Rarotonga Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 5 Days 🥂 [2024]

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How to Get Around the Cook Islands in 5 Days

This Rarotonga honeymoon and romance itinerary for 5 days includes travel on the island’s main road, Ara Tapu. Here’s a quick rundown on how to get around Rarotonga in 5 days.

Road Transport on Rarotonga

The first road transport you’ll encounter on Rarotonga is your airport transfer. Book this in advance with one of the airport shuttle/private transfer companies or your chosen accommodation. All your options are outlined in the 8 Best Airport Transfers on Rarotonga.

For subsequent travel around Rarotonga, car and scooter hire offers the most flexibility and convenience. Get advice on car hire from What You Need to Hire a Car in the Cook Islands or for renting a scooter, check out the 10 Tips for Riding a Scooter in Rarotonga. Alternatively, there is a very frequent and affordable bus service, while taxi services are available for everything in between.

For all of your transport options, including bicycle hire and guided tours, check out the Rarotonga Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Rarotonga.

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Day 1 – Arrival on Rarotonga

Welcome to Rarotonga and the start of your 5-day romantic escape! After the arrivals process of going through customs and biosecurity, you’ll step outside of the arrivals hall to the Cook Island’s traditional greeting with a floral ‘ei (neck garland) and perhaps a glass of bubbles if opting for a private airport transfer with Raro Tours. Why not make a special occasion extra special?

Since it’s your first day in the Cook Islands, take it easy and get settled at your chosen honeymoon accommodation. After check-in, relax by the pool, have a paddle with the kayaks provided at your resort and transition to “Raro time”. We’ll go over a few things you can do on Rarotonga tomorrow.

Rarotonga Romantic Accommodations

• Sea Change Villas
• Little Polynesian
• Manuia Beach Resort
• Crown Beach Resort & Spa
• Te Vakaroa Villas
• Nautilus Resort
• Magic Reef Beachfront Bungalows
• Rumours Luxury Villas & Spa
• Muri Beach Hideaway
• Sanctuary Rarotonga on the Beach

Discover what are our top picks in the 10 Most Romantic Wedding & Honeymoon Resorts in Rarotonga.

Dining Recommendations

For your first evening, make things easy for yourselves by choosing the reputable restaurant of your chosen accommodation; Little Polynesian, Manuia Beach Resort, Crown Beach Resort & Spa, Nautilus Resort and Sanctuary Rarotonga on the Beach all have romantic restaurants. Otherwise, these resort restaurants are open for non-guests too. Find out more about them in The Food Guide to Rarotonga: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

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Day 2 – Adventure in Raro

Early into your trip is when you’re likely to have the most energy and adrenaline for Rarotonga’s more adventurous activities. Use today to tick off some items from your Raro bucket list.

Option 1: Scuba Diving

A romantic adventure awaits in the depths of Rarotonga’s volcanic underwater world, which you can buddy up on a scuba diving trip to explore if you’re both certified. If you’re not certified, however, nothing strengthens the bond quite like learning a new skill together! Find out more in Learn to Dive in the Cook Islands: A Guide to Scuba Diving Certifications.

Option 2: Island Hike

For adventures on dry land, tackle one of Raro’s hikes together, whether it’s the half-day mission of the Cross Island Trek or the romantic mountain hike of the Arore Trek at sunrise. More details on each can be found in the 10 Best Walks on Rarotonga.

Option 3: Turtle Swimming

A popular underwater alternative for couples is swimming with sea turtles. Whether it’s the sea scooter safari with Ariki Adventures (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) or the freedom turtle swimming session with Snorkel Cook Islands (on Viator or Tripadvisor), the adventure of swimming with these rare and ancient creatures is unforgettable. Compare turtle tours in the 7 Best Turtle Swimming Tours in Rarotonga.

