcast, where we inspire your next family adventure. I’m Jessica Palmer, mother of two and founder of Family Holiday Destinations.

Today’s episode is inspired by a piece of travel news that made me happy — especially as a Queenslander. Jetstar has announced direct flights from Brisbane to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, launching in May 2026, with three services a week. A low-cost, non-stop connection like this makes one of the South Pacific’s most beautiful and underrated destinations suddenly feel much more achievable for Aussie families.

And it got me thinking about our own time in the Cook Islands, in which we were fortunate enough to visit not only Rarotonga, but three of the other outlying islands.

So today, after a quick travel news round-up, I’m going to share a story I originally wrote for Escape Cook Islands magazine on our stay on Aitutaki - an island that's regularly regarded as having one of the world’s most beautiful lagoons. It’s a place that captures everything I love about island family travel -  slowing down, letting kids be kids, and finding joy in moments you never could have planned.

Over the coming months, I’ll also be sharing more Cook Islands stories across the podcast and the Family Holiday Destinations website, to help families make the most of these new flight options.

Before we head to the islands, let’s quickly run through a few family travel updates you might have missed.

First, travelling to China is about to get easier for international visitors. China Daily has launched a new English-language platform called China Bound, designed to help travellers — including families — plan trips with less friction. It brings together destination inspiration, itineraries, bookings, and real-time support, all in English. For families who’ve been curious about China but hesitant due to language or logistics, this is a really promising step forward.

Next, South Korea has extended its visa-free travel waiver for Australians and New Zealanders until December 2026. That means no mandatory K-ETA paperwork before travel. From January 2026, travellers without a visa will simply complete a digital arrival card online, replacing paper forms and hopefully speeding up airport processing — a win when travelling with kids.

And finally, a small but very practical new product for families: packable beach toys. An Australian brand called Coast Kids is gaining attention for flexible, squishable beach toys that pack flat in bags and spring back into shape at the beach. Less bulk, fewer broken toys, and more space for the essentials — which most parents will appreciate.

Okay, onto the island of Aitutaki. 

Flip Flops in Church - written and recorded by me, Jessica Palmer. 

With my eyes closed, I listen to the harmonies soar to the heavens, then come back down, pulled by the deep voices of the men in a call-and-response type church hymn.  I have no idea what they are singing, but the positivity shines through, and I am enthralled by every single word.  

I open my eyes and notice an amusing contrast to the singing congregants' Sunday bests. Despite the dresses and suits, bright hats adorned with fragrant flowers, and hankies to wipe the sweat from their brows when the humidity is too much to bear, the entire congregation is wearing flip flops.  It’s hilarious and totally appropriate for the island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. 

Why would kids need shoes when there are no snakes or poisonous spiders? And why bother wearing fancy shoes when they will only sink in the sand?  

The light filters through the stained-glass windows in squares of red, blue, green and yellow.  Clearly, the small boy three rows in front is not entertained by this subtle light show.  He keeps sliding off the pew and running up and down the aisle.  

His mother, exasperated by his selective hearing, grabs his ear as he makes his next pass and pulls him down next to her.  I watch amused as she mouths some stern words, but cannot hear exactly what is being said over the glorious singing.

I wonder if it would work on my kids? The only reason they haven’t joined in is that I have carefully placed myself at the end of the pew to block their escape. 

I don’t think I have ever enjoyed church this much in my life! 

Aitutaki is indeed one of the most enchanting islands on this planet, with a lagoon that is regularly voted as one of the most beautiful.  Most people visit on a day trip from Rarotonga, but this is not anywhere near enough time to experience even half of what this island has to offer.  

A lagoon tour is a must here!  We jumped on board with Bishop’s cruises for a private tour, ensuring we could be flexible with two young kids. Whilst the morning was enjoyable, the highlight of course was One Foot Island. 

One Foot Island is a true island paradise. It has swaying coconut trees, white sand and is surrounded by a lagoon with infinite shades of blue. 

My moment of relaxation was interrupted by the kids of course. 

‘’Mum, will you help me find a better crab? This one is too slow!” 

The kids have been racing hermit crabs daily since we arrived in the Cook Islands and for some reason, the ones on Aitutaki seem to be on steroids.  The thing about hermit crabs is though, the bigger they are the slower they seem to be.

Basically, you draw a circle in the sand, place your chosen hermit crab in the middle, and wait to see if it has what it takes to make it out of the circle first. 

