The Most Epic 4WD Tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands
We get it, watersports steals all the limelight for adventures in the Cook Islands, but the rugged mountain terrain, plantations and jungles can be pretty epic too! Cue, the off-road tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands! That’s right, there are 4WD tours to get you to those hard-to-reach places in the interior of Rarotonga, Atiu and Managaia, while some off-road tours allow you to drive yourself! Check them out in this list of the best off-roading tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.
For more crazy adventures, check out the 10 Best Adventure Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.
1. Raro Buggy Tours
One of two self-drive off-roading tours in the Cook Islands, Raro Buggy Tours allows you to let loose on the inland tracks of Rarotonga! The 1.5-2-hour tour in a 4WD buggy (with a passenger seat if one of you doesn’t want to drive) starts with getting accustomed to the vehicle before heading inland to plantations and dirt tracks. A highlight is rampaging around the muddy inland tracks in the midst of the local tropical forests. You will get muddy on this tour, so bring appropriate clothing, a towel and your driver’s license. The minimum passenger age is four years old.
Location: Departure is from Wigmore’s Superstore, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Takitumu (south end of Rarotonga).
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism2. Raro Quad Tours
Yes, you guessed it, Raro Quad Tours is the same company as the tour mentioned above but it offers a slightly different experience. This time, you’re on a quad bike to explore the inland tracks of Rarotonga. You’ll definitely be eased into the chaos, however, with the 2.5-3-hour tour starting with a slow-paced yet interesting history tour of the island before heading inland to plantations and dirt tracks including a stop at the Papua Waterfall (Wigmore’s Waterfall). Although this tour isn’t as muddy as the buggy tour, you’ll still need to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Plus, you also need a driving license. The minimum passenger age is seven years old. Check out more exciting experiences in the 50 Best Things to Do on Rarotonga.
Location: Departure is from Wigmore’s Superstore, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Takitumu (south end of Rarotonga).
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com3. Raro Safari Tours
Jump in a characterful safari Jeep and hit the coast road, back roads and dirt roads with Raro Safari Tours. This three-hour tour incorporates history and culture as you traverse the inland roads of Rarotonga seeking out historical sites, visiting plantations and – the highlight – racing up the dirt tracks of an inland mountain to a spectacular viewpoint of Te Rua Manga, a.k.a. The Needle. The tour also includes a stop at Papua Waterfall (Wigmore’s Waterfall), a buffet lunch and lots of humour! Check out more awesome tours like this in the 10 Best Tours of Rarotonga.
Location: Rarotonga. Pick-ups are included!
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com4. Raro Trail Tours
The lesser-known off-roading tour from the Raro Quad/Buggy Tours, Raro Trail Tours offers a unique perspective of Rarotonga’s interior from a dirt bike! If you’ve got an international motorcycle license and you’re over the age of 18, then you’re good to go on this wild adventure through the deep valleys and tropical forests. The 2-2h30mins experience includes all the safety gear and lunch.
Location: Departure is from Wigmore’s Superstore, Main Road (Ara Tapu), Takitumu (south end of Rarotonga).
© Unsplash5. Atiu Safari & Fishing Tours
Timau from Atiu Safari & Fishing Tours offers a fantastic way to experience Atiu: the “Island Discovery Tour“. Explore the rugged “makatea” (coral limestone) island, its natural attractions and the cluster of villages as you learn about their remarkable history and industries on a 3h30mins tour. Atiu Safaris also offers a popular “Tumunu Tour” taking you to the “bush beer bars” of Atiu which are a centuries-old tradition that you can learn more about in The Food Guide to Atiu: Places to Eat & Food Tours. Additionally, find out what else to do on the island in the 20 Best Things to Do on Atiu.
Location: Atiu. Pick-ups are included!
© Taniera - Cook Islands Tourism6. Mangaia Island Tours
While this isn’t technically “off-roading”, the roads on the island of Mangaia are so gnarly that any island tour sure feels like it! Tours on Mangaia run a little differently from the more tourist hotspots in the Cook Islands, as they are much less formal; typically just an enthusiastic local showing you the sights that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get to, such as caves, shipwrecks and ancient marae (Maori gathering places). Tours typically last two to four hours and include transfers. Find out more about organising tours on Managia in the 15 Best Things to Do on Mangaia.
Location: Mangaia. Pick-ups are included!
© Taniera - Cook Islands TourismMore About Off-Road Tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands
That’s it for the best off-road tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, but off-roading doesn’t just have to be on land, does it? Check out ways to experience the sea too, as well as mountain biking tours, in the following guides:
- 10 Best Day Cruises in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- Kitesurfing in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: The Top 10 Places to Kitesurf
- 5 Best Bike Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
Finally, complete your bucket list with the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List.