Option 4: Something Else…

And there are oh-so-many more adventures to choose from, from doubling up in a 4WD buggy to teaming up in a kayak on the Muri Lagoon. Compare all of your most romantic options in the 16 Most Romantic Things to Do on Rarotonga for Couples, as well as adventures in 10 Best Adventure Activities in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Dining Recommendations

No doubt that you will work up quite an appetite, so join the Progressive Dinner Tour with Cook Islands Tours for a three-course dinner across three different local homes. You’ll be treated to authentic Cook Islander cuisine along with charming hospitality. Learn more about it on Viator, Tripadvisor and the 11 Best Foodie Experiences on Rarotonga.

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Day 3 – Relaxation in Raro

Don’t forget to take the time to relax together too. There’s much joy to be had simply being in one another’s company in a beautiful place. You can “up” the relaxation, however, with the following experiences…

Option 1: Couples’ Massage

Soothe the senses and rejuvenate together with a couples’ massage. You’ll struggle to find a spa that doesn’t do couples’ massages on Rarotonga between the couples’ treatments at the Waterfall Spa of Rumours Luxury Villas and the beachfront massages of the Muri Beach Club Spa. Compare all of the spas available for a relaxing retreat in the 10 Best Spas in Rarotonga.

Option 2: Night SUP

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a romantic endeavour no matter the hour, but at night with your SUP’s LED lights illuminating the lagoon waters beneath you… Oh boy! Both Ariki Adventures and KiteSUP offer wonderful night SUP tours. Learn more about the experiences in the 5 Best Places for Stand-Up Paddleboarding.

Option 3: Relax at Your Villa

Finally, Rarotonga’s romantic retreats are the experts in effortless relaxation with plenty of lounging spaces, serene swimming pools, hammocks on the beach and SUP boards and kayaks to enjoy a paddle on the lagoon. Get more inspiration for ways to relax from the 10 Most Relaxing Things to Do in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Dining Recommendations

Rarotonga spoils you for choice with romantic eateries, from the fine dining Mediterranean medley of Antipodes to the adults-only ambience of Little Polynesian Restaurant. Have a peruse of the 5 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands or The Food Guide to Rarotonga: Places to Eat & Food Tours for more details and ideas.

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Day 4 – Self-Drive Tour of Rarotonga

No trip to Rarotonga is complete until you’ve done a roadie around the island, including its ancient back road, Ara Metua, originally formed when the first Polynesians settled on the island. If you haven’t got a rental vehicle already, get one delivered to your accommodation and hit the road!

Explore Rarotonga

Head to Avarua to enjoy a spot of shopping at the black pearl jewellers, fashion outlets and especially the Punanga Nui Market if it’s a Saturday morning. Then continue around the island clockwise, checking out the historical sites of the Matavera backroads, stopping by the shores of Muri Beach, enjoying the gorgeous surroundings of the Mairie Nui Gardens, and going for a paddle and a bite to eat at Charlie’s Cafe & Beach Hire. We have a full itinerary you can follow in A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Rarotonga.

Dining Recommendations

An extra special way to enjoy your final night in the Cook Islands is to get a gourmet platter delivered to your villa or any location across Rarotonga – even on the beach! Island Platters can arrange a phenomenal spread for you and your loved one to enjoy away from the world… Find out more in the 8 Best Luxury Experiences on Rarotonga.

Alternatively, go out with a bang at one of the famous “island nights” complete with cultural dancing and an “umukai” buffet awash in Cook Islander cuisine! See the 7 Best Island Nights in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands to compare all of your options.

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Day 5 – Departure

Enjoy your final lazy breakfast by the beach before checking out of your accommodation and making your way to Rarotonga International Airport for departure.

Remember to arrive at Rarotonga Airport a couple of hours before your scheduled departure so that you have enough time to check in, go through security and browse the duty-free. Rarotonga International Airport’s duty-free stores are worth the time for a browse with locally made ‘eis (necklaces), wooden carvings, perfumes, ukuleles, coffee beans and more. Check out the 12 Best Souvenirs from Rarotonga & the Cook Islands for shopping inspiration.

And it’s “ka kite” from the Cook Islands!