Rarotonga
The most populous of the Cook Islands is stunning in its natural beauty and physical drama. A halo of flame-orange coral reef encircles the island, and Rarotonga’s sapphire-blue lagoon is trimmed by sparkling white beaches.
Rarotonga offers dozens of restaurants in a variety of price ranges and with different cuisines. Downtown Avarua has the largest concentration of restaurants ranging from Mama’s or the Blue Note Café to the Tamarind House with its international menu. Trader Jack’s is legendary – when a cyclone took out their restaurant, they reopened for a time in a ship container and were known as Jack’s in the Box until they rebuilt in their harbor-side location.
Unspoiled Beauty
Rarotonga, the hub of the Cook Islands, has so much to see and do, yet remains unspoiled. Palm-studded white sandy beaches fringe most of the island, and there is a popular cross-island walk that connects Avatiu valley with the south side of the island. Popular island activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, bike riding, kite surfing, hiking, deep-sea fishing, boat tours, scenic flights, going to restaurants, dancing, seeing island shows, zipping around on mopeds, and napping on the beach. Rarotonga is just like one big resort with endless adventures and excitement just waiting to be explored.
