21 Best Holiday Homes in the Cook Islands

Managed by Rentraro, this huge property is ideal for a couple of families holidaying together on Rarotonga. Moana Oasis Villa features a lavish outdoor pool and a covered barbecue area and is just a short stroll to the beach. The split-level home offers plenty of space, while the high fence encircling the property keeps things nice and private.

You have all you need for self-catering (apart from, you know, the food) with a contemporary kitchen with two fridge freezers and sliding doors connecting to the barbecue area. See more awesome self-catering stays in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in the Cook Islands.

Book Moana Oasis Villa:

• Moana Oasis Villa on Booking.com

Coast Cook Islands offers a private and secluded beachfront retreat, perfect for groups or families seeking space and tranquillity. This luxury villa, perched on the water's edge in Turangi, strikes the ideal balance – close enough to Muri for easy access to activities, yet far enough for serenity.

Accommodating up to six people with a minimum six-day stay, the property boasts a spacious villa and separate studio, ideal for older children or teens desiring privacy. The expansive layout ensures comfort for longer stays, while extras like food platters and transfers can be arranged through your hosts.

Guests will love the private lap pool in the back garden and easy access to a white coral beach. With its high level of comfort and seclusion, Coast Cook Islands offers a unique Cook Islands experience that you won't soon forget.

Book Coast Cook Islands:

• Coast Cook Islands on Booking.com
• Coast Cook Islands on Expedia

Cook Islands Holiday Villas offers a range of private rentals across Rarotonga, catering to various group sizes and preferences.

The Muri Lagoon Villa, a beachfront 2-bedroom property, sits right on Muri Beach. Turtle Villa in Arorangi provides another 2-bedroom option. For larger groups, the Tuoro Holiday Villas comprise four 4-bedroom houses sharing a property, while the Turangi Lagoon Villas feature two 4-bedroom units by the sea.

All accommodations come equipped with modern amenities like BBQs, smart TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Your host, Paul, a charismatic local known for his hot sauce, ensures a genuine Cook Islands experience in these well-located, comfortable villas.

Book Cook Islands Holiday Villas:

• Muri Lagoon Beachfront Villa on Booking.com
• Muri Lagoon Beachfront Villa on Trip.com
• Muri Lagoon Beachfront Villa on Expedia
• Tuoro Holiday Villas on Booking.com
• Tuoro Holiday Villas on Trip.com
• Tuoro Holiday Villas on Expedia
• Turangi Lagoon Villas on Booking.com
• Turangi Lagoon Villas on Expedia
• Turtle Villa on Booking.com
• Turtle Villa on Expedia

Onu Bay Holiday House is a spacious five-bedroom holiday home that comfortably sleeps up to ten guests, making it one of the more versatile self-contained options in Rarotonga.

With two bathrooms, multiple toilets and flexible sleeping arrangements (the super king beds split into singles), the layout adapts easily to however your group is configured. All bedrooms are air-conditioned, so a comfortable night's sleep is guaranteed regardless of the season.

The kitchen is a genuine highlight: huge, well-stocked and equipped with an extra fridge/freezer and plenty of containers for leftovers or packed lunches. There's also a guest laundry with an additional washing machine, a large driveway and a private deck area to settle into at the end of the day.

Out front, your own private swimming pool and garden give guests plenty of space to spread out, while snorkelling gear, kayaks and bikes are all available on-site for those keen to explore a little further afield.

Spacious, airy and secluded, Are Kapakapa is a delightful holiday home ideal for families and small groups of up to five people in Aitutaki. The location is a little different; set above the old airport runway, it's close to a top mainland snorkelling spot at Base One.

It's one of the best self-catering accommodations on Aitutaki, and recent upgrades have made it even better. The kitchen has been fully resurfaced and redone, and already comes with a dishwasher and filtered water. New beds have been added to one of the master rooms, and Starlink WiFi is now installed and free for all guests.

Sleeping up to five across two double beds and one single (with some flexibility depending on family size and ages), the home also features a barbecue area under a covered verandah with roll-down mosquito covers. Families are very much the focus here, not just honeymooners.

Boasting two exceptional-value holiday homes on Rarotonga, Te Etu Villas is tucked away on the quiet backroads of Tupapa. These villas each feature a private pool, mountain views and open-plan living between the well-presented lounge, kitchen and dining area that opens up to the pool area.

"Te Etu Villa 1" has two bedrooms, while "Te Etu Villa 2" has three. All in all, Te Etu Villas shows guests that you don’t need to be on the beach to have an enjoyable holiday in Raro.

