The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

Where can you buy Cook Islands and Pacific crafts, apparel and other souvenirs in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands? Here are some of the most popular gift shops and souvenir outlets in Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Kota'a Design Studio

Kota'a Design Studio is a contemporary Polynesian art and design studio in Muri that doubles as one of the most relaxed, creative spaces you'll find on Rarotonga, with seriously good coffee to boot.

Run by husband-and-wife duo Totaea and Grace, the studio is stocked almost entirely with their own original work, from retro-style Pacific travel posters and clothing to linocut prints, all produced with a quality standard that has caught the attention of luxury resorts around the islands.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm, and Saturday at the Punanga Nui Market.
Location: Muri, Rarotonga.

Rito Cook Islands

Rito Cook Islands is a family-owned business crafting organic skincare and haircare products. Pop by their boutique factory to purchase goods and witness a fascinating demonstration of how coconut oil products are made.

You'll love exploring their shop, where you can find a range of locally-made, natural beauty items. For a more in-depth experience, consider joining one of the factory tours mentioned in the 10 Best Tours of Rarotonga.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, and Saturday from 7 am to 12 pm at the Punanga Nui Market.
Location: Titikaveka, Rarotonga.

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Te 'Are Tātatau Studio

Born from a family-run tattoo studio specialising in Cook Islands Māori designs, Te 'Are Tātatau Studio has grown into a vibrant retail space and creative hub that stocks work from local artists aged 14 to 84.

Everything here is locally designed, created and made by Cook Islanders, from printed apparel, tea towels and parieo to wood carvings, handmade seed jewellery, woven putia baskets and tivaevae-inspired prints. You can even get customised jewellery and engraving done in-house.

If you want to go beyond browsing, the studio's creative workshop arm, Te 'Are Vananga, offers hands-on experiences including the "Parau Shell Carving Make-and-Take Workshop" and the "Pareu Printing Make-and-Take Workshop", both well worth booking ahead.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, and Saturday at the Punanga Nui Market.
Location: Panama, Rarotonga.

Perfumes of Rarotonga Factory

Sells their own perfumes, coconut soap and oils made on-site, as well as woven and carved goods from Pacific Weave.

Opening hours: Monday from 9 am to 3:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
Location: Airport Services Road, Nikao, Rarotonga.

Tivaevae Collectables

Stocks traditional handmade and machine-made tivaevae bed linen, as well as rito hats from Penrhyn. You can also join one of their sewing classes, held every Wednesday, with a maximum of six people per session (lasting 1.5 hrs). You'll learn the basic blanket stitch and hemming techniques, and afterwards you can purchase a pack to continue at home, choosing between a pillowcase or a full quilt.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Location: West end of the runway, Nikao, Rarotonga

Island Craft

The second-oldest company in the Cook Islands, Island Craft sells just about any souvenir you could want from the Cook Islands, either Cook Islands or Pacific-made.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm.
Location: Avarua town centre and Rarotonga Airport.

Mareko Island Creations

Specialises in locally-designed hand-painted pareu (sarongs), tivaevae (bed linen) and Polynesian apparel.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 2 pm.
Location: Avarua town centre, Rarotonga.

Tuki's Pareu

Browse an array of island attire, including Cook Islands-made pareu (sarongs) and tailor-made island shirts.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm.
Location: The blue building at the eastern end of Avarua, Rarotonga.

Treasure Chest

Your "I Heart Rarotonga"-style souvenirs, such as printed tees, hats and novelty items.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm.
Location: Avarua town centre, Edgewater Resort in Arorangi, Pacific Village in Muri and The Rarotongan in Aroa Beach.

Araura Gift Shop

Araura Gift Shop brings together locally made products, art and crafts from Aitutaki and across the Cook Islands, making it a good place to look for something genuinely Cook Islands-made rather than a generic tourist souvenir.

The shop stocks everything from locally designed clothing, T-shirts and prints to bottle openers, Aitutaki wood carvings and products from islands such as Mangaia and Penrhyn. You'll also find items made by the Arutanga Village Women's Group, a traditional women's sewing group that creates tivaevae as a fundraiser.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Location: Aitutaki.

Stonefish Studio

Stonefish Studio is one of those places you stumble across and end up spending far longer than planned. Operating out of a funky shipping container, it sells locally-designed tees, vests, caps and Aitutaki sportswear, along with local carvings. What started as a small island operation has grown into a supplier for outrigger clubs across the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia, which tells you everything you need to know about the quality. Cards are accepted.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm.
Location: Vaipeka, Aitutaki.

