15 Best things to do in Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2022
I have always dreamt about traveling to Rarotonga, Cook Islands since I stepped foot into New Zealand, and heard about this beautiful little paradise. It is not as popular as other pacific islands and is less known to tourists outside of New Zealand and Australia. But it is definitely an island worth visiting 🙂
You will not run out of things to do in Rarotonga, from lying on the beach to immersing yourself in their culture. There are new things to explore every day, you can spend weeks here and still feel like there’s so much more you haven’t done.
If it’s your first time visiting Rarotonga, or just in need of a refresher of things to do in Rarotonga, then this will definitely help you plan your trip! Also, check out my Rarotonga travel guide to make your visit easier 🙂
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I traveled to Rarotonga, the Cook Islands in August 2022. Will keep updating the information when needed, and try my best to provide the most up-to-date information. However, with the rapid changes due to the pandemic, it is recommended for you to contact the places you’re going directly to get the most accurate information.
Water activities, and beaches to explore- Things to do in Rarotonga
Snorkeling as much as possible
Your trip won’t be complete without snorkeling in Rarotonga, one of the best and easiest things to do. All you need is to find a beach, get your snorkel gears on and jump in! Little to no swimming skill is required to do this, you can always hire a floating device or life jacket.
My favorite snorkeling spot in Rarotonga is no doubt at Aroa Marine Reserve, one of the best spots for snorkeling in Rarotonga. Without having to swim far, or swim at all. So bring your own snorkel gear along or rent it at the Adventure Cook Islands. (Their shop was under construction for a bit, so please double-check with them directly)
READ MORE: Best Snorkeling places in Rarotonga
Just watch out for the reef passage, and never swim over the reef drop near the open water. The current is very strong there, and there are no lifeguards on duty in Rarotonga.
Night Paddle with KiteSUP
This is one of the activities that I didn’t end up doing 🙁 And will definitely go back there and do it! To make stand-up paddling even more special, they added LED lights to the board so you can see it at night! Paddling through the lagoon while the sun is setting, and the stars coming out, enjoying some stories about local legends, and ending with a fire show!
No worries if you can’t paddle, there gotta be a first time for everything so why not start here?
Captain Tama’s Lagoon Tour
If it’s your first time snorkeling, or not sure where to find the best spot for snorkeling in Rarotonga. Don’t worry, Captain Tama has you covered, enjoy a ride on the glass-bottom boat, with local music entertainment, guided by some of the most hilarious captains you can probably find on the island.
Anyone who’s researched Rarotonga probably has already heard about this cruise. And there’s a reason for it because it is AWESOME. I enjoyed every moment of it, the entertainment, fish BBQ, and snorkeling. I won’t go too much into details, you’d have to experience it yourself 🙂
↓↓↓ Pre-book your Captain Tama’s lagoon tour now ↓↓↓
Get your world-class photos taken while swimming with Turtles
I mean if the name isn’t intriguing enough, I don’t know what more I can say. As if swimming with turtles isn’t already cool enough, there’s also a world-class photographer there taking photos of you; so you can post them on social media and make everyone jealous haha!
You do need to be confident in the water to partake in this tour, but no prior snorkeling experience is needed 🙂
↓↓↓ Pre-book to swim with turtles now ↓↓↓
Kayak to one of the motus near Muri Beach
There are a few motus (islands) that are closeby to Muri Beach, and it’s accessible by kayaking, or swimming if you’re a strong swimmer 🙂 Rent your kayaks at the Captain Tama shop on Muri Beach, or check with your accommodation and see if they provide free kayaks!
Park your kayak on the small motu, and go explore the amazing underwater life with your snorkel gears!
Soak in the sun and relax
There are so many amazing beaches in Rarotonga. Spending a whole day just soaking in the sun, with a book or cocktail in your hand is probably one of the most relaxing things to do in Rarotonga.
Just make sure you don’t choose a spot underneath the coconut trees, it can seriously hurt you or you can lose your life if you get hit by a coconut.
Remember to wear enough sunscreen (ocean-friendly sunscreen) before soaking in the sun, so you don’t get sunburnt!
Aitutaki Day Tour
Included return flights to Aitutaki (40 minutes flights)
The Vaka Cruise
Buffet lunch on board
Island hopping and more
Another must-visit island in the Cook Islands is Aitutaki, 40 minutes flight away from Rarotonga. If you can spend more days on Aitutaki then lucky you 🙂 Check out here for some luxury accommodations to stay in Aitutaki.
But if not, this Aitutaki day tour is what you’ll need, and definitely, a must-do for everyone!
