As we’ve gotten older, the way we like to travel has changed a little. These days, we’re much more drawn to relaxed experiences rather than adrenaline-filled or noisy activities.
And Rarotonga suits us perfectly.
When we’re on the island, we slow right down. We’re not trying to race from one activity to the next or fill every hour of the day. We like to explore at our own pace, stop when something catches our eye and enjoy the fact that nobody seems to be in much of a hurry.
Even our bike rides are pretty cruisy, and these days, electric bikes are absolutely allowed!
One of the things we love about Rarotonga is that some of the best things to do don’t cost anything at all. Beach hopping, snorkelling, swimming, exploring the markets or simply finding somewhere beautiful to stop for a while can easily fill a day.
Then there are those experiences we’re happy to spend money on because they’re a little more bucket-list worthy – a lagoon cruise, deep-sea fishing, an Island Night or a day trip to Aitutaki.
That’s pretty much how we approach Rarotonga:
- Explore slowly
- Don’t over-plan the day
- Enjoy the free experiences
- Spend money on the things that really matter to you
- Leave plenty of time to do absolutely nothing
The laid-back nature of the Cook Islands is a big part of why we enjoy coming back. Life moves at a slower pace here, and after a day or two, you tend to start moving at that pace too.
So, these are the things we enjoy doing in Rarotonga, along with a couple that are still firmly on our list for next time.
Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise
This is one of those classic Rarotonga experiences that we’d happily recommend doing at least once.
Captain Tama’s takes you out onto beautiful Muri Lagoon aboard a glass-bottom boat, with plenty of laughs and entertainment along the way.
The day includes:
- Cruising Muri Lagoon
- Snorkelling in the lagoon
- Plenty of entertainment from the crew
- Time on one of the small motu
- An island-style barbecue lunch
- Coconut husking and other demonstrations
It’s fun, relaxed and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
For a first trip to Rarotonga, we’d definitely put this one on the list.
Snorkel the Lagoon
You don’t need to book a tour every time you want to get into the water.
One of our favourite things about Rarotonga is simply grabbing the snorkels and heading into the lagoon.
There are several great snorkelling areas around the island, including Aroa Marine Reserve and Tikioki Marine Reserve, where you can see plenty of colourful tropical fish.
Bring your own snorkel and mask if you have room in your luggage, and we’d definitely recommend reef shoes as some areas can be rocky or have sharp coral underfoot.
And sometimes the best plan for the day is no plan at all – find a beautiful beach, put your snorkel on and see what’s underneath.
Hire a Bike and Explore
We hired bikes and loved having another way to explore the island.
Rarotonga is only around 32 kilometres around, so you don’t have to travel far before finding another beach, little shop, café or roadside stall.
You don’t have to cycle the whole island either.
Take your time, stop when something catches your eye and explore some of the quieter roads away from the main coastal route.
That’s one of the things we love about Rarotonga – you don’t need a big itinerary every day.
Go Beach Hopping
This one costs absolutely nothing.
Rarotonga has beautiful beaches right around the island, and rather than choosing just one, spend a day finding your own favourite.
Some areas are better for swimming, others for snorkelling, and the western side is particularly lovely later in the day when the sun starts going down.
Pack your:
- Towel
- Snorkelling gear
- Reef shoes
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Something to eat
Then just head off.
We love days like this because there’s no timetable and nowhere you have to be.
Looking for the perfect spot to swim, snorkel or simply relax? Check out our Best Beaches in Rarotonga guide to find the beach that suits you.
Visit Punanga Nui Market
If you’re in Rarotonga on a Saturday, make time for Punanga Nui Market in Avarua.
Saturday morning is when the market really comes alive.
You’ll find:
- Local food and fresh produce
- Clothing and colourful pareu
- Jewellery and black pearls
- Arts, crafts and souvenirs
- Music and entertainment
- A free cultural performance
It’s a great place to wander around, grab something to eat and pick up a few things to take home.
Go hungry.
Half the fun is deciding what you’re going to eat.
Eat Your Way Around Muri Night Market
While Punanga Nui is our Saturday morning market, Muri Night Market is all about dinner.
It’s casual, busy and a great place to try different foods without sitting down for a restaurant meal.
You’ll usually find a mixture of:
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Barbecue meals
- Curries and Asian dishes
- Local favourites
- Desserts and sweet treats
We like the fact that everyone can choose something different and then sit down together.
Our Tip: Get there early – we’d recommend around 4.30pm. Use that time to wander around, check out all the menus and decide what you want. Then, when the stalls start serving around 5pm, you’ll know exactly which line to jump into before the crowds arrive.
And we’re not exaggerating about the crowds. By 6pm, some of the popular stalls can have waits of over an hour, and by 7pm many have already sold out.
Go Deep-Sea Fishing
We both love fishing, and I’ve been deep-sea fishing many times, so there was no way a trip to Rarotonga was going to pass without us heading out beyond the reef.
This particular trip was even more special because deep-sea fishing was my planned 50th birthday treat, and the whole whānau came along.
