23 Essential Rarotonga Travel Tips for Your First Visit

There is something so special about the South Pacific islands. Not only absolutely beautiful, but the warm hospitality and slow way of living will have you missing island time when you return home. I recently went to the Cook Islands, and after many trips to other islands in the South Pacific, I was very excited for this. I’ve put together a list of my best Rarotonga travel tips, so you can take the guesswork out and feel more prepared for your trip. 

This Rarotonga travel guide answers your questions about everything from money and visas to hiring a car, what to pack, potential dangers and how to plan ahead so you don’t miss out.

What Do I Need To Know Before Travelling To Rarotonga?

How to get to Rarotonga

Australia and New Zealand are so far away from nearly everywhere in the world, but how lucky are we that we have direct flights to this paradise. 

There are daily direct flights from Australia to the Cook Islands with Jetstar, departing from Sydney or Brisbane. These flights depart late evening which has you landing into Rarotonga early morning, on the same day. 

Then from Auckland, New Zealand, there are direct flights with Jetstar on Monday, Thursday & Saturday. And these flights depart in the morning and land in Rarotonga mid-afternoon, the day before.

One of the Cook Islands’ closest neighbours is French Polynesia, and 4 times weekly there are direct flights from Papeete to Rarotonga with Air Rarotonga and Air Tahiti.

Direct flights from the United States are available once a week from Hawaiʻi or from LA; there are flights via Papeete.

All these schedules are subject to change by the airline at any time.

Power plug type for the Cook Islands

The electrical outlets in the Cook Islands are Type I. This is the same as Australia, New Zealand, Fiji & China, just to name a few.

What currency do they use?

The Cook Islands use the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).

Do I need cash? Are cards accepted?

Most places accept cards, but you’ll often pay a small surcharge. I recommend carrying some cash, especially for purchases at markets and roadside stalls. You’ll also find plenty of ATMs around the island if you need to withdraw more.

Should I get an eSIM? / Is there Wi-Fi?

You can use an eSIM in the Cook Islands. Vodafone offers the most reliable network, and you can buy an eSIM online before your trip or at the airport when you arrive.

I was in the Cook Islands for 8 days and never used an eSIM. I always found it easy to get wifi (even got connected while at the beach sometimes); it was always free and the connection was pretty strong. Usually, when hiring a car, I like my phone to be connected in case of any unforeseen circumstances. But Rarotonga is so small that even if we needed assistance, it would only be a short walk to a small business or someone who could help. 

So a good to know Rarotonga travel tip: eSIMs aren’t essential.

Do I need a visa for the Cook Islands?

So obviously this depends on what passport you hold, so always check your requirements before departing. But some of the standard entry requirements for the Cook Islands are; 

A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date (this doesn’t include Australian or New Zealand passport holders). 
Hold a return/Onward ticket. 
Proof of booked accommodation.
Proof of sufficient funds.

If you have an Australian passport, you can visit visa-free for up to 31 days. During my visit, no one asked me to prove I had sufficient funds for my stay.

What are some essentials I should pack for the Cook Islands?

Sun protection and insect repellent. You can find these in Rarotonga, but shops carry limited stock and often charge more than you would pay at home.
Reef shoes, not the most flattering thing to wear, but some of the beaches in Rarotonga can be rocky and have sharp coral near the shore. Plus, a local even told me to watch out for Stonefish. 
A travel power adapter if your appliances aren’t Type I.
Light clothing that’s suitable for hot weather and can give your skin some coverage from the sun. 
At least one jacket or jumper; it can get cool in the evenings. 
If you plan to visit a local village or Sunday church service, you’ll need a neat & modest outfit. 
Sarongs are a must for beach days or getting around town.
A reusable water bottle so you can limit single-use plastic & your impact on this beautiful island.

Rarotonga Travel Tips For Planning Your Trip 

Is Rarotonga expensive? Budget Tips

I wouldn’t say Rarotonga is expensive, but I also wouldn’t say it’s overly cheap. Yes it’s cheaper than Australia and New Zealand but certainly nothing like, say, Southeast Asia. 

Generally, at a mid-range restaurant, a meal would cost between $15 – $25. But at some of the fancy restaurants, usually located within a resort, a main meal would be $40+.

There are certainly ways to make a trip to the Cook Islands more budget-friendly. We ate breakfast at our accommodation most days, using food we bought at the supermarket. And most days we would only eat out in a sit-down restaurant once. Plus, it’s great to take advantage of Rarotonga’s takeaway culture. So many good places to eat and plenty of beautiful beaches to dine at.

In my other Rarotongan travel guide, I list heaps of awesome places to eat!

How do I get around — scooter, car or bus?

There are a few options for getting around Rarotonga. You can hire a car or scooter, take the local bus, or use a local taxi service. Although the taxis charge per person, so this would get expensive, especially if using them on a regular basis. 

If you like the idea of taking the bus, the Rarotongan bus service would be a convenient option; they operate 2 buses that circle the island, clockwise and anti-clockwise. The buses have designated stops, but you can also wave one down along the route. Each trip will cost $5, and you’ll have to pay in cash.

Hiring a car is what my friend and I did for the duration of our stay. I absolutely loved having our own car. The island is very easy to navigate, everyone drives at a nice slow pace, and yes, fuel is expensive (around $3.50 per litre), but Rarotonga is so small, I can’t imagine you’d use more than one tank. 

If you plan to hire a car, I’d recommend booking it in advance. Rental cars aren’t kept at the airport, so if you want to collect yours when you arrive, you’ll need to arrange this with the rental company in advance.

Find the best car rental deals with Discover Cars. 

So, do you need to hire a vehicle when staying on Rarotonga? It’s certainly not essential, as there are other transport options. But in my opinion, and if you’re able to drive, having your own car is the best. This will give you so much more freedom and flexibility to explore Rarotonga at your own pace.

