Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guide for Rarotonga in the Cook Islands - Rarotonga Purple Travel Guide
This Rarotonga Travel Guide tells you what you need to know to visit Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, what the best things to see and do are and it has lots of photos to help you plan a relaxing vacation in Rarotonga.
Rarotonga is the most popular tourist destination in the Cook Islands. Its population is significantly higher than all the other islands combined, so if you want to do anything else besides enjoying the beaches and snorkeling or kayaking, Rarotonga is the place to be. The first letter A in Rarotonga is pronounced as in CAR.
We have made a video about Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Please check it out.
Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we typically promote self-guided walking tours. But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the tours below.
General information about Rarotonga in the Cook Islands
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands. 13,000 of the Cook Island’s population of 17,000 people live here. The island is also the seat of the capital, Avarua, the parliament, only international airport and it is the most popular tourist destination in the country. The island that you see today is the top of a 3.1 mile (5000m) volcano that rises from the ocean floor and that was formed between 1.6 and 2.3 million years ago. It is surrounded by a beaches and a shallow reef which is at its widest at Muri Lagoon and max. 5 ft (1.5 m) deep. The interior of the island is covered with dense vegetation, but unlike the islands of French Polynesia, the mountain peaks have been eroded and thus the highest elevation in Rarotonga is only 2,139ft (652m) above sea level.
Visitors either rent a car or scooter (cars and scooters drive on the left side of the road), use the bus, or hire a taxi to get to their destinations.
Rarotonga Bus
Rarotonga has one bus line that runs clockwise around the island (departs every hour from Avarua from 7am to 10pm) and one that runs anti-clockwise (departs on each half hour from Avarua). The anti-clockwise bus has shorter operating times. There are bus stops, but passengers can be picked up and left out of the bus anywhere along the route. At the time of writing, the fare is NZD5 per adult for a single ride or NZD8 for a return ticket and there was (temporarily) no Sunday service.
Rarotonga Taxis
Taxis in the Cook Islands operate differently than in most other countries. In Rarotonga, private taxi companies merged into the Cook Islands Taxi Association (CITA), which operates green taxis. The only taxi stands are at the airport and the cruise dock. Taxis that you see in the streets are most likely hired and trying to hail them will be fruitless. So, if you need a taxi, you will need to call one of the CITA companies ahead of time.
AJ Taxi Services phone +682 22592 email ajtaxis682@gmail.com
The taxi fares below were current at the time of writing: Taxis have a minimum fare of NZD10 during daytime (NZD15 night) plus NZD3 per km driven. There are fixed fares from the airport and cruise dock. To Avarua, expect to pay NZD15 per person and to Muri Beach you will pay NZD40 per person at the time of writing. A 1h island tour is NZD120.
The best rental car companies in Rarotonga
There are multiple car rental agencies in Rarotonga - you can book rental cars here. From the big global players, only AVIS is doing business in Rarotonga. Renters need to be 18 years of age and must have a valid driver license from their home country. Drivers with licenses that are NOT from any of the following countries need to have an international driver permit, which translates the local license to English: Australia, Canada, European Union, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and USA. Please check with your car rental company. Here is a list of the best rental car companies in Rarotonga in alphabetical order:
AVIS is located at the airport and in Muri Beach near the Pacific Resort - you can book rental cars from Avis here.
Go Cook Islands has is a small rental company with one location in Vaimaanga, right next to Wigmore’s Superstore. They offer airport pick-ups and drop-offs.
Island Car & Bike Hire has locations in Avarua and Muri Beach. We like that they offer free accommodation pickup - airport pick-up and drop-off are charged extra.
Pacific Cars is a small rental company located in Muri Beach.
Polynesian Rental Cars & Bikes rent cars at the airport, in Avarua, off the airport in the Edgewater Resort and at Aroa Beach near the Rarotongan Beach Resort. Very convenient is that they offer free accommodation pick-up/drop-off.
Rarocars is located off the airport. We liked their cars and the comparably low prices. Our car was older, but in very good shape. For a charge of NZD20 each way, they deliver the rental car to the airport and let you drop it off there.
