How to take the bus in Rarotonga- Everything you need to know

It is super simple, affordable, and convenient to take the bus in Rarotonga. It took me less than a day to figure out everything I should know. And here I will share my tips so you can bus like a local in Rarotonga 🙂

There are only two buses during the day, clockwise and anti-clockwise circuiting Rarotonga. In case you didn’t know, Rarotonga is shaped like a ring circle, it only has one main road and this is where the buses mainly drive on. 

Taking the bus in Rarotonga is a hassle-free way to travel around Rarotonga and explore the island. You’ll get to enjoy the scenery while relaxing on the bus. There are windows which you can open and get some fresh air, and the seats are reasonably comfortable for the journey. 

Both the Clockwise and Anticlockwise buses run during the day. But, only clockwise buses run at night. Also, there’s no Sunday bus at the moment due to staffing issues, check here for the most up-to-date information.

How to take the bus in Rarotonga

Rarotonga is a super chill place, bus drivers are all very friendly and easygoing. While there are actual bus stops around the island, you can actually wave down the bus in Rarotonga from anywhere on the main road. If there’s a place to pull over, the driver will usually stop for you.

And it works pretty much the same when you’re ready to get off, either you let the driver know where you’re going or shout out/stand up when the bus is approaching your stop. Again, as long as there’s a spot to pull over, the bus driver in Rarotonga will happily drop you off anywhere 🙂

Clockwise and Anticlockwise buses both run during the day, but only clockwise buses run at night.

How to buy a ticket to take the bus in Rarotonga

All you need to do is jump on the bus, tell the driver what ticket you’re after and pay in cash. No need to get a bus card, or buy tickets from a specific location! There are different bus fare types in Rarotonga, depending on how many times you’re planning to take the bus in Rarotonga.

You can only pay in cash for the bus in Rarotonga, so remember to bring enough cash with you. For the bus, and your shopping/food as many places are only accepting cash in Rarotonga. Especially the popular Saturday Market, Muri night market, etc.

Bus fare types in Rarotonga

Adult Single ride $5 Child Single ride $3	One ride from point A to B
Adult Return ride $8 Child Return ride $4	Up to 10 rides, can be shared amongst multiple people
Adult 10 concessions $30 Child 10 concessions $19	Up to 10 rides, can be shared amongst multiple people
All day pass $16	Take as many times as needed within the day
All-day family pass $26	Same as the all-day pass for Family of 2 adults and 2 kids

If you bring a big piece of luggage, you might be charged an extra $2 depending on the driver. I have not personally taken luggage on the bus so I’m not sure how often they would charge you. An infant under 3 can ride the bus in Rarotonga for free 🙂

If you’re planning to take the bus in Rarotonga often during your trip over a span of a few days, it is recommended to buy the 10 concession ticket as you’d save a lot from buying single trip tickets every time. 

Read here for full details on the bus fares, generally speaking, the bus drivers are super nice so the rules aren’t as strict as they make it sound like on their website.

Directions and schedule of the bus in Rarotonga

There are only two bus directions in Rarotonga, clockwise and anticlockwise. And they’re both clearly stated on the bus, but if you’re not sure just ask the driver. Both buses go the whole loop of Rarotonga, but just in different directions. 

So technically whichever bus you get on you’ll be at your destination eventually, but it will take a lot longer if you hop in the wrong direction.

I’ve only listed out some of the more popular tourist stops and bigger accommodations, click here for the full details of the bus schedule in Rarotonga. Or download the TransportMe Passenger App here for live tracking of the bus. I found it quite helpful using the app 🙂

Clockwise Bus

7am- 10pm 

Monday- Saturday

Hourly

Location of the bus stop

Mins past hour

COOK’S CORNER – TERMINAL	0
Cook Islands Tourism Information Centre	1
Trader Jacks	1
Club Raro	5
Mootangi Lodges/Mount View Lodges	7
Love Cafe	8
Tropical Sands	10
Avana Waterfront Apartments	12
Kura’s Kabanas	13
Muri Beach Club Hotel/Te Vara Nui Village	14
Pacific Resort	15
Muri Beach/Sails/Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise	16
Vara’s Beach House/Koka Lagoon Cruise	17
Muri Beach Resort/Nautilus Resort	17
Tiana’s/Muri Retreat	18
Fruits of Rarotonga	18
Maire Nui Gardens/Little Polynesian Resort	19
Sea Change Villas	22
Palm Grove Lodges	25
Moana Sands Villas/Wigmore’s Superstore	26
Vaima Steak House	26
Rarotongan  Beach Resort & Lagoonarium	30
Aro’a Beachside Inn/Shipwreck	34
Castaway Resort	36
Crown Beach Resort/Flambe Restaurant	38
Edgewater Resort & Spa	40
Black Rock Lookout/Tuoro Cafe	42
Rarotonga International & Domestic Airport/RSA	45
CITC Supermarket	48
Punanganui Market/Reefside Cafe	49

Anit-Clockwise Bus

8:30am- 4:30pm

Monday- Saturday

Hourly

Location	Mins past hour
COOK’S CORNER – TERMINAL	30
Punanganui Market/The Bond Store/Kai Pizza	32
CITC Supermarket	33
Rarotonga International & Domestic Airport	35
Black Rock Store/Reefcomber Motel	38
Kikau Hut/Cooks Oasis	39
Edgewater Resort & Spa	40
Are Renga Motel/Waterline Café	43
Castaway Resort	45
Aro’a Beachside Inn/Shipwreck	47
Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa	50
Vaima Steak House & Restaurant	53
Wigmore’s Superstore/Moana Sands Villas	54
Sea Change Villas	58
Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel	0
Little Polynesian Resort/Maire Nui Gardens	0
Fruits of Rarotonga	2
Te Manava Villas	2
Muri Beachcomber	4
Muri Beach/Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise	5
Pacific Resort	5
Matavera CICC Church	12
Club Raro	16
Trader Jacks	19

Where to stay in Rarotonga

There are a variety of accommodation options in Rarotonga, from luxury resorts, and villas to down-to-earth airbnbs, bungalows, etc. And there are 4 main areas where people choose to stay, including Muri Beach, Titikaveka Beach, Arorangi District, or Avarua town.

Read more here for more detailed reviews of where to stay in Rarotonga.

Rarotonga Travel tips

Booking.com: Explore and compare a few accommodations before making the final decision. Booking.com is a good platform to compare different options and deals, also you’d be able to level up in their genius program by booking more stays. 

Contact accommodation directly: Sometimes if you contact the accommodation directly, they might be able to offer a better deal than you could find anywhere else.

Stay longer and save: Usually many places in Rarotonga would offer a 10% or 15% discount if you stay longer.

Viator.com: Book your activities on Viator.com, you can see the reviews of certain tours and they often offer discounted deals 🙂

Cook Islands Tours: Local business tour operator offering unique and authentic experiences. Highly recommended the Progressive Dinner, the best way to connect with Rarotonga locals and experience their cuisines.