Rarotonga holidays

Palm-lined Pacific island beaches and gentle blue waters are a big reason to visit Rarotonga, but that’s not all this destination has to offer. Hike the short Cross Island Track through lush forest from Avarua to Te Rua Manga, the island’s pinnacle rock. Uncover an eerie abandoned hotel beside the natural beauty of Wigmore's Waterfall on the south coast.

Get the adrenaline pumping on an off-road buggy tour. Learn the history and techniques of traditional crafts and the habits of local life at Te Vara Nui Village before enjoying a cultural show at the waterside. Get up close with Rarotonga’s animal residents at Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre and Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve, See the sunrise over your tree pose with beach yoga on the east coast, or order a cool beer and watch it set from the stunning beaches of the west.

20 miles of shoreline and beautiful beaches sit between Rarotonga’s dense tropical forests and the pale blue lagoon. Kitesurf or kayak on the calm waters beside the bars and cafés of Muri Beach, or try something different after sunset with light-up paddle-boarding as the energetic sounds of the Muri night markets drift on the breeze.

Find a little calm or explore the rock pools at Black Rock. Swim among the fish or explore the 180-year-old coral stone Cook Islands Christian Church at Titikaveka. Dive at the Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve where moray eels, angelfish, and pufferfish flit around before you. Take the family to the tucked-away shallows beside Nikao, home to some of the island’s most striking sunsets. Or find a romantic spot at Koromiri, one of four secluded islets in the Muri lagoon.

Home to less than 5,000 people, Avarua is more of a capital village than a capital city, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be short of entertainment. Stroll the quiet streets of this laid-back harbourside settlement filled with intriguing shops. Sit and watch the world go by at your choice of cafés, bars, and restaurants. Wake each Sunday to hymns rising from the 19th Century Cook Islands Christian Church.

Discover lessons of history and culture at the Cook Islands Library and Museum, or head into the ocean in a semi-submersible to explore the rusting wreck of Matai, stricken just offshore more than 100 years before. Browse the Saturday morning market for black pearls, clothes, flowers, handicrafts, and fresh fruit. Dine on a sumptuous seafood dinner at Trader Jacks. Or celebrate your pacific ocean destination with dancing and drums at a traditional Island Night.

The right time to visit Rarotonga is any time, but the weather is at its most ideal from April to November with minimal rainfall and temperatures averaging 24°C to 28°C. Whale-watching season also falls in this period and reaches its peak between July and October. Rarotonga is at its busiest during the holiday months of July and August so those hoping to skip the crowds should consider visiting during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to November.

Cook Island’s summer Is from December to March. These months regularly experience temperatures over 30°C and rainfall is more common, though Rarotonga is far more likely to see short, heavy showers than ongoing rains so this can still be an excellent time to visit for those happy to sit back and enjoy the hotter days.