Rarotonga Rentals has locations near the airport and in Tapere (between Muri Beach and Titikaveka). Free pick-up and drop-off at the airport and accommodation are available.
Sweet As Car Rentals has locations near the airport and Muri Beach. They offer airport pick-up and drop-off for a fee.
Scooter rental companies in Rarotonga
Many of the car rental companies listed above also rent scooters. To rent a scooter, please be advised that you will need to be at least 16 years old (some companies require you to be at least 18 or 21 years of age) and you will either need to bring a license from your home country that allows you to operate a scooter, or you will need to take a knowledge and driving test at the police station in Avarua (map) to obtain a local driving permit. Some rental companies rent electric bikes which do not require a license. At the time of writing, the police station is open:
Mon-Fri: 8am - 3pm Sat: 9am - 12pm
Knowledge (Theory) Test:
Mon-Thu: 9am, 11am, and 1pm Fri: 9am and 11am
Driving (Practical) Test:
Mon-Thu: 10am and 2pm Fri: 10am and 1pm
Here is a list of the best scooter rental companies in Rarotonga in alphabetical order that we are aware of:
Island Car & Bike Hire has locations in Avarua and Muri Beach. We like that they offer free accommodation pickup - airport pick-up and drop-off are charged extra.
Pacific Cars is a small rental company located in Muri Beach.
Polynesian Rental Cars & Bikes rent cars at the airport, in Avarua, off the airport in the Edgewater Resort and at Aroa Beach near the Rarotongan Beach Resort. Very convenient is that they offer free accommodation pick-up/drop-off.
Rarotonga Rentals has locations near the airport and in Tapere (between Muri Beach and Titikaveka). Free pick-up and drop-off at the airport and accommodation are available.
Avarua means Two Harbors and is the capital of the Cook Islands. It is where the Cook Islands’ international airport is located. While Avarua can be explored on foot, it is definitely easier to have a rental car to see the sights.
1 - Cook Islands National Museum 2 - Beachcomber Pearl Market 3 - Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church 4 - Para O Tane Palace 5 - Takamoa Theological College 6 - St. Joseph's Cathedral 7 - Terevete Park Water Station 8 - Punanga Nui Market
Cook Islands National Museum
Start your day at the Cook Islands National Museum. This small museum is housed in one large room. It has no air conditioning and admission is NZD5 per person. Many of the displayed items are replicas and the inscriptions are often quite subjective. In general, we thought that the museum is definitely worth the admission as it gives some interesting insights into live on Rarotonga in the old times and it provides good details about the Christianization of the Cook Islands.
Beachcomber Pearl Market
As the name suggests, you can buy pearls at the Beachcomber, but there is a lot more. You can also buy art from local artists as shown in the photos below, and there is an extra room with paintings that are for sale. On top of that, there is also a popular café.
The Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church is popular with locals and New Zealanders and it is quite an experience to attend Sunday service. The graveyard is the resting place for some famous islanders and Cleveland, OH born writer of travel literature Robert Dean Frisbie.
Para O Tane Palace
Across the street from Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church is the Para O Tane Palace.
The original Para O Tane Palace was a single-story building built in the 1830s on the grounds of the Taputapuatea marae. It was later used as the residence of Queen Makea Takau Ariki who rebuilt it as a two-story structure. The palace is historically significant, because the proclamation that declared the Cook Islands a British protectorate in 1888 and the annexation by New Zealand in 1901 were signed here.
The palace was severely damaged by a cyclone in 1942 or 1943 and allowed to fall into ruins. It took until 1989 when work started to rebuild the palace. Construction was finished in 1993. Access into the building is not permitted – it can only be viewed from the outside.
Takamoa Theological College
Established in 1839, Takamoa Theological College is the second oldest theological college in the South Pacific. Its objective is to train mainly local women and men for Pastoral Ministry. More than one thousand pastors, church leaders and evangelists have graduated from Takamoa Theological College and many have gone on to other islands.
