After breakfast we went to catch the bus to our car rental Island Car & Bike Hire when a couple of locals stopped and asked if we wanted a lift, of course we said yes and jumped in without even thinking they could be kidnapping us. We put them off that and they kindly dropped us off at the door of the car rental.
Then we were off shopping and exploring. We stopped in at Edgewater Resort & Spa (Club Raros Family Friendly Resort) and painted our own Pareu (sarong) at the Coconut Kids Club – yes kids club. Then stopped at a beach and contemplated having a swim but decided against it as we hadn’t taken the swim lessons at The Coconut Kids Club. The lagoon looked deep and there are no lifeguards. The most pressing decision that you face in Rarotonga: should you explore the crystal clear turquoise waters and swim with schools of tropical fish?
We drove around the whole island a couple of times stopping in cool looking shops, also stopping in the Cook Islands Chocolate Factory which was more of a strange backyard setup of how chocolate is made. I tried the raw unsweetened 100% dark chocolate which was the worst chocolate I have ever tried then had a taste of the 50/50 chocolate which was a nicer taste so bought a very small 30 gram pottle for $10. We didn’t bother doing the tour of the chocolate factory which was just a story of growing the fruit to making chocolate.
Wasted a lot of time getting lost, whenever you ask a local for directions every answer is ‘over there’, even if it is a blue building 2nd road on the left then 1st road on the right. That ended up being our saying for the rest of the holiday ‘over there’.
Another place we got lost was at Edgewater Resort & Spa. When we went to leave there was an exit sign but the road was a fork left or right, we decided to do the scenic drive out to the right. Well the road got narrower and narrower where we started driving over rocks and plants so we stopped and asked one of the pedestrians (who were actually in our way) if this is the exit, he didn’t know but his cool daughter (about 10 years old) ran down the pathway to check for us as we slowly followed her direction, she came back panting saying no it is a dead end. We all had a laugh realizing we are actually driving down a footpath then reversed all the way back trying not to run anyone over and damage anymore plants. Photos show the mission exiting out of the resort. Thats why we hung out at Coconut Kids Club during the day and not Club Raro Adults Only Resort.
Last stop was CoCocktail for a tapa and a cocktail. We were told there is no pork or beef as they had sold out, a bit pissed off we were looking forward to the pork belly tapa. I had CHICKEN BASKETS which is chicken thigh fillets with hoisin sauce, coconut rice and local veggies, served in a crispy basket. Mich had GARLIC PRAWNS on bruschetta with creamy rukau spread, cabbage with roasted garlic aioli, that she shared with a local dog. Then outside on the couches relaxing with of course a Blue Lagoon Cocktail, talking to the most awesome Cook Island waitress Pauline from Auckland NZ and listening to her story of why she ended up in Rarotonga.
Rito hats are intricately woven from stripped coconut fronds, and the pareu, a colourful fabric printed in a variety of colours and patterns like a sarong. Both are a vital part of everyday life.
Wooden carvings such as clubs, spears, canoes, different drums (pate) and ukulele are popular. The hand-stitched quilts known as tivaevae are highly valued. Manihiki in the north exports cultured black pearls to Rarotonga, where they are set into high fashion jewellery pieces. Like the rest of the Cook Islands, the black pearl is small, but perfectly formed. There are small stores around the island but the highest concentration of shops is in Avarua.
Local arts and crafts are available throughout the islands. Pupu necklaces, hand printed pareus, local therapeutic oils and fragrances, coconut anything from the finest rito hats to bikini bras, fans, pandanus mats, carved wooden bowls, spears and paddles and above all the prized black pearls. If this is on your list of “must haves” make sure you buy in the Cooks. The quality is superb and the price is right.
A vibrant shopping scene awaits on Rarotonga with shopping centres in the island’s capital, Avarua, and boutique stores scattered elsewhere on the island. The cosmopolitan vibe doesn’t exactly extend to the outer islands of the Cook Islands, however, but you will find the odd hidden gem on Aitutaki.
While most visitors only experience Arorangi if staying at one of the resorts lining its sunset beach, Arorangi also holds some excellent boutiques. Some of our favourites are the Pearl Lounge and Joyce Peyroux Garments next door to each other on the main road (Ara Tapu) opposite Arereenga Road. There is also Tokerau Jim‘s jewellery store with carved pearls well worth checking out.
The holiday hotspot on the east side of Rarotonga has a small selection of boutiques that will quench the thirst for shopping between exploring the beach and its watersports. Check out watersports and beach apparel at the KiteSUP shop, browse an array of exclusively Cook Islands products at the Te Ara Museum gift shop, Cook Islands photography art and gifts at the Charlotte Piho Gallery and the Muri Beach Club Hotel also has a good range of local gifts and souvenirs.
The historic Banana Court building is the heart of Avarua town, harbouring shops such as the fashion store, id.CK, tattoo parlour Next Tattoo Cook Islands, while the shop next door has a rotation of businesses between fashion and black pearl brands.
The largest shopping centre in the Cook Islands, the CITC Shopping Centre and department store in Avarua has an array of island fashion brands and island gifts and souvenirs that are most likely to attract visitors, while homeware and sports apparel are also departments to peruse.
Easy to miss, Cooks Corner is located down Tutakimoa Road in Avarua at the bus station. There’s a vibrant selection of shops here, such as Bergman & Sons black pearl shop, the sweet shop Cooks Fudge Factory and cafes.
Shopping in Aitutaki is nothing like Rarotonga, as the main town here is much sleepier. However, there are a couple of hidden gems to scout out, such as T&S Artworx.
The Punanga Nui Market is a vibrant hub of local culture and commerce in the Cook Islands. Every Saturday from 7am to 12pm, this bustling marketplace comes alive with an array of local crafts, clothing, art, jewellery, food, and produce. It’s the perfect spot to snag authentic Cook Islands souvenirs and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere. Located at the west end of Avarua, it’s also a convenient place to make tour bookings for your island adventures.
Save some Cook Islands Dollars to spend at the Departures Lounge of Rarotonga International Airport with its array of duty-free stores selling an array of local arts, crafts and apparel.
Tips for Shopping in the Cook Islands
While many stores accept MasterCard and Visa, make sure you have cash available, especially for the markets and the outer islands
Haggling the price is not customary in the Cook Islands
While most stores are open 9am-4pm Monday to Friday, be aware that shops typically close early on a Saturday and are closed on a Sunday
Most souvenirs will pass through biosecurity when you arrive home (such as in New Zealand, for example), just remember to declare any shell or wood products
Do not pack foods like fresh fruit or coconuts into your baggage for your departure flight from Rarotonga