‘’What’s your crab's name mum?’’ my little girl asks.  She only just turned three yesterday, and for some reason, seems to particularly enjoy naming the crabs. 

‘’Um, Speedy!’’ I reply. 

‘’You can’t have that name. That’s my crab's name!’’ my son pipes up with.  

‘’Ok. Ok.  Um. I’ve got it!  Crabby McCrab Face!’’ They both look at me like I’ve committed some kind of sin. I don’t care. I like my crab's name, and I’m getting into the spirit of it now. 

All three of us crowd around the circle drawn in the sand and cheer on our chosen crab.  

‘’Go Crabby McCrab Face!’’

‘’Go Speedy!’’

‘’Go Lightning!’’ 

My son is jumping up and down in excitement. His crab is about the size of my fist and has a decent-sized, roundish shell on its back. He is convinced that bigger means better.

I’ve chosen the smallest crab.  It’s no bigger than the tip of my finger and has a pointy-ended cone-shaped shell for its abode.  My crab is by far the fastest.  Crabby McCrab Face is out of the circle and making a break for freedom before the other two have even hit the halfway point. 

At this point, my husband strolls casually up the beach towards us with an amused expression on his face.  Whilst I’ve been enjoying the sun, sand, shallow water and crabs, he has been snorkelling out in the deeper section of the lagoon. 

He convinces me to have a go, but now that I’m going, the kids want to go as well.  All four of us put snorkelling gear on, and our two youngest family members hitch a ride on our backs.  It’s not even 20 metres from the shore of our beautiful tropical paradis,e and we are swimming over giant clams and among giant trevally. 

One Foot Island has a little something for everyone, including the ability to have your passport officially stamped with a big ‘’foot’’ as evidence you were there. 

I’m incredibly disappointed when our boat driver comes back for us.  Apparently, he must get back as he has a wedding party he needs to transport around. 

Upon return, we pass the bride and groom in their finery, posing for photographs on a perfectly shaped round sandbar.  The groom is wearing dress pants and a pressed white shirt.  The bride looks stunning and is wearing a red island-style dress.  They couldn’t have picked a better backdrop for their photographs. 

Most of the activities on Aitutaki centre around the lagoon, which at 74 square kilometres, is so large that Rarotonga, the largest island in the Cooks, can fit inside it.  Aitutaki is dwarfed by it at just 18 square kilometres in size. 

It’s not all about the water, though. Hiking up the island’s highest point, Maungapu Hill, will reward you with great 360-degree views of the lagoon.  Whilst steep, at only 124metres, even my five-year-old managed it with no help whatsoever. 

I enjoy eating here just as much as I enjoy the island’s other activities.  This is in part due to the Boat Shed Bar and Grill, which has quickly become our regular restaurant. 

The Ikamata is a firm favourite, consisting of local raw fish marinated in fresh lime juice and mixed with garden herbs and vegetables, served with coconut sauce.  It’s presented beautifully inside a half coconut and served with island-style chips off to the side. 

Slowing down to island time is a must here, as is breathing in the fresh air, drinking straight from a coconut, and tucking into a massive fish burger in beachfront restaurants. 

If you do visit Aitutaki, make sure you stay a few nights.  And if you see Crabby McCrab Face, make sure you say ‘’Kia Orana’’ for me.

Before I wrap up, I want to share a few quick tips for families who might be thinking, “The Cook Islands look amazing, but surely they’re expensive.”

The biggest savings come down to three things:

First, timing. Shoulder seasons like April–May and October–November offer cheaper flights and fewer crowds, and the weather is still very good.

Second, accommodation. Skip the resorts and look for self-contained villas, apartments, or guesthouses. Having a kitchen alone can save hundreds over a week.

And third, mix free experiences with a few paid highlights. Snorkelling, beaches, markets, waterfalls, and even church services are free — and often the most memorable parts of the trip. Then choose one or two splurges, like a lagoon cruise or scooter hire, rather than doing everything.

The Cook Islands can absolutely be done on a budget, even with kids — it just takes a little planning.

Next month, I’ll be chatting with G Adventures about their National Geographic Family Journeys — small-group trips designed specifically for families who want immersive, educational travel experiences together.

So that wraps up our chat for today. I’m sure there are many other great experiences out there to be had, and we’d love to hear some of yours.

Thanks for joining me on this journey through family travel inspiration. I hope today’s episode has sparked a few ideas for your next adventure.

For more tips and detailed guides, head on over to familyholidaydestinations.com.
 And until next time — happy travels and enjoy making those family memories.