Before we headed out, we’d already been warned that the fishing had been pretty slow. We were only in Rarotonga for a week though, so we didn’t have the luxury of waiting a few days for conditions to improve.
We headed out anyway. We got plenty of hits, but unfortunately no tuna for us that day.
Heading beyond the reef also gives you a completely different view of Rarotonga, with the mountains rising behind you and nothing but the Pacific Ocean ahead.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Fishing conditions and catches can change from day to day
- No charter can guarantee you’ll catch anything
- The ocean beyond the reef can be much rougher than the lagoon
Good to know: If you’re prone to seasickness, take that into consideration. The water beyond Rarotonga’s protective reef can be very different from the calm lagoon.
Walk the Cross-Island Track to The Needle
Okay, confession time. I haven’t done this one yet.
My son did the Cross-Island Track and climbed up towards Te Rua Manga – The Needle. I drove them to the start of the track and picked them up again at the other end, while we had the very important job of looking after our two-year-old moko.
The Needle is still firmly on our bucket list for next time.
The Cross-Island Track takes you through Rarotonga’s lush interior and is very different from spending your days around the beaches and lagoon.
It’s a proper hike rather than a casual stroll, and conditions can become muddy and slippery, particularly after rain.
Make sure you take:
- Plenty of drinking water
- Good sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- Sturdy walking shoes with good grip
- A hat
- A small snack
- A light rain jacket if the weather looks changeable
The tropical interior can be hot, humid and full of mosquitoes, so go prepared rather than treating this like a quick beach walk.
If you’re keen to explore Rarotonga beyond the coastline, this is one to investigate before your trip.
Experience a Local Cultural Show
One experience we’d definitely recommend making time for is a Cook Islands cultural show or Island Night.
The sound of the drums alone is something you’ll remember, but these evenings are also a chance to experience traditional dancing, storytelling, music and fire performances. Many include an umu feast or island-style buffet as part of the night.
There are several different experiences around Rarotonga, from large cultural villages to relaxed beachfront shows and even free performances.
Some of the options include:
- Te Vara Nui’s spectacular over-water show
- Highland Paradise’s cultural village, feast and show
- Traditional resort Island Nights
- Beachfront fire shows
- Hands-on cultural experiences
- Free Saturday performances at Punanga Nui Market
We’ve experienced Te Vara Nui ourselves and absolutely loved it. The setting, performance and dinner made it one of those Rarotonga experiences we’re really glad we did.
We’ve put together a separate guide comparing our favourite options, so if you’d like to include one in your holiday, have a read of our Best Island Nights & Cultural Experiences in Rarotonga to find the one that suits you.
Our tip: If it’s your first visit to Rarotonga, we’d make room in the budget for at least one cultural experience.
Take a Day Trip to Aitutaki
If you have enough time in Rarotonga, consider setting aside a day to visit Aitutaki.
It’s a short flight from Rarotonga, and the real highlight is getting out onto the incredible Aitutaki Lagoon. The colour of that water really does have to be seen to be believed.
A day trip usually means an early start and a full day, so it’s not something I’d try to squeeze into an already packed itinerary. But if Aitutaki is somewhere you’ve always wanted to see and you don’t have time to stay overnight, a day trip gives you the chance to experience it without changing islands for several days.
Thinking about adding Aitutaki to your Rarotonga holiday? Read our Aitutaki Day Trip from Rarotonga guide for everything you need to know before you go.
Our tip: If your Rarotonga holiday is only a few days long, I’d probably save Aitutaki for another trip. But if you’re staying a week or longer, it’s definitely worth considering.
What About Swimming with the Turtles?
You’ll see plenty of tours advertising the opportunity to swim with turtles in Rarotonga.
Due to my anxiety about being out near the reef, I decided this one wasn’t for me.
My brother-in-law did go, and while he loved seeing the turtles, he also found the water quite rough in places. He said there were sections where he had to work hard against the water, so his advice would be to make sure you’re a confident swimmer, particularly when conditions aren’t calm.
Conditions vary from day to day, and going with an experienced local operator is very different from attempting to swim out towards the reef yourself.
Know your own swimming ability, listen to the guides and don’t feel pressured to do something simply because everyone else is doing it.
Looking for More Things to Do in Rarotonga?
If you’d like to add a few organised experiences to your holiday, browse Rarotonga tours and activities to see what’s available for your travel dates.
From lagoon cruises and cultural experiences to guided adventures and day trips, it’s an easy way to compare what’s available and book the experiences that suit the way you like to travel.
Our Advice? Choose What Suits You
There are loads of things to do in Rarotonga that aren’t on this list.
You can go diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, take 4WD tours, hire scooters, go on cultural tours and fill almost every day with organised activities if that’s what you enjoy.
These are our favourite things to do in Rarotonga, not a checklist of everything you should do.
Choose a couple of experiences that really appeal to you, leave room for spontaneous beach days and don’t worry about the things you didn’t get around to.
They’ll give you a reason to come back.
“The best island days aren’t always the ones you planned.”
🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your “Tohu” guide you “Trust the Journey” and follow what feels right for you.
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