Rarotonga

Rarotonga is the most populous island in a group of islands known as the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 (census 2006).

Cook Islands' Parliament buildings, as well as the international airport, are located on Rarotonga. Because it is the most populous island, Cook Islanders may be referred to as Rarotongan, but they may in fact come from one of the other 15 islands in the group, such as Aitutaki or Mangaia. Rarotonga is also a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels. The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is also the capital of the Cook Islands.

The island is surrounded by a lagoon, which often extends more than a hundred yards (meters) to the reef, then sloping steeply to deep water. The reef fronts the shore to the north of the island, making the lagoon there unsuitable for swimming and watersports, but to the south east, particularly around Muri, the lagoon is at its widest and deepest. This part of the island is the most popular with tourists for swimming, snorkelling and boating. Agricultural terraces, flats, and swamps surround the central mountain area.

Along the southeast coast, off Muri Beach are four small coral islets within a few hundred meters of the shore, within the fringing coral reef.

The interior of the island is dominated by eroded volcanic peaks cloaked in dense vegetation. Sealed and unsealed roads allow access to valleys but the interior of the island remains largely unpopulated due to forbidding terrain and lack of infrastructure.

A large tract of land has been set aside in the south east as the Takitumu Conservation Area to protect the islands' native birds and plants, especially the Endangered Rarotonga Flycatcher, Kakerori.

 

24 °C


Clouds, few clouds


Wind2.06 m/s
Cloudiness20 %
Temperature (min/max)24/24 °C
Pressure1015 hpa
Humidity69 %
Last update: 29 Apr 2024 @ 13:58

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  • The Big Fish2012-12-11

    Located in Rarotonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    The Big FishThe Big Fish based in Rarotonga on the Cook Islands is a PADI 5 star dive operation that offers quality dives, diving equipment and services, as well as training. Clear, warm waters await as does the diverse marine life, incredible visibility and you have options, either to snorkel or dive across the road in the Aroa marine reserve, or head out into the big blue outside the reef, this diving centres training courses caters to all levels. Equipment rental is available as is a dive course with a qualified instructor, or a dive trip, you can even just pop into the diving centre for coffee, all are welcome. The Big Fish offers manned boats with safety first, free scuba dive lessons in resort pools, dive packages, family fun and so much more, come experience the divine underwater world.READ MORE

  • Atupa Orchid Units

    Located in Rarotonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    Atupa Orchid UnitsVisit Atupa Orchid Units in RarotongaREAD MORE

  • Rarotonga Beach Bungalows

    Located in Rarotonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    Rarotonga Beach BungalowsVisit Rarotonga Beach Bungalows in RarotongaREAD MORE

  • Backpackers International Hostel

    Located in Rarotonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    Backpackers International HostelVisit Backpackers International Hostel in RarotongaREAD MORE

  • Big Fish Dive Speciality Courses2012-12-11

    Located in Rarotonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    Big Fish Dive Speciality CoursesThe Big Fish Dive Speciality Courses in Rarotonga on the Cook Islands provides new diving skills and knowledge in a supervised environment. Once the PADI Advanced Open Water training has been completed on this diving centres course, you are ready to tackle specialised diving and there are a number of interesting courses available. They include the PADI Underwater Navigation course which provides skills on underwater disorientation, how to use a compass, air conservation, lower diver stress, and buddy separations and more, the Enriched Air Diver Course means more time underwater with enriched air nitrox. There's a digital underwater photography course, a PADI night diver course the Underwater Naturalist, Boat and drift diver course, the Peak Performance Buoyancy course , deep diver course, EFR course and AWAre Coral Reef Conservation specialty course, it's all here at the Big Fish Dive Speciality Courses.READ MORE

  • Big Fish Dive Trips2012-12-11

    Located in Rarotonga, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Cook Islands

    Big Fish Dive TripsThe Big Fish Dive Trips based in Rarotonga on the Cook Islands will show you as many incredible dive sites as possible with boat trips offering two tank dive trips twice a day. Three boats available and ready to go at various locations, mean short boat trips to the stunning dive sites, with over 20 dive sites around the Cook Islands just waiting to be explored in calm seas and great temperatures and not forgetting the incredibly diverse marine life that abounds. With the convenience of small groups and no limited dive times, divers can enjoy as much time out in the water as air consumption will allow and there are no decompression limits because diving is done at 5 to 30 metres with great visibility. Night diving is also available as one of this diving centres services and shows divers another dimension of the underwater world, it's an incredible adventure.READ MORE