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

Where to Buy Gifts and Souvenirs in the Cook Islands

You might know some of the amazing handicrafts and apparel coming out of the Cook Islands – if you don’t just have a browse through the 12 Best Souvenirs from the Cook Islands. Now, where can you actually buy some of these incredible souvenirs? From the mom-and-pop stores selling handcrafted souvenirs to the larger souvenir stores where you can get just about anything, this guide to souvenir shopping in the Cook Islands will show you the best places to buy souvenirs in Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the other Cook Islands.

Tip: Most souvenirs sold in the Cook Islands are either made in the Cook Islands or in other nations in the South Pacific. If you’re unsure whether something is local, just ask! Sellers are usually pretty upfront.

Top 10 Souvenir Shops in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

Before we dive into this detailed guide on the best places to buy souvenirs in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, here’s a list of some of our favourite souvenir and gift shop outlets.

Perfumes of Rarotonga Factory (Nikao, Rarotonga)
Stonefish Studio (Aitutaki)
Pearl Lounge (Arorangi, Rarotonga)
T&S Artworx (Aitutaki)
Mareko Island Creations (Avarua, Rarotonga)
Tokerau Jim (Arorangi, Rarotonga)
Tuki’s Pareu (Avarua, Rarotonga)
Ollie’s Surf Gear (Avarua, Rarotonga)
Island Craft (Avarua & Rarotonga Airport)
CITC Avarua (Avarua, Rarotonga)

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

Gift Shops and Souvenir Stores in 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.

CITC Avarua

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Location: Avarua town centre and Rarotonga Airport.
The largest retail chain in the Cook Islands has a couple of souvenir stores in their collection, including their 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. Learn more about their duty free store in The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping in the Cook Islands.

Rito Cook Islands

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 8.30am to 1pm.
Location: Titikaveka, Rarotonga.
This family-owned business manufactures organic skincare and haircare products. Visit their factory to purchase goods or tour the factory with tours mentioned in the 10 Best Tours of Rarotonga.

Perfumes of Rarotonga Factory

Opening hours: Monday from 9am to 3.30pm, Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Location: Airport Services Road, Nikao, Rarotonga.
Sells their own perfumes, coconut soap and oils made on-site, as well as woven and carved goods from Pacific Weave.

Tivaevae Collectables

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm.
Location: West end of the runway, Nikao, Rarotonga
Stocks traditional handmade and machine-made tivaevae bed linen, as well as rito hats from Penrhyn.

Island Craft

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

Mareko Island Creations

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 8.30am to 2pm.
Location: Avarua town centre, Rarotonga.
Specialises in locally-designed hand-painted pareu (sarongs), tivaevae (bed linen) and Polynesian apparel.

Tokerau Jim

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
Location: Arorangi (opposite the Crown Beach Resort), Rarotonga.
Browse a range of carved pearl and shell art.

The Little Red Gallery

Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Location: Avarua, Rarotonga.
Buy paintings, prints and join in on painting workshops. Learn more about them and see more art galleries listed in the 5 Best Art Galleries in the Cook Islands.

Tuki’s Pareu

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 12pm.
Location: The blue building at the eastern end of Avarua, Rarotonga.
Browse an array of island attire, including Cook Islands-made pareu (sarongs) and tailor-made island shirts.

Treasure Chest

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 12pm.
Location: Avarua town centre, Edgewater Resort in Arorangi, Pacific Village in Muri and The Rarotongan in Aroa Beach.
Your “I Heart Rarotonga”-style souvenirs, such as printed tees and hats and novelty items.

Stonefish Studio

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm.
Location: Vaipeka, Aitutaki.
Locally-designed tees, vests, caps and Aitutaki sportswear sold out of a funky shipping container.

Ollie’s Surf Gear

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm.
Location: Store at the eastern end of the Punanga Nui Market, Avarua, Rarotonga.
This beach hut by the Punanga Nui Market offers custom air-brushing apparel, as well as a range of surf gear and clothing.

Aladdin’s Cave

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm.
Location: Above Raro Mart at the western end of Avarua, Rarotonga.
Not really a “gift shop” per se, but we couldn’t not mention Aladdin’s Cave of hidden treasures, claiming to be the largest collection of antiques in the South Pacific!

And there’s so much more! Check out our list of the 14 Best Souvenirs from Rarotonga & the Cook Islands which also lists more stores.

Black Pearl Jewellers in the Cook Islands

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

Pearl Lounge (Arorangi) – Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm
Farm Direct Pearls (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm
Kora Pearls (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 9.30am to 12pm
T&S Artworx (Aitutaki) – Opening hours vary
Goldmine (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm
Paka’s Pearls (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 12pm
Fishers Black Pearl Jewellery (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturday from 9am to 12pm
Bergman & Sons (Avarua & Pacific Resort Aitutaki) – Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm
Beachcomber (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm
Island Craft (Avarua & Rarotonga Airport) – Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm.

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.

Where to Buy Souvenirs at Markets in the Cook Islands

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 morning until noon.
Location: Western end of Avarua on Rarotonga.
The Punanga Nui Market is the largest market in the Cook Islands. Not only do many of the gift shops we’ve already mentioned in this guide have a stall at the market every week, but the market is also the only place where you can buy arts, crafts, apparel and jewellery from small local businesses. There’s also food and entertainment on offer, making it quite the event!

Muri Night Market

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5pm.
Location: Main Road (Ara Tapu), Muri, Rarotonga.
While the Muri Night Market is predominantly about the street food, there is the odd stall 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.

Souvenir Shopping on the Outer Islands (Pa Enua)

Although the outer islands of the Cook Islands, locally known as “pa enua”, don’t have enough of the 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 to travel to these islands, which we can show you how through 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
Mangaia – Pupu (shell) jewellery – Find out how to travel there in The Complete Travel Guide to Mangaia.

More on the Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the Cook Islands

Now that you know where to buy souvenirs in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, here’s more advice to help you have the best shopping experience while visiting the islands:

Finally, add more activities beyond shopping to the bucket list using the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List. Plus, work out all the logistics of planning a Cook Islands getaway in The Best Cook Islands Travel Guide.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as the Cook Islands. She knows the islands inside out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Raro’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also the editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Laura via our contact page