Rarotonga - Activities, Attractions & Shopping
Plenty of leisure and sports activities available on the island.
The Cross Island hike is worthwhile. It is a fairly arduous 4-hour hike but offers magnificent views from the top in the region of the Needle. The trail begins near Aviation Harbour and ends at Wigmore Falls on the south side of the island. You can flag down a local bus for the return trip back to the boat harbor
Duty-free liquors after outward clearance have been issued. Many tourist stores.
Takitumu Conservation Area
Located on the southeastern side of inland Rarotonga, this area covers 155 hectares of upland forest, scrub and fern land, and has played a major role in protecting one of the world’s rarest land birds, the kakerori. It is also home to the unique i’oi and kukupa native birds, and the introduced myna and long-tailed cuckoo. Takitumu contains 70% of all the plant species found in inland Rarotonga, including the neinei, the Rarotonga orchid, and the rare ground orchid.
Raui Marine Reserves
Raui is a traditional conservation system, which prohibits access to allow the rejuvenation of natural resources. Five marine Raui are in place in the lagoon on Rarotonga to protect the marine environment and to allow marine plants and animals an opportunity to grow and breed, and spread to other parts of the lagoon and sea. The total Raui area accounts for about 8% of the reef circumference of Rarotonga. Swimming and snorkeling are permitted in Raui areas but the harvest of marine life, particularly those traditionally used for food, is restricted or prohibited. Markers have been placed on the boundaries in the lagoon to identify the Raui areas. Blue signposts on the roadside also indicate areas under Raui. They include:
Tikioki: Snorkelling, swimming, and Glass Bottom Boat cruises are popular in this area due to the abundance of wildlife. You can expect to see at least 80 different fish species, not to mention numerous invertebrates and more than 30 species of marine plants and corals.
Aroko/Nukupure: The most unique feature of this area is the tidal salt marsh consisting of kiukiu (salt water paspalum grass) and Mauku tatau tai (sedge). It is a breeding ground for several species of fish and crab and has one of the few remaining populations of a native date mussel species. Rare migratory birds such as the bar tail godwits and sanderlings also use this area.
Matavera/Pouara : This area contains various invertebrate reef species, including kina, rori, paua and ariri.
Nikao: This reserve includes extensive reef flats, which provide important habitat for marine invertebrates, including Hariri, kina, paua, Rori, trochus, ungakoa, and vana.
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at [email protected]. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Shore Services: Restaurants, Bars & Nightlife
Related to following destinations: Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Cook Islands
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
Reported by Hugh Pilsworth:
Rarotonga:
There is only one harbor on the island, Avatui. It has no facilities for yachts. On approach, you call 16, harbourmaster. Don’t bother before 9 am as there’s no one in the office.
You are required to use your own anchor and moor Med style to the quay wall. There are large black tires about every 2 meters. To go ashore use your dinghy and go about 75 meters to a ladder around the corner, and it’s not that easy to get onto from a dinghy.
There is constant motion in the harbor from the prevailing SE trades, and you need a long bow line to shore to hold position when the bullets arrive. In northerly winds it is untenable.
There is a lot of dirt and dust blowing around and after 3 days the boat was filthy.
If you need any machine work done then Rarotonga Welding is excellent, and for the second-hand boat, parts ask for Keith, about 1 kilometer from the harbor. Garbage is collected 3 days a week, there are no bins.
The island is well worth a visit, and you will get clearance to visit the other islands without all the paperwork. Saturday morning market is well worth a visit. BlueSky is the phone and internet provider, both in town and the market.
The bureaucracy is maddening. In theory, all officials arrive close to each other. In fact, the health check was at 08.30, the Customs in the afternoon and Bio-Security never appeared. Harbor dues are $2.48 per foot per day, cash only in the harbor office, Customer worked out at $95 per person for a 3-day visit, they take cards in the office.
Immigration is at the end of town with the Customs. The health check was $40. All in all, almost $550 for the visit.
Would I go back? Probably not.
Departure tax is $66.30 p.p
Customs fees $ 57.20
Harbour dues $2.45 per meter (monohull) per day
Do not buoy your anchor in Avatiu harbor. It’s likely that the buoy will be in the way of shipping and you will probably be asked to remove it.
All their mooring information is correct; surge is a major problem if there is an N in the wind. All officials now come to the harbor, not Trader Jacks. Do not go ashore until you have permission! The harbormaster is a great guy, very helpful. Anthony sv Wild Fox
Andre Tuiravakai is the ports operation manager
Departure tax is now 65 dollars
27 meters is the air restriction