Cook Islands Tours & Activities
Rarotonga is a place where you can do nothing but relax, get amongst a number of activities or go exploring.
Being only 32 kilometres around the island, everything is easily accessible.
Whichever resort you choose you will be able to laze in and around their freshwater pools and swim and snorkel the beautiful, fish-filled lagoons. Here are a few other things that may be of interest…
Tours
Muri Lagoon Cruise: Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise is undoubtedly one of the best ways to enjoy the protected lagoon of Rarotonga. Board the glass bottom boat and cruise out to the inner reef area where the marine life is abundant. Snorkel amongst schools of butterfly fish. Have a go at hand feeding the many varieties of colourful tropical fish or go exploring amongst the many coral outcrops that act as home to many marine animals. Then enjoy a fresh fish BBQ on Koromiri Island complete with a song and show.
Departs: Monday to Saturday 11am. Adult NZ$60. Child (2-11 years) NZ$32. Includes Glass bottom boat cruise, lunch and transfers.
A visit to the Cook Islands Cultural Village is a must do on any Cook Islands Itinerary. This is a great opportunity to get an overview of the Culture and History of the Cook Islands. Imagine what it must have been like to live in these islands before the missionaries arrived. Even further back when the first navigators arrived on their massive double hulled canoes complete with whole societies. This guided tour throughout the many cultural huts of the village includes information and demonstrations of costume making, fishing, Maori medicine, weaving, coconut husking, cooking, carving and learning how to dance. Enjoy a tropical island lunch and traditional island show.
Departs: Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Adult NZ$60, Child (2-11 years) NZ$30. Includes light lunch, show and transfers.
Visit a deserted island on Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise. Go on Captain Tama's glass-bottom boat cruise of Muri Lagoon, watch the fish being fed and snorkel off the boat if you like, then stop at a deserted island (motu) for a beach BBQ. You can also explore the shipwreck on the other side of the motu.
Departs: Monday to Saturday 11am Adult $58 Child $28 includes Glass bottom boat cruise, lunch and transfers.
Raro Safari Tour: Take to the inland of Rarotonga on a 4x4 safari jeep. See the ancient road, the Are metua, built and paved with volcanic slabs by our ancestors Toi and Atonga. The eastern heights facing the sunrise, offering an exotic view of the turquoise lagoon and electrifying blue water and overlooking four islets (motu). Papua Waterfall, also known as Wigmore's Waterfall. The sacred site Te Arai-Te-Tonga Marae. The interior of the beautiful green Avatiu Valley leading to a close-up view of the Needle (Te Rua Manga). Experienced guides will explain the history of the island while they take you to Rarotonga's highest accessible point by 4 wheel drive, along the rugged tracks and steep climbs of the interior.
Departs: Daily (Two trips a day, 9.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4.30pm) Adult NZ$60. Includes light refreshments and hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Activities
See (and hear!) one of the world's rarest birds. Hike into the hills of the Takitumu Conservation Area to visit the habitat of one of the world's rarest little birds, the endangered (and chatty!) kakerori.
Swim at Wigmore's Waterfall. Hike or drive up to 'the waterfall' and look for the shy freshwater prawns (Take along some insect repellant for the mosquitoes).
Hire a 4WD and explore the back roads, villages and plantations of Rarotonga at your own pace.
Take in an Island Night spectacular. Even if you normally avoid these types of nights, you'll regret it if you don't go to one. See how Island people today still cook in underground ovens with hot rocks and banana and coconut palm leaves. Enjoy the finger-licking umukai feast and the sensual, taste of authentic dances.
Go star gazing. Islands like Rarotonga, far away from the lights of big cities, gives you the chance to really witness the magic and wonder of the night sky twinkling with the lights of trillions of stars. You're almost guaranteed to see a shooting star.
Walks and Climbs. The most popular of these is the cross-island mountain trek, which takes approximately 4 hours.
The reef is also a favourite place to explore a variety of marine life, when the tide is low. For more adventurous walks, engage the services of one of the excellent guided tour operators.
Diving
The scuba diving in the Cook Islands is spectacular, professional and great value (from both Rarotonga and Aitutaki). It's a terrific spot for the experienced or novice diver. If you haven't dived before, why not use your holiday to learn a new skill in some of the best dive sites in the world at a great price? Visibility ranges from 100ft to 200ft, depending on the wind and weather, and there are canyons, caves, drop-offs to explore as well as myriad colourful fish to hand-feed and varieties of coral to marvel at. There are two wreck dives and, because Rarotonga is a circular island, there are always sheltered dive locations within a 20 minute boat ride. Deep sea and charter game fishing are also very affordable and fishing starts as soon as you leave the harbour.
Aitutaki
As previously detailed on the site, Aitutaki is a must, even if time will only allow for a day trip. The one thing you will constantly hear from day-trippers is, "if only I'd known it was so beautiful I would have booked to stay there". It simply is a stunning and beautiful place. Part atoll and part volcanic in origin, the outer lagoon is dotted with totally uninhabited islands, just waiting for your footsteps on the virgin sands. The huge inner lagoon is waiting for you and your snorkelling gear to discover its colourful fish. This incredible lagoon is actually the crater of an ancient drowned volcano, and its brilliant aquamarine waters literally teem with fish of every type and description and is the most breathtakingly beautiful underwater environment. Aitutaki lagoon was also once the refueling stop for Air New Zealand's predecessor, TEAL, with its famous Sunderland Flying Boat Service from NZ/Australia to the USA, along the famous Coral Route from North America through the South Pacific.
Aitutaki Day Tours depart Monday to Saturday at 8am, returning at 5.30pm. Adult NZ$399. The tour includes transfers to/from airport to your accomodation, flights, island tour of Aitutaki, lagoon cruise, lunch, towels and snorkeling gear provided.
The Day Tour starts with a coach transfer from all hotels and motels to Rarotonga International Airport for an 8am departure to Aitutaki. The flight takes 40 minutes on a Saab 340 pressurised airliner during which a light breakfast muffin and tea/coffee are served. On arrival at Aitutaki you will be taken on a short island tour by ‘le truck’ lasting around one and a half hours and during which a stop is made at the local village market where souvenir T-shirts etc. can be purchased. Then it’s on to the highlight of the day – the lagoon cruise. Departing from the wharf opposite Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa, you will board the 21 metre catamaran Titi-ai-tonga. (Translation: “Wind from the South” the name of a historic trading schooner that used to serve the island early last century). The catamaran has comfortable covered seating as well as sunbathing decks and access is easily negotiated for people with physical disabilities including those in wheel chairs. There is time for snorkelling and swimming before stopping at a motu (small islet on the fringing reef) for a tasty barbecue lunch, cooked right on board. Anyone who has not snorkelled before will find our lagoon tour guides only to happy to help you experience the wonder of the lagoons underwater world. It’s not that hard and after a short lesson most people will find snorkelling a breeze. The cruise will pass by Akaiami, the small islet that was once a stopover for huge TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) Shorts Solent flying boats enroute from Fiji to Tahiti on the famous weekly Coral Route TM. The service finished in 1965 when Tahiti’s international airport at Faaa opened to landplane service. The return flight arrives back at Rarotonga airport at 5.30pm. Snorkelling gear and towels are provided on the lagoon cruise. We recommend you bring a light change of clothing, sun protection, and lots of extra film.