How long does it take to get around the island? 

Not long at all! One thing I loved about Rarotonga is that you don’t need a complicated plan. The island is only 32km around, so you can be sitting on the beach one minute and at the other side of the island 20 minutes later.

Rarotonga travel tips for accommodation

So, where should you stay in Rarotonga? As the island is relatively small, there’s no “bad area” to stay; everywhere is beautiful. But in my opinion, the BEST areas to stay on Rarotonga are somewhere along the southern coast and up to Muri Lagoon are the best areas to stay in Rarotonga. Because the beaches are the most beautiful, close to safe snorkel areas & plenty of great food options close by.

How many days do I need in the Cook Islands?

I would say you need at least 1 week in Rarotonga. This will give you enough time to experience all the wonderful things there are to do in Rarotonga and enjoy them at a relaxed pace. If you have more than a week, try to spend a few nights in Aitutaki; it’s absolutely stunning. 

What should I know about Sundays/local customs?

Sundays in the Cook Islands, like many other South Pacific islands, are all about slowing down and spending time with family. For visitors, this means many shops and restaurants close, particularly in the morning. But finding dinner out shouldn’t be an issue; we went to Muri Night Market on Sunday night. 

Local churches welcome tourists to attend their services, and congregations often treat visitors as honoured guests. 

Other Rarotonga Travel Tips To Know Before Your Holiday Begins

Restaurants can book out, and some businesses have surprisingly limited opening days/hours. Although Rarotonga is a busy spot for tourists, this is still a small island in the middle of the South Pacific and does heavily rely on International imports.
This can result in limited opening hours for many cafes & restaurants. So if there’s somewhere you really want to eat, check opening hours ahead of time and if you can book a table a few days in advance. Particularly if you’re with a big group.

Pre-book day tours! Same goes with day tours; if you’re travelling during high season, you seriously need to pre-book day tours. I was in Rarotonga for 8 days in June and was so surprised that even a week before I left Australia, nearly every day tour was booked out. 

The Saturday market is worth planning around. If you can, be in Rarotonga on Saturday; the Punanga Nui Market is the place to be. Open from 8 am, this free event has stalls selling local food & locally made products. It’s the perfect place to get souvenirs and also watch a fun cultural performance. Plus, if you’re travelling with children, there’s a large playground right next to it.

What To Be Careful Of When Visiting Rarotonga

Tap water

The tap water in Rarotonga isn’t safe to drink; it’s best to drink bottled or filtered water. I recommend bringing your own drink bottle because there’s free filtered water available in many places, and it’s always good to reduce the amount of single-use plastics.

Coral, rocks & Stonefish

Discovering the reef around Rarotonga is the absolute best, but it’s necessary to be careful. Getting cuts or scrapes from rocks or coral could cause a bacterial infection. And I didn’t even think of this until a local brought it to our attention, but there are Stonefish around, and their sting is known to be extremely painful. It’s a good idea to have reef shoes with you if you’re swimming in a rough or rocky area. 

Take care when swimming near the reef passages

Swimming in or close to the reef passages around Rarotonga needs to be done with extreme care, and should never be done alone. The fast-flowing seaward currents that rush out to the open ocean in the passages can be fatal, and warning signs should be taken seriously.

Around the island, near dangerous spots, there are signs along the shore and on tourist maps of Rarotonga; these spots are also noted. 

Rarotonga is surrounded by so many stunning and safe beaches, so unless you’re on a snorkelling tour or with a professional guide, there’s no need to swim near any of the passages. 

Large population of dogs

I wouldn’t say there’s anything to worry about, but mainly just be mindful, especially if travelling with children; there are a large number of stray dogs roaming the island. 

From my experience, they were all friendly, happy and took really no notice of tourists. 

The Cook Islands SPCA Animal Shelter does care for many stray dogs and will be notified of any aggressive behaviour. Plus, they try to desex as many of them as possible to reduce the number of unwanted litters. 

As an animal lover, I enjoyed seeing so many dogs around and observing their happy nature. 

Mosquitoes

They’re horrible things and can be a real problem in the Cook Islands. Recently, Rarotonga had a massive outbreak of Dengue Fever, although it has been declared dengue-free since May 2026. 

But Mosquitoes are still everywhere in Rarotonga, so it’s important to be cautious, especially around dusk and wear light, long clothing or use insect repellent. 

Petty theft

Although my friend and I never had an issue, we were advised that petty theft is known to happen in Rarotonga. Of course this can happen anywhere, but it’s also good to be mindful of the possibilities and take reasonable care to avoid being robbed. 

The only things we ever worried about were ensuring our car and accommodation were locked each night, and we never took any valuables to the beach or left our items completely unattended.

Don’t travel without insurance

And, my lucky last Rarotonga travel tip is, please don’t leave home without a good travel insurance policy. I know spending the extra money can be annoying, but travel insurance is so important. Medical facilities in the Cook Islands can be limited, and if something were to happen and you needed to be medically evacuated, this can cost upwards of 100 grand and without insurance, you would need to pay upfront. 

Trust me, travel insurance isn’t a waste of money!
Also, not all policies are the same; some insurance companies are tight asses, so make sure you pick a good one. I highly recommend Cover More. 

My Rarotonga Travel Tips, In Conclusion

I hope these Rarotonga travel tips have helped you feel more prepared for your trip, from knowing what to expect to staying safe and getting organised before you arrive.

If you’re planning a holiday to the Cook Islands, be sure to check out my guide on the best things to do in Rarotonga too. This guide will help you prepare for your trip, while my other guide covers what to see and do once you’re there. Together, they’ll help you plan your Rarotonga holiday with confidence!

I hope you have the most amazing time in the Cook Islands.