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, have a browse through the 15 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 South Pacific nations. If you’re unsure whether something is local, just ask! Sellers are usually pretty upfront.
Table of Contents
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)
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comGift 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 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
Location: Avarua town centre and Rarotonga Airport.
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.
Learn more about their duty-free store in The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping in the Cook Islands.
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.
Perfumes of Rarotonga Factory
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.
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 9 am to 4 pm.
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 8:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 2 pm.
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 9 am to 4 pm.
Location: Arorangi (opposite the Crown Beach Resort), Rarotonga.
Browse a range of carved pearl and shell art.
Tuki’s Pareu
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.
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 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.
Your “I Heart Rarotonga”-style souvenirs, such as printed tees, hats and novelty items.
Stonefish Studio
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 3 pm.
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 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.
This beach hut, located near the Punanga Nui Market, offers custom airbrushing apparel, along with a range of surf gear and clothing.
Aladdin’s Cave
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm.
Location: Above Raro Mart at the western end of Avarua, Rarotonga.
Not really a “gift shop” per se, but we couldn’t mention Aladdin’s Cave of Hidden Treasures, which claims 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.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comBlack 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 10 am to 4 pm
- Farm Direct Pearls (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
- Kora Pearls (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9:30 am to 12 pm
- T&S Artworx (Aitutaki) – Opening hours vary
- Goldmine (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm
- Paka’s Pearls (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm
- Fishers Black Pearl Jewellery (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm
- Bergman & Sons (Avarua & Pacific Resort Aitutaki) – Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Satuday 10 am to 12 pm
- Beachcomber (Avarua) – Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm
- 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.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comWhere 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 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 for your island adventures!
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.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comSouvenir Shopping on the Outer Islands (Pa Enua)
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.
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:
- The Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands + The Best Places to Shop
- The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
- Information, Shops & Services in the Cook 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.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
- Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
- Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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