You’ll enjoy a full day of snorkeling, cruising around, island hopping, and entertainment/food onboard. And no joke, it was one of the most beautiful plane views I’ve seen! There’s nothing to complain about this day tour, I would not hesitate to come back again!
Fun facts about Aitutaki: You won’t see any dogs on Aitutaki, as it is banned. So unlike Rarotonga, you won’t see any dogs roaming around on the street!
You can also get a unique One foot island stamp on your passport, or anywhere you’d like. (Just be aware that, for some countries, your passport might become invalid if there are souvenir stamps!)
It is a pricey tour, but once you experience it you’d understand why! It is worth every penny I feel 🙂
Things to do in Rarotonga when you’re sick of water (on land activities)
Get dirty at the Raro/Quad buggy tour
Can drive on a full or restricted license
100% will get dirty
This is perfect for people who are seeking some thrill, and adventure on Rarotonga, Cook Island. This buggy tour takes you through some less traveled land/forest by tourists, exploring the unknown while having the best time!
You’ll get dirty and muddy on this tour, so make sure you wear something comfortable and not too fancy.
Do the cross-Island track to The Needle (Te Rua Manga)
3-4 hours for the whole track
Moderate-Hard
The most famous track on the island for tourists and locals alike, it is quite a challenging hike! I recommend you start on the Avarua town center side and cross over to The Wigmore’s waterfall.
Once you get up to the top, you’d overlook the mountain ranges, some lagoons, and the ocean in Rarotonga. And a rock that’s shaped as a needle, hence it’s called “The Needle”.
Going up to The Needle wasn’t the hard part, coming down to the waterfall side was more challenging. As there were steep downhills and river crossings; you need to be very careful and read the signs carefully, otherwise it’s easy to wander off the wrong path!
Read here for a detailed guide to The Needle Hike in Rarotonga
Definitely apply a good layer of insect repellent, and bring a raincoat as the weather up there is quite unstable. Good sturdy shoes are very important, and plenty of water to stay hydrated!
Punanga Nui Market (Saturday Market)
Bring cash
From 8 am- 12 pm
You must come here at least once during your trip to Rarotonga, it is the busiest, and with the most stalls on a Saturday. You can buy your souvenirs, hand-made pareu (sarong) or anything you forget to bring with you, like swimwear, sandals, or beach bag, etc.
I didn’t have a beach bag or any beach cover-ups, and I managed to buy both from here 🙂
Come here as early as you can, it opens at 8 am. The earlier you come, the more stalls you’ll find there!
Muri Night Market
Open every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
From 5 pm-9 pm
Bring cash
This is where to find cheap eats, traditional cuisine, and some live entertainment. The best night market in Rarotonga, you can smell all the delicious food along the main road. Come here early as well, right at 5 pm would be the best, as the food runs out fast!
The portions are all very big, so get a bit of everything and share it with your friends/family. I recommend getting the garlic prawns from Seafood Man (Very popular). And the stir fry from the noodle tent, the eggplant was so nice (coming from someone who usually dislikes eggplant). Lastly, try the churros for dessert, they have many different flavors to choose from!
Drive/Bus around Rarotonga purposeless
You’re on an island, it’s only right if you experience” Island Time” at least once! Driving around the island without any purpose might sound a bit crazy for those who plan everything haha. But trust me, it won’t feel like a waste of time at all, who knows you might even find a hidden gem that ends up being your favorite place 🙂
Keep an open mind when you’re driving purposelessly, just have fun and enjoy the freedom of being spontaneous.
Cultural things to do in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Island Night at Paradise Highland
Immersive Cultural experience
The Island night is an amazing experience that you should at least try out once, you’ll be taken to their cultural ground, and experience a series of different cultural demonstrations, history storytelling, and performances. And you’ll get to taste their “UMU” cooking style feast, you will not go home hungry for sure 🙂
The Island nights are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the moment. Free pick up from accommodation along the main road 🙂
Progressive Dinner
No doubt it is one of my favorite things to do in Rarotonga, and the best way to understand the locals’ style of life, and what’s a better way to enjoy the local cuisine than to taste the locals cooking? You’ll be brought to 3 different local homes for entree, mains, and dessert. The only negative thing about this tour is perhaps too much food. Haha
The reason I really recommend and love Progressive dinner is that you can tell the families are all trying their best to provide for their loved ones, while enjoying sharing their culture/ food with tourists, and meeting different people on this tour is amazing as well.
If meeting locals and immersing yourself in their culture is something you enjoy while traveling, this tour is definitely what you need to do!
