Cook Islands Family Fun Activities

Waterfall: is about 1km in from the main road, about 3 km past the Rarotongan beach resort is Wigmores waterfall, the only waterfall on Rarotonga. You can walk or drive (4WD, motor bike or bicycle). The road to the waterfall then passes farmland but soon turns tropical with huge vines wrapped around the tall trees and a cascading stream bordering the path. The beauty of the rainforest and the stream makes the walk worthwhile.

The Aroa Pony Trek: is situated just behind the Rarotongan resort and offers a 2 and a half hour horseback ride to Wigmores waterfall and back along the beach. The cost is $40/adult and $25/child.

Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise is a four and a half hour glass bottom boat tour of Muri Lagoon. The cruise takes you to one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. The coral and fish are brilliant. If you don’t want to snorkel you can swim next to the boat or sit and watch the fish as they are fed. The cruise then takes you to an island off Muri beach where a barbeque lunch of grilled fish, cooked bananas and salads is served. The captain then puts on a show of sarong tying and coconut husking and you have plenty of time to explore the island or swim in the sparkling waters of the lagoon. The kids can go hermit crab hunting . The cost was $150/family . Snorkeling gear is provided, but flipper sizes were limited for kids, so it would be advisable to take you own or get some from your resort to take with you.

Hire a car or bike: Spend a day driving around the island. You can drive around in under an hour and you can pick the best spots for a swim and snorkel. Then you then can check out the inland road, which takes you past plenty of places of interest, past farms and up to the hospital for some great views of the island.

4WD Raro mountain Safari Tours: features a tour into the valleys and up to the mountain tops around the island for some stunning views of the island. The cost is $60/adult and $30/child and includes light refreshments.

Shopping: A good souvenir to take home is a Cook Islands ukulele. The ukuleles are made by the inmates and sell for $60 in the shops.

Hiking:There are plenty of walks and hiking trails around the island. They range from easy to very hard. The Pa’s Mountain Walk offers a choice if a 4 hour Nature walk or a 4 hour Cross island trek. The cost is $50/adult and $20/child.

Snorkeling: is probably the most popular activity on the island, with the natural lagoon that surrounds the island making it perfectly safe. You can stop at most places around the island and snorkel straight off the beach. There are some areas that are marked as dangerous so take a local map with you. Bring your own snorkel and flippers to save hassles trying to find ones that fit you and your kids and invest in a disposable underwater camera for some great shots of the fish and coral.

A Cultural guided tour :of the Cultural Village includes information and demonstrations of the Cook Islands culture, weaving, coconut husking, wood carving, cooking, Maori medicine, fishing and costume making. The tour includes lunch and a show and costs $50/person. There is also a circle island tour available for $45/person.

Other activities available include a plane trip to the beautiful island of Aitutaki ($389/adult and $195/child), diving, kayaking, reef walking, Island NiteLife tour, garden tours and fishing.