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Circle Cook Islands

Browse unique bags, earrings, rings, paintings and many more trinkets made from repurposed waste gathered from around Rarotonga. You can also learn to make your own at Circle Cook Islands' workshops.

Opening hours: Tuesday from 10 am to 1 pm and Saturday at the Punanga Nui Market.
Location: Back Road, Nikao/Tepuka, north coast of Rarotonga. Signposted along the back road, opposite the Cook Islands Christian Church on the Runway side.

Ollie's Surf Gear

This beach hut, located at the Punanga Nui Market, offers custom airbrushing apparel, along with a range of surf gear and clothing.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm.
Location: Store at the eastern end of the Punanga Nui Market, Avarua, Rarotonga.

CITC Avarua

The largest retail chain in the Cook Islands operates a couple of souvenir stores, including its gift shop at the CITC Avarua shopping centre and at CITC Duty Free at the airport. They have a wide range of common gift items with Polynesian designs and motifs.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
Location: Avarua town centre and Rarotonga Airport.

Learn more about their duty-free store in The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping in the Cook Islands.

And there's so much more! Check out our list of the 15 Best Souvenirs from Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, which also lists more stores.

Made on the atoll of Manihiki, the Cook Islands' intricate black pearls are grown and exported to jewellers across Rarotonga and Aitutaki, who set the black pearls in high-fashion pieces. Here are some of the top black pearl jewellers in the Cook Islands where you can purchase black pearl jewellery for yourself.

10 Best Black Pearl Jewellers in the Cook Islands

1. Pearl Lounge (Arorangi) - Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm
2. Farm Direct Pearls (Avarua) - Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
3. Kora Pearls (Avarua) - Open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9:30 am to 12 pm
4. T&S Artworx (Aitutaki) - Opening hours vary
5. Goldmine (Avarua) - Open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm
6. Paka's Pearls (Avarua) - Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm
7. Fishers Black Pearl Jewellery (Avarua) - Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm
8. Bergman & Sons (Avarua & Pacific Resort Aitutaki) - Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Satuday 10 am to 12 pm
9. Beachcomber (Avarua) - Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm
10. Island Craft (Avarua & Rarotonga Airport) - Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm.

Black Pearls in Manihiki

Did you know you can buy black pearls straight from the source in Manihiki? Plan your trip using The Complete Travel Guide to Manihiki and find out how to visit pearl farms and buy black pearls and black pearl jewellery on the atoll where it is made.

Arguably, the best places to buy souvenirs in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands are at the markets. In particular, the Punanga Nui Market! See the full range of markets in the 5 Best Markets in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands or check out the best ones for souvenirs below!

Punanga Nui Market

Opening hours: Saturday from 7 am to 12 pm.
Location: Western end of Avarua on Rarotonga.
The Punanga Nui Market is the Cook Islands' largest market, offering a vibrant showcase of local culture. Here, you'll find an array of arts, crafts, apparel and jewellery from small local businesses, alongside familiar gift shops.

It's not just shopping; the market buzzes with food stalls and entertainment. Plus, it's a convenient spot to make tour bookings.

Muri Night Market

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5 pm.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Muri, Rarotonga.
While the Muri Night Market is predominantly about street food, there are also occasional stalls selling local souvenirs.

Mitiaro Markets

Opening hours: Varied – ask the locals when the next market is.
Location: Markets typically take place outside the village hall in Mangarei village (west side of Mitiaro).
The locals of the outer island of Mitiaro love an excuse for putting on a market, usually when a “big” group of tourists arrive on the island.

Ask the locals when the next market is, which typically includes a local lunch, as well as local crafts like shell 'ei, woven bags, tivaevae pillowcases, printed pareu and more.

Although the outer islands of the Cook Islands, locally known as pa enua, don't have a significant tourism industry to warrant souvenir and gift shops, many of the crafts from the Cook Islands are actually made on these islands. If you are fortunate enough to travel to these islands, which we can guide you through using the links below, then there are island-specific crafts that are well worth looking out for.

The best of the Cook Islands for souvenirs and crafts include:

• Penrhyn - Rito hats, fans and earrings - Find out how to travel there in The Complete Travel Guide to Penrhyn
• Rakahanga - Rito hats - Find out how to travel there in The Complete Travel Guide to Rakahanga
• Manihiki - Black pearls and black pearl jewellery - Find out how to travel there in The Complete Travel Guide to Manihiki
• Atiu - Handmade tivaevae - Find out how to travel there in The Complete Travel Guide to Atiu
• Mangaia - Pupu (shell) jewellery - Find out how to travel there in The Complete Travel Guide to Mangaia.