Rarotonga, capital of the Cook Islands

The supermarket check out in down town Avarua

Population 14,153
25.9 sq mls/67.1 sq. kms

Scooters are the main form of transport. Tourists need a Cook Islands driving licence (NZ$20) from police headquarters in town. You'll also have to take a short test - to prove you know how to go round a roundabout!
(Important: you must produce a current full licence from your own country)

WELCOME TO TOWN
Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands and the capital, Avarua is the main commercial and administrative centre. Locals just call it "town".

FINDING RAROTONGA
Early Polynesian settlers found the island by sailing raro (down) and tonga (to the south) of French Polynesia. Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue find it easily now with regular flights into the island from New Zealand, the USA and Australia. And as soon as you step off the plane, you know you've arrived somewhere very special...

"MAY YOU LIVE LONG"
A straw hatted Islander stands in the corner of the church hall sized arrivals area in Rarotonga airport strumming Polynesian love songs on a banjo, as you queue up (very short queues!) to get your passport stamped. Immigration and customs are efficient but very friendly, welcoming you with words that will quickly become familiar because everyone greets you with them... "kia orana" meaning "may you live long".

Cook's Island Bus is an inexpensive way of travelling. It goes all round the island and stops anywhere you want to get on or off. You only need to decide if you want to go clockwise or anti-clockwise!
Check the timetable

The "garden factory" of Perfumes of Rarotonga. Everything is made by hand, using natural products. A must see tourist attraction and an important business for the island.
Find Out More

And the supermarket itself...with a good range of fresh and packaged food, mostly from New Zealand.

Another day in paradise
Muri Beach: you can snorkel on the reef (a marine conservation park) or walk across to the uninhabited islands in the lagoon - or both!

Access: Daily International Flights

Jake Numanga Senior has been welcoming visitors with songs and music for more than 20 years. He was honoured for his services to tourism with an MBE from HM The Queen