Book Te Etu Villa:

• Te Etu Villa 1 on Booking.com
• Te Etu Villa 1 on Expedia
• Te Etu Villa 2 on Booking.com
• Te Etu Villa 2 on Expedia

Torea Luxury Villa is the epitome of luxurious holiday living on Aitutaki. This spacious, modern home features three double bedrooms, one single bedroom, and a sofa bed, comfortably accommodating up to eight guests. Perched in a breezy, elevated location, it offers what we consider to be the best views on the island. The naturally cool climate means you won’t need air-conditioning – a real treat!

Your friendly host goes above and beyond, offering car hire assistance, grocery drop-offs, and airport meet-and-greet services. You’ll be welcomed with basic supplies like milk, tea, coconut, and fruit. The villa is impeccably clean and well-maintained, and it includes WiFi for your convenience.

For a truly indulgent stay in what’s arguably the most luxurious holiday home on Aitutaki, book Torea Luxury Villa through Airbnb or their social media channels.

Try a slice of home-away-from-home paradise on Rarotonga at Mama Taras Bungalows. Set back among the fruit tree gardens in the town of Muri, a small selection of contemporary bungalow holiday homes is available for families or groups of up to four.

Alternatively, enjoy an ultra-contemporary stay in the villa for up to six guests with its own private pool. Either way, you have your own space with self-catering facilities and are within a short walking distance of Muri Beach and its tours and restaurants.

Book Mama Taras Bungalows:

• Mama Taras Bungalows on Booking.com
• Mama Taras Bungalows on Expedia
• Mama Taras Villa on Booking.com
• Mama Taras Villa on Expedia

Either stay in one of the four four-bedroom villas of Paradise Holiday Homes or hire out the whole place for up to 32 people! With mahogany-lined exteriors and interior features, you'd better think “wood is good” at these holiday homes that offer a unique aesthetic on Rarotonga.

A highlight is your personal pool area with a Webber barbecue at the ready. There are oodles of space in each villa, while the property is set back away from road traffic, yet is only a kilometre from Titikaveka Beach.

Book Paradise Holiday Homes:

• Paradise Holiday Homes on Booking.com
• Paradise Holiday Homes on Trip.com
• Paradise Holiday Homes on Expedia

The best choice on Aitutaki for larger groups, Moana Villa Aitutaki sleeps up to six. The hillside three-bedroom villa nestled among tropical forest offers breathtaking views across the island and over the western side of the lagoon – an ideal sunset-viewing position!

Cool off in the small outdoor pool on the deck and enjoy meals together thanks to the well-equipped kitchen and covered outdoor dining area.

Book Moana Villa Aitutaki:

• Moana Villa Aitutaki on Booking.com
• Moana Villa Aitutaki on Trip.com

Looking out across the Aitutaki Lagoon and its motu (islands), Aitutaki Ootu Villa offers a fantastic self-contained holiday home right at Ootu Beach. The large family home has three bedrooms: one suite and two smaller rooms, each with their own ensuite bathroom, plus air conditioning throughout.

You have a fully equipped kitchen and a barbecue at your disposal, and kayaks are available for guests who want to explore the lagoon at their own pace. Several dining options are also close by if you'd rather leave the cooking to someone else.

It's perfectly positioned for quiet nights and lazy days at one of the island's most popular swimming spots.

This ultra-modern three-bedroom villa in Vaimaanga on Rarotonga is the choice to impress! Pacific Palms Luxury Villa features its own outdoor lap pool, which can be admired from the floor-to-ceiling windows of just about every room of the house.

It’s the ultimate space to entertain with an open-plan layout, including a spacious kitchen with a minibar. All you need to do is get supplies from Wigmore’s Superstore, one of the largest supermarkets on the island, which is a short stroll down the road.

Learn more in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in the Cook Islands.

Book Pacific Palms Luxury Villa:

• Pacific Palms Luxury Villa on Booking.com
• Pacific Palms Luxury Villa on Trip.com
• Pacific Palms Luxury Villa on Expedia

With two of the three bedrooms at this Rarotonga villa having direct access to the beach, you know you’ve found paradise at the Muri Beach Villa.

The spacious holiday villa is a good option for three couples travelling together or for large family gatherings, where you can enjoy the luxury of a private pool, sundeck with a barbecue, and Muri’s cafe and bar scene just a short walk down the beach. Check out more homes in paradise in the 25 Best Villas in the Cook Islands.

