Do you know what you call people from the island of Rarotonga? You call them Rarotongans, and they are mighty friendly folks. Where is Raratonga, anyway? It’s in the Cook Islands in the middle of the South Pacific. Take advantage of our epic Rarotonga deals and split for this mossy rock now.
In order to get a real feel for this tiny island, start your Rarotonga holiday off with a self-guided motor scooter tour and explore the whole place in an hour. You can obtain a 24-hour Cook Islands driver’s license as long as you have a valid one from your home country. Scoot through the beautiful valleys and flow with the sea breeze along Raro’s ocean roads. You can also pick up one of lastminute.com.au’s sweet Rarotonga car hire options in case two-wheelers aren’t what you’re all about.
After zipping around like a madman on the scooter, use your legs to scale the tallest point on the island, known as the Needle. The sweeping ocean views from the top are unbeatable! Keep an eye out for the statue of the deity Tangaroa, which is carved into the rock face. Rarotonga holidays aren’t complete without a trek to the top of the needle, so bring your camera and snap some shots for Instagram. #needle… we’ll let you complete that sentence.
This is a small island in the middle of the South Pacific, but shopping does exist. The Punanga Nui Cultural Market is great for buying just about anything. There’s local vendors selling hand-carved staff gods and stone sculptures. There’s also a number of souvenir stands where you can pick up traditional trinkets like intricately woven tivaevae and carefully strung shell necklaces.
One thing you’ll do during Cook Islands holidays is eat delectable food. Many of the restaurants in the town of Avarua serve tasty dishes of raw fish salad, taro leaves cooked with coconut sauce and onions and a variety of other seafood dishes. The Punanga Nui Cultural Market is a great place for sampling the local produce and fresh catches of the day.
Are you ready to break it down when the sun sets? There’s a number of good night spots in Avarua that will be perfect for boogying down with the locals. If you’re there during the right time, you must check out one of the island’s night performances. Locals gather at restaurants and hotels and put on musical shows that you can’t see anywhere else in the world. After looking through all the Rarotonga packages, check with the hotel you choose about upcoming island nights and when these awesome events are held.
We probably don’t have to say anything more about this little gem in the South Pacific, but then we wouldn’t be doing our job. Check out the best deals on Rarotonga holiday packages and choose the perfect one for you. Browse, book, pack and go all at the last minute—you’ll be home for dinner another time.
Reviewed on 8 Oct. 2019
Reviewed on 9 May 2022
^Savings based on all package bookings made with Flight + Hotel on lastminute.com.au from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.
