Thinking about visiting the Cook Islands? Here are our top travel tips, including money, transport, restaurants, packing advice and practical things to know before you go.
If you’re dreaming of turquoise lagoons, swaying palm trees and snorkelling in crystal-clear water, the Cook Islands might just be the perfect South Pacific escape.
This laid-back island nation is famous for its friendly locals, stunning beaches and relaxed pace of life. But like many tropical destinations, there are a few things that are helpful to know before you go.
After spending time exploring both Rarotonga and Aitutaki, we picked up plenty of practical tips that made our trip easier.
From how to get around to where to eat and what to pack, here’s everything we learned when planning our Cook Islands holiday.
You can read out other Cook Islands articles here:
Table of Contents
Book Ahead During Peak Periods
The Cook Islands are an incredibly popular holiday destination for New Zealand families, especially during school holidays.
If you’re visiting during peak periods, it’s important to book well ahead.
This includes:
- Accommodation
- Hire car
- Tours
- Aitutaki day trips
- Popular restaurants
Things can book out surprisingly quickly, particularly on Rarotonga.
Top tip: As soon as you book your flights, start locking in accommodation and a hire car.
Money in the Cook Islands
Everything in the Cook Islands is paid for in New Zealand dollars.
While many hotels, restaurants and tour operators accept credit or debit cards, cash is still widely used, particularly for:
- Buses
- Market stalls
- Roadside fruit stalls
- Small cafes
You’ll also often receive coin change in Cook Islands currency, which makes a fun souvenir. Just try to spend the coins before you leave as they can’t be exchanged elsewhere.
There are ATMs all over Rarotonga. During our trip we used machines from ANZ and BCI.
If you bank with ANZ at home, you can withdraw cash from ANZ machines without a fee. Otherwise expect to pay around $5 per withdrawal.
Getting Around the Cook Islands
Getting around Rarotonga is surprisingly easy.
There is essentially one main road that circles the island, so you can drive either clockwise or anticlockwise. It takes around 45 minutes to drive the full loop, making it almost impossible to get lost.
Transport options include (I’ll go into more detail on this below):
- Hire car
- Bus
- Taxi
- Kuber
- Bike or scooter
Driving is very straightforward. The only real hazards to watch out for are free-roaming dogs and chickens crossing the road.
Transport options are more limited on Aitutaki. If you want to explore the island independently, you’ll need to hire a car or cycle, although most hotels offer transfers for tours and activities.
We hired a car in Aitutaki through Popoara. They picked us up from our resort to pick up the car and process the paperwork at their office. You can mail them on [email protected]
Hire a Car (Our Top Recommendation)
For families, hiring a car is by far the easiest way to explore the island.
While buses and taxis are available, the cost adds up quickly. For example, the bus costs $5 per ride per person, so a family of four would spend around $20 per trip. Taxis also charge per person – usually $20 per person!
Having a hire car gives you the flexibility to explore beaches, cafes and snorkelling spots at your own pace.
Popular hire companies on Rarotonga include:
- Island Car & Bike Hire
- Raro Cars
- Avis
We hired our car from Island Car & Bike Hire for around $120 NZD per day, including insurance and excess.
The car was waiting for us in the airport car park when we arrived and we simply dropped it back when we left, which made things very easy.
Top tip: Hire cars often sell out during busy periods, so book as soon as you confirm your flights.
Using the Bus in Rarotonga
Rarotonga has a simple and easy-to-use bus system.
Two buses circle the island:
- One travelling clockwise
- One travelling anticlockwise
Tickets cost $5 per person per ride, or you can buy a 10-trip ticket for $35, which works out cheaper if you plan to use the bus multiple times. This can be shared as a family too.
You can check the timetable at cookislandsbus.com, but be aware that buses sometimes run on “island time.”
Top tip: Download the TransportMe app to live-track the buses.
Taxis and Kuber
Taxis are widely available on Rarotonga and your hotel or restaurant can easily arrange one.
However, taxis charge $20 per person, which can make them quite expensive for families.
A fun alternative is Kuber, which is a bit like a cross between a taxi and Uber. Passengers ride in the back of a ute, which makes for a fun local experience. Cost is $10 per person.
It’s a great option for getting to dinner in the evening if you don’t want to drive.
Drinking Water
Generally speaking, it’s not recommended to drink tap water in the Cook Islands.
However, many resorts filter their water, so it may be safe to drink depending on where you stay. It’s always best to check with your hotel first.
Most restaurants serve filtered tap water, and there are also UV-filtered water refill stations around the island where you can safely refill your bottles.