St. Joseph's Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga and the cathedral of the Bishop of Rarotonga since 1966. It is nicely decorated on the inside and worth a quick visit.
Terevete Park Water Station
Located in Te Terevete Park (former Constitution Park) and in walking distance to the Punanga Nui Market, this water station started operating in May 2022. It has four taps - two on the roadside and two on the park side and anyone can get potable water for free.
Punanga Nui Market
Opened in 1996, Punanga Nui Market becomes the center of activity in Avarua on Saturday mornings. With more than 100 stalls, you will see vendors selling local and foreign foods and drinks, souvenirs, clothes, fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, etc. and there is even a free live ‘cultural’ show on stage. Parking can be difficult to find near the market on Saturdays and you may need to walk 2 or 3 blocks to get there. Opening times at the time of writing were Saturdays: 7am – noon and Mondays – Fridays: 7am – 3pm Don’t expect much activity from Mondays through Fridays. Only some of the stores in the wooden huts will open, but it is still a good idea to come here for breakfast or lunch to eat your meal and have chicken running around between (and under) the tables.
Te Vara Nui Village, Over-Water Night Show and Buffet Dinner
This is supposed to be the best and most extravagant Cultural Show in the Cook Islands. We had booked this show, but unfortunately had to cancel last minute due to airline schedule changes that cut or Rarotonga stay short. We encourage you to check out the videos, photos and reviews that are posted on the internet.
Muri Night Market
The Muri Night Market has about 20 vendors of which almost all sell food, desert and drinks. The food ranges from local food to hamburgers and pizza. Opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5pm – 8pm. Our advice is to come between 5pm and 6pm, as the first vendors ran out of food at around 6:30pm. I was in line for the baby pancakes (desert) and at one point the owner started counting his customers and asking them how many orders they planned to buy. I was lucky, because he estimated that he will run out of batter after my order, so he cut off the line right behind me. Lines can be long and prices are similar to those in restaurants in the Muri area, but the food diversity is excellent and a good reason to go here at least once. Much of the seating is covered so that occasional rain will not spoil your meal.
Hospital Hill Overlook
The Rarotonga Hospital is built on a hill near the airport. It can be reached by a fairly steep and narrow road that allows for some nice views, especially on the drive down. Unfortunately, there are only few places to park your car on this narrow road. The road ends up at the hospital where you can park your car and walk around the buildings for some nice, but not spectacular, views. Some people on the internet claim that there is a trail to a Hospital Overlook that starts somewhere near the hospital and takes 10-40min to go uphill. We did not find the path and we did not see any signs. If someone has more information, please let us know.
Hotels, resorts and Airbnbs are plentiful in Rarotonga. Since the road around the island is only 20 miles (32 km) long, you can basically stay anywhere you want and drive your rental car or scooter to where you want to go, or take the bus. Most people, us included, will find it easier to stay exactly or near where you want to spend most of your time in Rarotonga.
The map below shows you which hotels and Airbnbs are available:
Since the Cook Islands are so different than the US where we live, we opted for an Airbnb to soak up some local flavor.
Mama Tara’s Bungalows
First of all: google maps has the right location. It does not look like it, especially since there is a sign to Mary’s Villas. Basically, you get off the ring road, drive up and turn left right before the road makes a sharp right turn. At the first house you turn left into the gravel parking lot of Mama Tara’s Bungalows. The bungalows are fairly large and super clean. There are a large great room which acts as a living room, dining room and kitchen, which is fully equipped, a bathroom with a shower and two bedrooms with king size beds. The air conditioning in the bedrooms is quiet and efficient. The great room only has a ceiling fan, but the bedroom air condition units are strong enough to cool the great room too. The bungalows have no ocean view, but garden views. During the day you can see free roaming chickens in the garden and you may be visited by a very friendly dog who belongs to one of the neighbors, but likes to spend much of the day checking out (and getting fed by) the guests that stay here. Your host will ask you when you will arrive so that she can welcome you and show you around.
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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