Well-known TV personality Te Radar (Andrew Lumsden) loved his entire Cook Islands experience but was "blown away" by the beauty of Atiu while filming his latest television series, Te Radar Across the Pacific. Te Radar expressed his adoration and wonder for Atiu stating "I think this has been the highlight of my trip, this island".

Set to screen on Wednesday 17 July (TV One), Te Radar explores the islands of Rarotonga and Atiu during his Cook Island sojourn.

In Rarotonga Te Radar meets ukulele legend Jake Numanga (and makes a visit to the local prison to see where the best ukuleles in the Cooks are made), tries his hand at traditional Cook Island drumming with Jon Jonassen and visits cultural centre Highland Paradise.

Te Radar is welcomed to Atiu by Atiu Villa's Roger Malcolm who teaches him about the Island's extraordinary topography and the history of the land before assisting ornithologist, Birdman George, with the release of six "ginger sparrows" (Flycatchers) and joining in the festivities of a Tumunu (bush beer party).

"I'd been to the Cook Islands before and thought I'd seen it all, but I realised I haven't seen the half of it. It never ceases to surprise and delight," says Te Radar.

"Te Radar Across the Pacific will unveil a side of the Cook Islands many visitors don't see," says Cook Islands New Zealand General Manager, Graeme West. "More Kiwis than ever want to experience the sister islands for their rugged beauty and seemingly undiscovered terrain, while still enjoying a tropical paradise escape in the Cooks. We know Te Radar's Cook Islands episode will help drive that interest."

The six-part series features Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa and the Cook Islands before Te Radar returns to New Zealand to discover the impact the people of the Pacific are having on New Zealand.

Te Radar Across the Pacific /Cook Islands screens 7.30pm Wednesday 17 July</a> on TV One.

Te Radar travelled to the Cook Islands in August 2011 with support from Air New Zealand, Air Rarotonga, Atiu Villas, Kopeka Lodge, Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruises and Cook Islands Tourism.