Book well in advance, don’t wait till the last minute. Many people are turned away trying to book at the last minute 🙁
Sunday Church Service
The Cook Islands is a very Christian country, most of the locals are Christians; which explains why on every tour you go on, you’ll hear a word of prayer here or there! Their Sunday Church Service is a good way to experience their religious part of life. Also, a lot of things close on Sunday due to this reason!
Visitors are welcomed in most churches, if you’re unsure then go for the church that is part of CICC (Cook Island Christian Church), they will most likely welcome visitors 🙂
Remember to wear respectful attire to church, see here for more information to make sure you’ve got it right!
Other unique things to do in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Learn coconut weaving
If you’re staying at a resort, check their activities and see if they offer coconut weaving. It was so much fun, and we created our own Island watch, glasses, and ring 🙂
Crab racing- Make a bet
Again if you check with your resort, they might host a crab racing competition. Get your own crab in the contest, and see if they’ll win!
Watch the sunset at The Black rock
There are many spots on the west of Rarotonga Island where you can see the sunset, but here you’d be able to see the sunset while walking along the beach or snorkeling.
Walking along the beach under the stars
Is Probably one of the most romantic things to do in Rarotonga, walking under millions of stars, hearing the wave crash, with the ocean breeze blowing your face.
Donate dog food at the CITC supermarket in Avarua town
SPCA in Rarotonga, Cook Islands is constantly looking out for wandering dogs, and rehoming them. Donate a few dog food/ treats when you shop at the supermarket in Avarua town center! Instead of feeding them directly, donate the food here so the SPCA can look after them 🙂
Happy hour cocktails hopping
The happy hours in Rarotonga are usually between 3-7 pm, here is a list of the happy hour times in different bars/restaurants.
Create your own Pareo (sarong)
Visit a Cook Island Museum
Scuba Diving
Join a fishing charter
Cycling tour around Rarotonga
UMU cultural night
How to get around Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Driving, bus, and motorbikes are three main ways for tourists/locals to get around Rarotonga. I would recommend just renting a car/motorbike for a few days to explore the island around, and the rest just take buses!
Bus to get around in Rarotonga
The bus pretty much goes anywhere you’d like, just let the bus driver know where you’re going or wave when you’re ready to get off. As long as there’s enough room to stop, the bus will make it work 🙂
Drive/Motorbike around Rarotonga
Book your rental cars well in advance, during the time I was there which was peak season. Most rental companies had a minimum 3-day rent policy! And I overheard people get turned away trying to rent at the last minute!
The maximum speed limit on Rarotonga is 50, so it’s reasonably safe to drive around the island. Just need to be extra careful at night, as you’d largely rely on your headlights, also watch out on anyone walking at night!
It is also possible to walk around Rarotonga and get to places, just stay on the side and wear something bright if you’re planning to walk at night. The whole island is flat, making it easy to walk compared to New Zealand streets.
Where to stay in Rarotonga
My top recommended area to stay would be near Aroa Beach (Aroa Marine Reserve) for people who love to snorkel
And for people who want to do more water activities or tours. Muri Beach would be a good option 🙂
Booking.com Booking.comBonus tips on planning your next Rarotonga trip
Try to book all the cruises, and day tours early in your trip, as most of them, are very weather-dependent and if it’s canceled, you’d have more flexibility to work around your trip and rebook. Of course, if they cancel due to weather, a full refund will always be an option; but that also means you’ll miss out on the activity 🙁 Explore activities and tours on Viator, and get discounted deals!
JetStar usually has deals to Rarotonga frequently, watch out on their website and book when there’s one! There was a $99 deal from Auckland to Rarotonga once, and it sold out within hours. I flew with them, and everything went smoothly; a little bit of delay but nothing I wasn’t already expecting.
They use NZD, so for the kiwis, there’s no conversion rate yayyyy 🙂 My ANZ card worked perfectly, and so would most banks! But remember to bring cash as many smaller stalls, markets still only accept cash!
Rarotonga is a safe country for solo travelers, the beaches are safe. There’s no problem leaving your belongings on the beach while you go snorkeling. However, just for peace of mind, we carry a waterproof case; so when we know for sure we’re going snorkeling, we will transfer all the cash, bank cards, and phones into the waterproof case and take them with us underwater.
It is a beautiful country, spend at least a week or 10 days in Rarotonga and fully immerse yourself into Island life. If you can spend a few nights in Aitutaki as well, it could add to your budget, but it is definitely worth it. The next time I’m here, I’ll 100% spend more time on Aitutaki!
Let me know what are your favorite things to do in Rarotonga in the comment 🙂
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