Rarotonga

Why Rarotonga?

If you are checking out this page you probably already know

If you are not sure yet – check out Katu Kanga video by Tourism Cook Islands on youtube

Rarotonga is a tropical paradise location. It provides a perfect relaxation, breathtaking nature, fun entertainment, modern facilities and services and a rich cultural experience

If you choose to spend your holidays at our home you will be 20 minutes from the airport on the Southern side of the island near Avaavaroa passage.

Driving:

A speed limit here is 50 km /h when you are in the car or wear helmet and 40 when you don’t. It’s an island style, pretty relaxed. You can cruise around on a scooter without helmet, it’s fun sure but please wear helmet. One thing to be laid back and relaxed the other to risk life, no matter how fast you drive if you hit your head hard you are dead regardless. This bit of legislation just doesn’t make sense. Apparently, so I was told, some time ago was supposed to be changed but local ladies – mamas protested that wearing helmet disagrees with them wearing hats to the church on Sunday. So it stayed – no helmets are allowed.  Quite annoying too, especially when groups of people slowly move on their bikes 40 km an hour and the driver behind them is allowed and has to badly drive faster yet is stuck behind such a procession,. It creates danger for him and the happy unhelmeted lot if he decides to overtake.
Church

So nonsensical road safety legislation makes perfect sense on Sundays and thanks to this if you go to the Church on Sunday morning you will see a perfect display of Cook Islands elegance and fashion. It’s worth seeing. Even if you normally don’t go to church, visiting one the island can be a beautiful experience. Not far from us, in Titikaveka is CICC church, a limestone building which on Sunday morning fills a beautiful Island Choir singing.

Lagoon

Our lagoon is clean and booming with fish. Whilst some other more touristy beaches sometimes have problem with pollution, the closeness to the passage and the tranquility here means the water is always crystal clear. You can snorkel or swim in the spot that is clear of coral heads.

 

Market

Saturday market is a must. You can get there the biggest selection of local fruit, cooked food, sourdough bread from Victoria, local craft and art. It’s vibrant, colorful and fun and on the back stage dancers and drummers sometimes perform energetic local dances

Bike, walk and hike

If you are up to some pretty hard physical exercise go for the highest tip of Rarotonga – Te Manga or Te Kou, otherwise you bike to the local supermarket Wigmores every morning, to Saltwater Cafe for lunch or Little Polynesian for dinner and stroll to the back road opposite our house to see some beautiful gardens booming with flowers and fruit trees

And if you happen to spend more time here it may be worth to go for a Day tour to Aitut to enjoy a day on the boat filled with sun, water and white beaches

You can read more about Raro on our blog Pole to Pacific ( at the moment it’s a rough draft)  Rarotonga blog