PHOTO: Aitutaki in the Cook Islands is known for its lagoons, the color of angel fish. (Courtesy of Fiji Airways)

Everyone from Fletcher Christian to Paul Gauguin can tell you that while paradise in the South Pacific is well, paradisiacal, it can be hard place to get to. Well two South Pacific airlines, Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways, are making it easier to get to the Cook Islands and to get around the Fijian islands.

Air New Zealand is making a trip to the Cook Islands much easier this fall and winter with an early bird fare of $838 in coach and $1,998 in business from Los Angeles. The ticket must be purchased by July 31 for travel beginning between Aug. 14 and Jan. 25. For Canadians, it’s $1,098 Economy class or $2,898 in business. It’s a nine-hour overnight flight from LAX to Rarotonga. The Cooks are comprised of 15 islands with Rarotonga being the gateway and capital as well as the country’s main resort island. Aitutaki is a 45-minute flight from Rarotonga and is known for having “the most beautiful lagoon in the world.”

Even among the peaceful islands of the Pacific, the Cooks are known to be laid back. No hotel is higher than a palm tree and visitors spend their time paddleboarding, diving, taking hiking tours and swimming in lagoons. There are only 15,000 Cook Island people and most of them live on Rarotonga in and around the Avarua District. About 7,500 Americans and Canadians make it to the Cooks per year.

Convenience has come to another Pacific Island paradise as Fiji Airways has introduced its Paradise Pass that allows travelers to fly within Fiji for $179 per segment. Using the pass, visitors can fly to Vunisea on Kadavu Island, Nadi and Nausori on Viti Levu, Savusavu and Labasa on Vanua Levu, and Matei on Taveuni Island. Users must first purchase a Fiji Airways international ticket.

The Paradise Pass may be purchased until Sept. 30. The Paradise Pass booking must be made prior to international travel and is based on availability. The pass is available via Fiji Airways’ domestic carrier Fiji Link.