Remote paradise on new air route

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COVERED: Remote Manihiki Atoll, set to be on a regular air route out of Samoa.

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They are atolls of legend and almost inaccessible.

This Christmas though, magical Penrhyn, Manihiki and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands will be on a regular air route out of Samoa.

Air Rarotonga will link up with the islands through Apia, allowing easy access to the expatriate communities in Australia and New Zealand.

Currently the airline services the atolls from the Cook's capital, Rarotonga, an awesome 1400 kilometres away. For most Cook Islanders its cheaper to go to Paris than Penrhyn.

Airline head Ewan Smith told Stuff.co.nz that with the distance and their Bandeirante aircraft this amounts of a long haul.

"Coral runways that can handle only small aircraft meaning very restricted payload to about 50 percent of the passenger seating," he said.

The three atolls are, however, much closer to Samoa; Pukapuka is 700 kilometres from Apia.

Smith says it offers "superior logistics" for them.

They're putting on the new route in December and January and while residents and expatriates are expected to full most of the 15 seats per flight, they're hoping for adventurous tourists as well.

The atolls offer humble guest houses for the odd visitor.

Total cost round trip to and from New Zealand will be around $2400 including the fares from Samoa to Auckland.

Smith says the northern atolls are spectacular.

"We do get constant interest from overseas visitors wanting to visit the North however the cost and distance from Rarotonga is prohibitive for many - although dedicated island collectors make it up there," he said.

"Each island has its own unique history of pearling, blackbirding, ocean voyaging and all those other things that fascinate island aficionados."

He says Air Rarotonga hopes to develop adventure tourism into the Northern Group from Samoa on a fairly regular basis.

"It's unlikely to ever support large numbers and no-one will make a fortune, however its a potential niche market for travellers wanting to experience life on remote Pacific atolls without the travel being to arduous."

- © Fairfax NZ News