Book Muri Beach Villa:

• Muri Beach Villa on Booking.com
• Muri Beach Villa on Trip.com

Bask in the epic sunset at this waterfront holiday home on the shores of the main town of Aitutaki, Arutanga. Tavake Villa is ideal for couples or young families with its one bedroom and a sofa bed in the living area. The self-catering accommodation is well-appointed and offers ways to keep the costs down on meals.

Alternatively, there’s a cafe on-site for an easy cop-out. The main draw is the location, however, where you can enjoy watching the lagoon from your covered deck. The accommodation compares to some of the beach bungalows of Aitutaki, which we list in the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations in the Cook Islands.

Book Tavake Villa:

• Tavake Villa on Booking.com

In the heart of Muri‘s cafe scene, Maine Villa comprises a two-bedroom villa and a separate studio with simple yet contemporary furniture and fixtures. You might not be on the beaches of Rarotonga, but the gorgeous gardens and deck with a barbecue more than make up for the fact.

Other thoughtful provisions include a torch/flashlight, first aid kit and snorkelling gear to make use of at the Muri Lagoon just a short walk away.

Book Maine Villa:

• Maine Villa on Booking.com
• Maine Villa on Trip.com
• Maine Villa on Expedia

Moments away from the conveniences of Avarua and Rarotonga International Airport yet directly on the sands of Nikao Beach, Nikao Beach Bungalows is the ultimate holiday home for a fly-and-flop vacation.

The spacious two-bedroom villas are a good go-to for families and groups, including a kitchen and a deck with a barbecue and plenty of places to lounge both inside and on the beach. Take advantage of the free-to-use kayaks and the outdoor shower so you’re not dragging sand into the house!

Book Nikao Beach Bungalows:

• Nikao Beach Bungalows on Booking.com
• Nikao Beach Bungalows on Trip.com
• Nikao Beach Bungalows on Expedia

Two beautiful, design-driven holiday homes await on the back road of Vaimaanga at Casa Del Sol. Each home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms connected by a spacious alfresco living area.

There’s also a lavish pool shared by the villas among the landscaped gardens. The property is ideal for families holidaying in Rarotonga, featuring a tree house, sandpit, playground and trampoline on-site.

Book Casa Del Sol:

• Casa Del Sol on Booking.com

Arapati Holiday Homes manages the “Arapati” two-bedroom villa, which sits directly on the beach and fits up to six guests, while the “Henry Villa” sleeps a whopping 10!

There’s plenty of space for groups to relax between the spacious living room, outdoor kitchen, elevated deck and the beach. Close to the property is Wigmore’s Superstore. Needless to say, self-catering here is a breeze.

Book Arapati Holiday Homes:

• Arapati Holiday Homes on Booking.com
• Arapati Holiday Homes on Trip.com

On the sunset coast of Rarotonga and nearby one of the top snorkelling spots, Aora Beach, Betela Beach House offers a funky yet affordable accommodation with a mezzanine bedroom. Enjoy a fruit basket on arrival and snorkelling gear included in your stay, while the stovetop, toaster, microwave and gas barbecue make self-catering a breeze.

The location just off the beach is just the icing on top. See more accommodations close to snorkelling hotspots in the 10 Best Resorts for Snorkelling in the Cook Islands.

Book Betela Beach House:

• Betela Beach House on Booking.com
• Betela Beach House on Trip.com

For those seeking their own quiet space on Rarotonga at an affordable price, take a look at Are Tamarini Beachfront Cottage & River Studio. The two-bedroom holiday home in Avarua has a private garden setting leading all the way to the beach.

Considering the price, it’s safe to say that the fixtures and furniture are rather basic but are functional enough for the non-fussy traveller. See similar stays in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in the Cook Islands.

Book Are Tamarini Beachfront Cottage & River Studio:

• Are Tamarini Beachfront Cottage & River Studio on Booking.com

This small yet modern private bungalow sits on the tranquil shores of Matavera. Frederick and Ngamata’s Beach House is ideal for a couple of friends or family members travelling together, thanks to its twin bed set-up.

The layout is an open-plan studio with both indoor and outdoor lounging areas, a kitchen with a stovetop and a separate bathroom. Your holiday home instantly opens onto the sands with some of the best sunrises in Rarotonga.

Book Frederick and Ngamata’s Beach House:

• Frederick and Ngamata’s Beach House on Booking.com
• Frederick and Ngamata’s Beach House on Trip.com