Rarotonga is the most populous island in a group of islands known as the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is also a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels. The interior of the island is dominated by eroded volcanic peaks cloaked in dense vegetation.
Rartonga comes pretty close to the classic image of paradise.
An isolated beach
Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands and the capital, Avarua is the main commercial and administrative centre. Locals just call it “town”.
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. This walk passes Te Rua Manga, the prominent Needle shaped rock visible from the air and some coastal areas.
Nice Video:
The island is a rather small one, with a circumference of 32km, it is easy to get around by bike or a motorcycle, both are readily available in main tourist areas. A nice way to start the discovery is to head towards East from Avarua.
Cook’s Island Bus is an inexpensive way of travelling. It goes all round the island and stops anywhere you want to get on or off. You only need to decide if you want to go clockwise or anti-clockwise. Another day in paradise Muri Beach. You can snorkel on the reef or walk across to the uninhabited islands in the lagoon.
The climate is equable. Rarotonga is the second furthest south of the Cooks group and is almost exactly opposite Honolulu in relative latitude — just inside the Tropic of Capricorn. It enjoys temperatures of between 64ºF (18ºC) and 82ºF (28ºC) in the southern winter which is May to October, and between 70ºF (21ºC) and 84ºF (29ºC) in the summer which spans November to April. The wet season is normally January to early May. Severe weather is seldom experienced.
