Rarotonga Things to Do

You won't have to go far to sample the delightful Rarotongan sunsets. Stunning sunsets can be enjoyed from the northern, southern and of course the western shores of the lagoon. While the hills in the centre of the island would undoubtedly offer the best views of the sunset, trekking through this part of the island in the dark is definitely not recommended as the paths and trails are rough, sometimes slippy and it is very easy to get lost.
The best place we went to watch the sunset was at the Beachside Inn at Aro'a beach, located on the south-western corner of the island, where we enjoyed the sunset over a few cold beers purchased from the Shipwreck Bar. The beach was deserted and we could enjoy the sunset to ourselves at this great spot.

4 more images

If you’r after a bit of secluded beachy bliss then you will love Turoa and Titikaveka Beaches. The sweeps of sandy beaches which stretch between Aroa and Muri beaches are less crowded than the aforementioned (although it’s a struggle to find any patch of overly crowded beach on Raro!)and offer a more peaceful atmosphere where you can be sure to find a prime spot of sand for yourself. There is a splattering of bungalow and guesthouse accommodation along these stretches of beach as well as a few upmarket hideaway resorts so you will only have to share the beaches with a handful of people (if any). You can reach the beaches using the island bus service but having your own transport gives you more flexibility and options to find a quiet spot for yourself. The walk between Turoa and Titikaveka Village is a pleasant stroll along the white sand beach but you will have to leave the beach at times to skirt around water inlets and private property but you can easily carry on along the beach after the short detours? In Titikaveka village you can buy snacks and drinks or lunch.

2 more images

While undoubtedly commercialised and touristy, an Island night is nonetheless a great way of gaining an insight into traditional Cool Islander music, dance, food and custom. There are a variety of island nights to choose from varying from expensive dinner and show affairs to cheaper performances where you can just show up and pay a few dollars to just watch the performance. Most of the island nights involve a preshow dinner often cooked in an umu (traditional earth ‘oven’) followed by a frenetic dance, drum and music display. We went to an island night in Avarua at the Staircase Restaurant and Bar (without meal) and for $5 were treated to a fine performance where audience participation is wholly encouraged! although talking to some other people who had paid for the meal, we were glad we hadn’t come for the food which was reported as being pretty poor.
The island night at the Staircase is one of the most reasonably priced performances but there are a huge variety of options ranging from expensive formal affairs to relaxed cheaper alternatives.
Some of the other popular island nights in Rarotonga include the Rarotongan Resort, Pacific Resort, Te Vara Nui and Highland Paradise.

You haven’t truely experienced the Cook Islands until you’ve dived its crystal clear waters. Haven’t that many dives under my belt having just qualified in December 2009, but if my future dive experiences are anything like this, I’ll be happy.
We had a great days diving with the ‘Dive Rarotonga’ company who were friendly, professional and provided top quality gear and thorough safety procedures which as novice divers was comforting and assuring.
There are a variety of dive sites in Rarotonga and choosing your sites should depend on your experience and ability. There are challenging dive sites such as ‘Dead Man’s Gultch’ and other passage and wall dives which should only be attempted by advanced divers but there are other dives suitable for open water beginner dives. We chose ‘Dive Rarotonga’ because we felt so comfortable with Ed, Karen and Henry and they advised us on the best and safest dive options for us while still bringing us to spectacular sites. We dived the Coral Gardens and the Mataora Wreck and weren’t left wanting for variety of fish and cora with sightings of reef sharks, turtles, lion fish, moray eels, trumpet fish, angel fish and a curious and unusually friendly trigger fish who followed us around for the entire dive!

As the only mountainous island in the Cook Islands, Rarotonga offers the best hiking opportunities in the island chain. The interior of Rarotonga is mountainous and covered in lush tropical jungle which makes for a challenging hike. It is not an easy hike but shouldn’t cause too much trouble to experienced hikers although after heavy rainfall the trail can be very slippy and muddy. Mosquitoes can also be a nuisance. The trail cuts straight through the centre of the island from north to south and passes Te Rua Manga rock formation (more commonly known as ‘The Needle’). You can do the trail in the opposite direction but is easier and better signposted from the north. Beware that the trail is not well marked and it is easy to get disorientated especially in wet weather. The hike should take between 3 and 4 hours and you can enjoy a refreshing dip in Papua Waterfall at the end of the hike.

2 more images

On the south-western corner of Rarotonga is Aro’a Beach which became our favourite hangout spot on Rarotonga. The beach isn’t as crowded or as developed as Muri Beach and while still pretty popular you will normally be able to have a stretch of beach to yourself. The water of the lagoon here is glorious and filled with shoals of curious fish. Snorkelling here is much better than at Muri and the water is clearer.
Aro’a beach stretches around the south west corner of the island and the most popular part of Aro’a Beach is near the Rarotongan Beach Resort. This beach is not overcrowded but it is popular so if you want peace and quiet you can move further north along the beach which although narrower than at the Rarotongan Beach Resort section of beach, it is more peaceful and tranquil. The sunsets here are spectacular!

3 more images

Muri Beach is located on the eastern side of Rarotonga and is the island’s most popular and beautiful beach. While you will find more secluded stretches of sandy beach around the island, Muri is still worth visiting due to its impressive location. The beach is situated at the stunning Muri lagoon and there are several small motus (islands) sitting within the lagoon’s turquoise waters. The water of the lagoon is very shallow and you actually swim out to the motus or rent a kayak to paddle to and around these sandy islands. To the north is a marshy area which is home to a variety of wildlife.
There are several resorts located along the beach and also plenty of places to get a bite to eat which makes it a great place for families as all your food, accommodation and other needs are catered to nearby. A lot of package holiday tourists base themselves at Muri Beach and accommodation can be more expensive than other parts of the island. However no matter where you stay on Rarotonga, you can easily reach Muri Beach either through your rented transportation or using the island public bus which passes very close to Muri Beach on its round trip of the island’s main road.

Located on the northern coast of Rarotonga Island, Avarua is the capital of the Cook Islands and seat of the Islands’ parliament. It is the only urban centre of any significance on the island and while being credited as the capital of the Cook Islands, Avarua is basically a small village and doesn’t take long to look around. However, Avarua is the economic and commercial hub of Rarotonga with banks, shops, restaurants, supermarkets, police headquarters and hospital all being located in or around the town. The International Airport is also located just outside Avarua.
There isn’t a huge amount to see and do in Avarua itself (apart from the National Museum and CICC chuch) but you will find yourself in Avarua several times during your trip for banking and shopping. The biggest concentration of tourist shops and handicrafts stores is in Avarua and there is also a weekly market every Saturday in the town. It’s a pleasant enough place to stroll around and there are a few nice spots to grab a bite to eat and shop but with such abundant natural beauty on show elsewhere on the island, your best memories of Rarotonga are unlikely to be of Avarua ;)