Rarotonga, Cook Islands Travel Guide
Make the most of your time in Rarotonga, Cook Islands with this simple travel guide based on our adventures.
Cook Islands, New Zealand may be the islands you have never heard of but are a true hidden gem. It's one of those places where you can truly get away from all modern-day stress.
From what we have seen the islands are connected to New Zealand but mostly through political ties as it's located in the South Pacific a decent way away. We've heard others describe Cook Islands as Hawaii before it was industrialized because of the amazing island vibe.
Travel with simplicity for the ultimate adventure. Use our simple travel guide to explore like us and get the most out of your vacation.
Our travel vibe blends discovery and leisure. When we travel we enjoy our downtime but also make sure to experience each destination.
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Rarotonga
We stayed on the main island of Rarotonga and if you are heading to Cook Islands, this is the place to be. There is always an option to island-hop but in keeping up with our simplicity lifestyle we suggest saving your time and energy by staying on this one island.
By visiting Rarotonga you still get the whole Cook Islands experience with some extra time for relaxing at the beach. Even with the small island size, only 26 square miles, you still have room for plenty of fun experiences.
Where to Stay
Bookabach
We ended up going to Cook Islands because Phil found a flight deal so we booked our flight before we had any idea where to stay! We ended up looking through several options and finally landed on Bookabach. This is New Zealand's and Australia's version of Airbnb or VRBO (we think).
It was easy to use since we could filter by location on the island, and amenities available. We wanted to be right on the beach, not have to walk (or bike) very far to get into town and have some amenities which would be useful for a two-week stay like a washing machine, showers, TV and a kitchen.
The house that we rented was a 3 bedroom home which was lots of space but the price was great. We had a full kitchen, tile floors all over, a washing machine, and best of all, our backyard was right on the beach with a porch.
It was amazing to be able to wake up to the sound of waves. Our stay was hosted by a great guy who was easily reached the entire time. He even set up transportation with his niece the day we got there.
Where to Eat
Tamarind House
This was a great place we ended up at after an 18-mile bike ride around the island. It was close to our place and open for brunch on a Sunday which wasn't the case everywhere on the island. They had mimosas and espresso which is a must for brunch.
The best part about the whole experience wasn't the food, it was the view. We sat right on the beach, with a pristine view of the water.
The windows were open so we could smell the fresh air and hear the water as we ate. It was a great way to enjoy both island food and island life, all wrapped into one.
Le Rendez Vous
When we flew out of Rarotonga, we left at midnight so we had some time to kill before our flight. We ended up in town and right by the airport found this cute french cafe.
They had a variety of food including both normal lunch food and bakery items you would expect from a French cafe. Phil ate a giant burger which was much more filling than he expected but very delicious. They had fruity drinks and then we finished off the meal with a fabulous dessert to get us ready for our flight back home.
Trader Jacks
This was a place Phil had picked out very early on. He had done a little research and this seemed to be THE place that everyone mentioned we should eat at. The other draw was they had pizza and he can never turn down pizza.
It ended up being everything we thought it would be with great pizza, fresh toppings, and Kelsey even enjoyed some local wine. Trader Jack's sits right above the water and had a wrap-around deck that is covered. This way you don't burn up in the sun but still enjoy the full ambiance of being right on the ocean.
The restaurant is now storm-resistant after being rebuilt three times from natural disasters. All their windows, doors, chairs, tables, etc can be removed so just the building is left standing. It's an amazing place and we are really glad they have been able to survive for so long.
What to Do
Punanga Nui Market
This market is open every day but we enjoyed some great waffles and coffee on Saturday as that is when more vendors are there. There are tons of booths with fresh food, baked goods, fruits and vegetables, and of course, souvenirs.
We spent about an hour there but you could be there for at least 2-3 hours shopping all the island wear and enjoying fresh, authentic island food.
The Beach
Rarotonga is an island so there are going to be beaches but we didn't know just how accessible beaches would be. They were everywhere! The island is small so any which way you walk you could find a beach nearby. Our bach had a beach right out the backdoor and we found our way to other beaches around the island as well.
The accessibility of the beaches varies even though the island is surrounded by a lagoon. On the northern and western sides, the beaches have more rocks and corals. This can make it harder to swim but fun for climbing.
The best place for sandy beaches is on the south and east sides, near the town of Muri. This area is popular with tourists and has a lot of resorts and houses to rent. Since the island is so small, it doesn't matter where you stay, it's only a short trip over to Muri if you want a little more seclusion or a little lower price.
Rent a bike
Even though the island is small, we still had to find a way to get around. We opted to rent bicycles so that we could get some exercise while traveling around. This was a great choice for us but it seems like the majority of people on the island use or rent scooters.
You can rent a car but it did not seem very common. Just note that whatever you choose to rent, they drive on the left side of the road in Cook Islands.
We ended up renting from Ride Rarotonga which is the largest bike rental shop on the island. They offer free bike drop off and pick up and are located right down the street from the airport. We didn't use the drop-off and instead just walked there from our bach to get in more exercises.
The bikes are a fair price and come with helmets, baskets, and locks. You will probably save money by renting a scooter but we wanted to be environmentally friendly and exercise more.
Abandoned Hotel
This was the coolest place ever. It's an unfinished 5-star resort believed to be haunted and cursed.
There is a story about the chief of the area being killed by a settler over the land. The chief's family cursed the land and said that any business would fail until it was returned to its rightful owner.
A group from Italy back in the 1980s bought this land to build a resort and got about 80% done. Then the finances were cut off (maybe due to mafia ties) and the project nearly bankrupted the Cook Islands government.
Nowadays it sits abandoned, never completed, and very spooky. We explored it during the day which we highly suggest as it was a little frightening even in the daytime. Some chickens were fighting and some scary cows who were walking around with some very haunting "moo's". We walked around for about 30 minutes and we didn't even get close to seeing the whole thing.
You may want to visit soon since there is a new investment group backed by the Chinese government interested in completing the hotel. Of course, the land might be cursed so unless the curse is lifted, maybe the hotel will never be completed.
If you find yourself on Rarotonga, make sure you explore this cursed hotel and see for yourself. The hotel sits on the south side of the island, away from most of the more developed areas.
We hope our travel guide for Cook Islands, New Zealand will inspire you and help you plan your next trip. These secluded islands are the perfect beach getaway off-grid. Happy Adventuring!
