Discover local craft beer at Matutu Brewery: Call into Rarotonga's craft brewery to see how their fine ales are created. On a brewery tour you'll learn about historic Cook Islands brewing techniques and the natural beer brewing process used today. All the Matutu beers are handcrafted using sustainable practices. Your tour ends with a tasting of each beer and a long, cool glass of your favourite.
Visit a Rarotonga museum: To get more from your holiday, take an hour or two away from the beach to learn more about the country's history and culture at one of Rarotonga's fascinating museums. Run by volunteers, the Cook Islands Library and Museum in Avarua is packed with exhibits. At Muri, Te Ara/Cook Islands Museum of Cultural Enterprise uses large displays and informative panels to tell stories of Polynesian migration and life in pre-European times.
Explore Maire Nui Botanical Gardens: Tranquil and refreshingly cooler, this magnificent tropical garden covers seven acres. From towering palms to fragile native flowers, there's a world of beauty and colour to explore. Small bridges, a pond and a gazebo add to the peaceful atmosphere. If you like tropical flowers, including every shade of hibiscus, wandering through the well-maintained gardens at Marie Nui is a must-do. And with a small fee for entry, it has to be one of the most relaxing cheap things to do in Rarotonga.
Fly to Aitutaki for a day on the lagoon: Air Rarotonga and Vaka Tours provide an amazing day trip to the turquoise waters and fine white sands of Aitutaki Island. The tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, incredibly scenic flights and a guided open-air bus tour of Aitutaki. You'll also spend six hours on a 21m traditional catamaran exploring the top snorkel spots and beautiful islands in Aitutaki's famous lagoon, with lunch included. This remarkable package makes it easy to experience the best things to do in Aitutaki in a day.
Climb to the Needle and across the island: If you fancy a challenging climb through lush rainforest, the four-hour cross-island walk is a must-do hike. Highlights include climbing part-way up Te Rua Manga (the Needle), a 413m volcanic plug in the island's centre, and long-range views across the island. Most people start from the Avarua end and finish at Wigmore's Waterfall. To get the most from your experience, consider booking a guided walk with Pa's Treks.
Snorkel a marine reserve: Rarotonga's lagoon marine reserves are home to fascinating coral formations and good numbers of colourful tropical fish. Exploring these reserves with a mask and snorkel is definitely one of the best things to do in Rarotonga for free. Fruits of Rarotonga in Titikaveka is a popular favourite, with big coral bommies, deeper water and plenty of large tropical fish. Aro'a Beach near the Rarotongan Resort is another top spot with shallower water, scattered coral and a sandy bottom.
Check out the rock formations at Black Rock Beach: On the northwest coast, Black Rock Beach has white sand and fascinating black volcanic rock formations. Located on the sheltered side of the island, away from the southeast trade winds, it's usually one of the calmest swimming spots on a windy day. Black Rock is not only one of the popular things to see in Rarotonga, it's also rated among the top lagoon snorkelling spots, so bring your mask and snorkel.
Treat yourself to an island night: Exciting, colourful and wonderfully entertaining, a Rarotongan island night is a fun opportunity to experience authentic cultural performances and a delicious buffet feast. The Highland Paradise Culture Centre, Te Vara Nui cultural village, and several hotels and resorts are renowned for their island night cultural shows. The pride, passion and skills shown in these performances are truly impressive. As you're treated to some of the island's best examples of traditional music, song, dance and food, you'll soon see why an island night is one of the top Rarotonga tourist attractions.
