Quick Climate Info
Hottest Month February (80 °F avg)
Coldest Month August (72 °F avg)
Wettest Month January (4.37″ avg)
Windiest Month September (9 mph avg)

Thereof What is the best side of the island to stay on in Rarotonga? The north coast of Rarotonga is the best part of the island for proximity to the airport and the capital, Avarua. The latter is a working harbor with a charming Colonial-era ambiance. Visitors staying here will be close to all the amenities, including banks, supermarkets and museums.

Which side of Rarotonga has the best beaches? Located the Western side of Rarotonga, Black Rock is a local favourite for relaxing, swimming, snorkelling and catching the incredible sunsets Rarotonga is known for. Located in Aitutaki’s lagoon, One Foot Island is accessible by boat and offers a beautiful beach with great snorkelling to see giant clams and corals.

Similarly, Is Rarotonga or Aitutaki better?

Rarotonga has nice beaches, but they’re nothing on Aitutaki. Whilst most are white sand, most are a little pebbly and you need to wear flip flops / sea shoes as there are lots of rocks and coral around. Lovely, but not paradisiacal. Aitutaki on the other hand, is immense.

How many days do you need in Rarotonga?

I recommend spending seven to 10 nights in the Cook Islands. What is this? I spent a week there — three days on Rarotonga; four on Aitutaki — and found it to be the perfect amount of time.

What is the best swimming beach in Rarotonga? The best Rarotonga beaches

  • Vaimaanga Beach.
  • Aroa Beach.
  • Muri Lagoon.
  • Blackrock.
  • Papa’aroa Beach.
  • Titikaveka Beach.
  • Nikao Social Centre.

Which is the windy side of Rarotonga?

On days when the southern part of the island is windy, Black Rock is often sheltered from the wind. This makes it the perfect spot for relaxing on the beach (to the right of the actual Black Rocks), and for swimming and snorkeling.

Are there bats in Rarotonga? The Takitumu Conservation Area has the largest bat populations on Rarotonga.

How long does it take to walk around Rarotonga?

Rarotonga has a circumference of just 32 kilometres, meaning you can walk around the island in half a day. It has an intimate, laid back feel, and nothing is too much of a problem.

Is Raro expensive? Rarotonga is quite often cheaper than Aitutaki so if you’re on a budget, it’s safe to stay in this island. Depending on your spending habits and lifestyle, a safe manageable pocket money would be $100 – $150 NZ dollars per day. You can of course bring more than this!

Can you get a boat from Rarotonga to Aitutaki? There is no ferry between Rarotonga and Aitutaki, so this won’t be an option during your visit.

Why is Rarotonga a day behind NZ? During summer (in NZ and the Cook Islands) Rarotonga is only one hour ahead of NZ, due to daylight savings. North bound flights from Auckland take about 3.5 hours. Possibly less due to optimum windflow.

Is Cook Islands better than Fiji?

Cook Islands is more low key, smaller resorts and even the opportunity of fantastic self catering. The beaches are spectacular – better than the Fijian ones in my opinion especially in the Titikaveka area of Rarotonga and the Aitutaki lagoon is spectacular.

How long would it take to walk around Rarotonga?

Rarotonga has a circumference of just 32 kilometres, meaning you can walk around the island in half a day. It has an intimate, laid back feel, and nothing is too much of a problem.

How long does it take to travel around Rarotonga? Driving is pretty straightforward, taking about 45 to 50 minutes to drive around Rarotonga with only one main road circling the island, two roundabouts and absolutely no traffic lights!

Are there sharks in Rarotonga lagoon? Rarely you see little sharks in Rarotonga’s shallow lagoon. But there are Whitetip sharks, Blacktip sharks, and Grey reef sharks in the passages and open ocean areas of Rarotonga. And also, Hammerhead sharks, Tiger sharks, Bull sharks, and Oceanic white sharks.

How long does it take to cycle around Rarotonga?

Rent a Vehicle and Explore

Rent a motor scooter or a car and explore our little paradise at your own pace. Only 32 kms around, it takes just 45 minutes to circle Rarotonga by scooter or car.

What are the plants in Rarotonga? While famous for its variety of tropical flora – the Cook Islands support over 400 different plant species, among them the Frangipani (Tipani), Bougainvillea (Taria), and the profusely scented Gardenia (Tiare Maori) – surprisingly very few of these colourful plants are native to the islands and most were introduced, …

Are there snakes in Cook Islands?

7. There are no snakes or spiders on the islands. The Cook Islands are home to a variety of marine life, tropical flowers and plants. However, there’s not a snake or poisonous spider in sight.

What is the national flower of Cook Island? Tiare Maori, (Gardenia taitensis) grows in Rarotonga Island is the National Flower of the Cook Islands.

Is Rarotonga volcano active?

The Cook Islands are the result of volcanic activity and coralgrowth in the centre of the South Pacific Basin. The islands of Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro and Aitutaki are the emergent peaks of extinct volcanoes.

Are there sharks in Rarotonga? There are not only sharks in Rarotonga, but in the entire Cook Islands. Penrhyn in particular, an atoll in the Northern Group, is famous for its abundance of sharks, which has given it the nickname Shark Island.

How deep is the ocean around Rarotonga?

The reef is shallow, with a maximum depth of 1.5m, and has a number of passages, notably at Avarua, Avatiu and Ngatangiia. Beyond the reef crest, the outer reef slopes steeply to deep water.

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