Bringing reusable water bottles is a good idea.
Shopping in the Cook Islands
While the Cook Islands are small, there are plenty of places to pick up supplies and souvenirs.
- Supermarkets include Wigmore’s in the south of Rarotonga and CITC in Avarua.
- You’ll also find lots of roadside stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, which are well worth stopping for.
- The island is also famous for its bakeries, particularly the delicious local donuts. Our favourite was Tiare’s, located just across the road from Muri Beach.
- It’s prohibited to buy/sell alcohol in stores on a Sunday in the Cook Islands. You can still buy alcohol in bars and restaurants, but if you want to buy take out, plan ahead.
- Don’t miss the Punanga Nui Market, held every Saturday morning. Everybody on the island heads here to browse stalls for local food, handmade crafts, souvenirs and live music. Don’t miss the fresh fruit smoothies!
Connectivity and SIM Cards
Mobile roaming can be limited in the Cook Islands. If your phone provider doesn’t offer roaming, the easiest option is to buy an eSIM through Vodafone.
You’ll find a Vodafone booth right after customs at Rarotonga International Airport.
A typical plan costs around $49 for 10GB of data for 15 days.
What to Pack for the Cook Islands
Here are a few essentials that we were very glad we brought with us:
- Mosquito repellent – Preferably with DEET, as dengue fever exists in the Cook Islands.
- Reef-safe sunscreen – You can buy it locally, but it’s usually cheaper at home.
- Reef shoes – Stonefish are present in some areas, so reef shoes are recommended when entering the water.
- Snorkelling gear – Tours will provide equipment, but if you want to snorkel independently around the island it’s useful to bring your own.
- Rash vests – It’s very easy to get sunburnt while snorkelling without realising it.
- Reusable water bottles – Perfect for refilling at the island’s filtered water stations.
- Travel adaptor – The Cook Islands uses the same angled three-prong plugs as Australia and New Zealand.
Where We Ate in the Cook Islands
There’s loads of options for eating out in the Cook Islands. Menus often feature burgers, fresh seafood and the famous fish sandwich, and don’t miss trying the local dish Ika Mata – raw fish marinated in coconut milk.
Some of our favourite restaurants on Rarotonga included:
- Nautilus Restaurant – beautiful setting overlooking Muri Lagoon.
- Tamarind House – lovely setting in a heritage colonial house.
- On the Beach – beachfront restaurant. Every Sunday is a buffet dinner with fire show.
- Shipwreck Hut – great lunch spot on the beach, known for its cocktails. Don’t miss the fish curry.
For a fun casual dinner, head to the Muri Night Market, which runs several nights a week and serves delicious street-style food.
Some of our favourite restaurant on Aitutaki included:
- Rapae Bay Restaurant at Pacific Resort – amazing sunset views, although kids need to be 12+ and they are very strict about it.
- Tamanu Beach Resort restaurant – excellent food in a casual setting. Every Wednesday and Saturday is “Island Night” with a buffet of local favourites and traditional entertainment.
- Avatea Cafe – casual spot for lunch in the middle of the island.
- Koru Cafe – casual spot for lunch and fresh fruit smoothies.
Where We Stayed
There are plenty of accommodation options across the Cook Islands, although prices are generally similar to Australia, so don’t expect it to be a particularly cheap holiday.
In Rarotonga, we loved staying at Nautilus Resort, a boutique property overlooking beautiful Muri Lagoon. We enjoyed some of the best food in Rarotonga here too.
We also stayed at Pacific Resort, which has spacious family rooms and easy access to the lagoon.
For something more budget-friendly, Edgewater Resort and The Rarotongan are popular options. We checked out both of these resorts and decided that neither were as nice as the above options in Muri, but they are more wallet-friendly.
If you’re looking for more space, Te Manava Luxury Villas offer beautiful one- to three-bedroom villas.
On Aitutaki, we stayed at Tamanu Beach Resort, which we loved for its relaxed beachfront setting and excellent food. Just down the beach is Pacific Resort which is a notch up in luxury, but kids must be 12+ to stay here.
Final Tip: Embrace Island Time
One final tip: when you arrive in the Cook Islands, be prepared to slow down.
Things tend to run on “Island Time.”
The bus might be a few minutes late, your food might take a little longer than you’re used to, and shops may occasionally be closed when they’re supposed to be open.
But that’s all part of the charm.
Relax, enjoy the slower pace and soak up the island lifestyle.
After all, you’re on holiday!