37. One Foot Island: Cook Islands
Want to know what a World Travel Award Best Beach winner looks like? Head to the Cook islands and explore One Foot Island Beach. It’s been voted Best in Australasia for its powdery white sand, warm blue water, idyllic landscape and lush palms. Plus it has a cool backstory, although somewhat depressing. Legend says a chief forbade his people from fishing on the island. However, one day he spotted a man and his son trying to fish from the rocks. Subsequently, he ordered their death. In a panic, the man and his boy fled to One Foot Island to hide in a coconut tree. The chief eventually found the man and he swore he was the only one fishing. Ultimately, the chief decided they must’ve seen rocks that looked like a child and gave up search for the boy. He was left to wander the island alone. Since then it’s been known as “Tapueatai”, or footprint. Hence the name of the beach as well.