Where to Hire SUP Boards in the Cook Islands
The placid crystal-clear lagoon waters are oh-so enticing for paddling, but where can you join SUP tours and hire paddleboards in the Cook Islands? Luckily, the island of Rarotonga is well-equipped with not only paddleboard tours and rentals but accommodations offering SUP hire free for guests. Alternatively, many of Aitutaki‘s accommodations also offer paddleboards for guest use. Stand-up paddleboarding is not available on the other outer islands of the Cook Islands due to the lack of tourism infrastructure.
So, find out where you can join night paddleboarding tours and rent a paddleboard from in Rarotonga and Aitutaki with this list of the best paddleboard tours and hires in the Cook Islands!
How Much is Paddleboard Hire in Rarotonga?
The stand-up paddleboard rental companies all charge around the same price for paddleboard rentals in Rarotonga. Expect to pay around NZ$20 for one hour or NZ$30 for two hours.
Where to Paddle?
Just check out our guide, SUP in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: 5 Best Places for Stand-Up Paddleboarding for inspiration.
1. KiteSUP Night Paddleboarding, Lagoon and SUP Yoga Tours
Offering the widest range of paddleboarding tours on Rarotonga, KiteSUP is a good go-to for an awesome day (or night) out on the water by SUP. Their “Lagoon Explorer” is a two-hour eco-snorkelling adventure on the Muri Lagoon, while their “SUP Yoga” experience offers a fun and relaxing way to rejuvenate on the water – check out the 5 Best Places to Experience Yoga in Rarotonga for more details. KiteSUP’s most popular paddleboard tour, however, is their “Fire on Water Night Paddle Tour“: 1h30mins of paddling on the Muri Lagoon at sunset with your board’s LED lights illuminating the lagoon and an epic fire show on an uninhabited island.
Location: Find their shop on Main Road (Ara Tapu) opposite the LBV Cafe, Muri, Rarotonga. Otherwise, they are on the beach next to Koka Lagoon Cruises.
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism2. Ariki Adventures Night Paddle Tour
Your alternative night paddleboarding tour on Rarotonga is with Ariki Adventures. Join them on the beachfront in front of the Muri Beach Club Hotel for a 30-minute paddleboarding lesson before you hit the lagoon for an hour of exploration, made all the more “enlightening” with the LED lights strapped to the bottom of your paddleboard. The easy-going experience changes from night to night, sometimes with games other times with SUP yoga and others with some night swimming. You’ll visit the uninhabited islands of the Muri Lagoon as you glide along the inside of the reef.
Location: Beachfront at the Muri Beach Club Hotel, Nukupere Park Drive, Muri Beach, east side of Rarotonga.
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism3. Captain Tama’s Water Sports Hire
Captain Tama’s not only offers lagoon cruises on the Muri Lagoon but water sports hire, including stand-up paddleboards. You can also get prepared for snorkelling with masks, snorkels, fins and reef shoes also available to hire, as well as lifejackets should you want extra safety. Alternatively, kayaks are available. Check out their lagoon cruises on Viator, Tripadvisor and in the 10 Best Lagoon Cruises in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.
Location: Muri Beach by the yellow boats, Rarotonga.
© Alisha Street - Cook Islands Tourism4. Charlie’s Cafe & Beach Hire
On the shores of Titikaveka, Charlie’s Cafe might be more famous for its oversized sandwiches than its SUP hire, but there are, indeed, paddleboard rentals available. Hire paddleboards and paddles along with snorkelling gear, if needed, for a paddle on the lagoon just down from a marine reserve. There are also life jackets available. The hourly SUP rental means that you have time for a quick paddle and then return for lunch! Learn more about the cafe in the 10 Best Cafes on Rarotonga.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Titikaveka, Rarotonga.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com5. KiteSUP Paddleboard Hire
One of your paddleboard hires on the Muri Lagoon, KiteSUP offers SUP boards and paddles that are suitable for all. Paddleboard hires come with a free lesson if this is your first time. Other watersports equipment hires include kayaks, snorkelling gear and wetsuits.
Location: Find their shop on Main Road (Ara Tapu) opposite the LBV Cafe, Muri, Rarotonga. Otherwise, they are on the beach next to Koka Lagoon Cruises.
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands Tourism6. Rarotonga and Aitutaki Resort Paddleboard Rental
Before you go hiring a SUP board, make sure that your chosen accommodation doesn’t provide paddleboards for guests for free! It’s almost always the case for beachfront accommodations on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Just to name a few on Rarotonga, you have The Rarotongan and Sanctuary Rarotonga on the Beach, Sea Change Villas, Muri Beachcomber, Motu Beachfront Art Villas, Crown Beach Resort & Spa, Muri Beach Club Hotel, Nautilus Resort and much much more!
On Aitutaki, a few accommodations with SUP boards include Tamanu Beach Resort, Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Ranginui’s Retreat, Aitutaki Village, Etu Moana and more!
Check out more stays in The Top 50 Resorts in the Cook Islands.
© David Kirkland - Cook Islands TourismMore About Paddleboard Tours and Hires in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands
Now that you know about the best SUP tours and paddleboard hires in Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the Cook Islands, here’s more advice to help plan the perfect watersports vacation:
- SUP in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: 10 Best Places for Stand-Up Paddleboarding
- 10 Best Water Activities in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- 5 Best Kayak Hires in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
Finally, plan more experiences beyond paddleboarding in the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List, as well as the logistics of your whole trip using The Best Cook Islands Travel Guide.
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