The Bus in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Bus Fares, Timetable & More

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Rarotonga Bus Routes: Where to Catch the Bus on Rarotonga

First things first, the only island in the Cook Islands where you can catch a bus is the largest island, Rarotonga. The next thing you need to know is that the bus only travels and picks up passengers along the “main road” of Rarotonga; the coastal circular road known as “Ara Tapu“. There are two buses running in opposite directions on this road: the Clockwise bus and the Anticlockwise bus.

The Clockwise and Anticlockwise Buses

Making it pretty simple for first-time visitors to Rarotonga, there is only one Clockwise bus and one Anticlockwise bus running at a time. The Clockwise bus travels in a clockwise direction around Rarotonga’s main road, while the Anticlockwise bus travels in the opposite direction on the main road (anticlockwise) – just in case it wasn’t 100% obvious! The Clockwise bus has slightly longer operating hours than the Anticlockwise bus; more on that in the “Rarotonga Bus Timetable” section below.

How do you know which bus is which? There are nice big clear signs for “Clockwise” or “Anticlockwise” at the front of the bus above the windscreen.

Which Direction to Take the Bus?

Well, a bit of knowledge on which direction gets you to your destination the fastest is handy. Your destination could be 10 minutes one way and 50 minutes the other! If you haven’t got access to a map, ask the bus driver if this is the quickest bus to your destination. Even if it isn’t, at least it will cost the same fare; you’ll just be taking the scenic route…

Where to Catch the Bus on Rarotonga: Bus Stops and Waving Down the Driver

There are around 50 “official” bus stops along Rarotonga’s main road. There are typically little shelters with a bench to sit on and sometimes a bus timetable on display. You can find bus stops at all of Rarotonga’s villages, as well as in front of many resorts and restaurants scattered around the island, so it’s convenient for tourists too!

It’s important to note, however, that you don’t have to be at a bus stop to catch a bus on Rarotonga! You can catch the bus from anywhere along the main road, as long as the bus driver can pull over safely on the side of the road. Just wave down the bus as you see it approaching.

Where is Cook’s Corner?

Cook’s Corner is the main bus station of Rarotonga, located in the main town, Avarua. It’s just off the main road down Tutakimoa Road. Note that there is no ATM at Cook’s Corner (but there are some down the main road at the Bank of the South Pacific). The bus station does, however, have a small cafe and shopping centre.

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Bus Fares on Rarotonga

So how much does the bus cost on Rarotonga? The Rarotonga bus fares are as follows:

• Adult One-Way – NZ$5, Child One-Way – NZ$3
• Adult Return – NZ$8, Child Return – NZ$4
• Adult 10-Ride Concession – NZ$30, Child 10-Ride Concession – NZ$19
• All Day Pass (Hop-on hop-off – expire midnight of purchase) – NZ$16, All Day Family Pass (Hop-on hop-off for two adults and two children – expire midnight of purchase) – NZ$26
• Children under three years old travel free!

Notes About the Bus Fares

A few things to note about the bus fares on Rarotonga is that a one-way ticket is for a journey from Point A to Point B without circling the entire island. Child fares are for ages three to 12 years old. One ride on the “10-Ride Concession” can be a full circle of the island. You may be charged a luggage fee (NZ$2 per piece) for large bags, suitcases or other items – this is at the judgement of the driver.

How to Purchase Bus Tickets on Rarotonga

How do you pay for the bus on Rarotonga? Bus tickets can only be purchased in cash from the bus driver. The local currency is New Zealand Dollars.

Learn about the location of ATMs in Information, Shops & Services on Rarotonga and find out where you can exchange currency in The Best Place to Exchange Money in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

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Rarotonga Bus Timetable

On the 32km (20-mile) road, the buses on Rarotonga take approximately 50 minutes to make the entire journey around the island. Although there are bus timetables, the bus may be running late or even sometimes a little early. It’s best to be at the bus stop about 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up.

Clockwise Bus Timetable

The Clockwise bus departs Cook’s Corner in Avarua on the hour every hour from 7am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday. There is no Sunday Clockwise bus.

• LOCATION – MINS PAST THE HOUR
• Cook’s Corner – 00
• Cook Islands Tourism Information Centre – 01
• Trader Jacks – 01
• Paradise Inn – 02
• Tamarind House – 03
• Cook Islands Game Fishing Club – 04
• Club Raro Resort – 05
• Kiikii Inn & Suites – 06
• Super Brown/Ariana Bungalows – 07
• Love Cafe – 08
• Takitumu School – 08
• Matavera Village Traders – 09
• Tropical Sands – 10
• Pa’s Palace & Museum – 12
• Avana Waterfront Apartments – 12
• Aroko Bungalows – 13
• Kura’s Kabanas – 13
• Sokala Villas/The Navigator/Manea on Muri – 14
• Muri Beach Club Hotel/Te Vara Nui Village – 14
• Pacific Resort – 15
• Te Vakaroa Villas – 15
• Muri Beach/RSC/Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise – 16
• Muri Beachcomber – 16
• Koka Lagoon Cruise/KiteSUP/LBV – 17
• Muri Beach Hideaway – 17
• Aremango Guesthouse – 17
• Muri Beach Resort/Nautilus Resort – 17
• Tiana’s/Muri Retreat – 18
• Muri Beach Cottages – 18
• Te Manava Villas – 18
• Papa Ben’s Shop/Rumours Villas – 18
• Fruits of Rarotonga – 18
• Raina Beach Apartments – 18
• Maire Nui Gardens/Little Polynesian – 19
• Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel – 20
• MOTU Villas – 21
• Whitesands Villas – 21
• Bella Beach Bungalows – 22
• Sea Change Villas – 22
• YWAM – 24
• Arapati Villas – 24
• Palm Grove – 25
• Moana Sands Beach Villas/Wigmore’s Superstore – 26
• Vaima Video Shack – 26
• Wigmore’s Waterfall/Cross Island Trek – 26
• Daydreamer Apartments – 27
• The Rarotongan Beach Resort/Sanctuary on the Beach – 30
• Lagoon Breeze Villas – 31
• Backpackers International – 33
• Black Pearl of Puaikura – 33
• Aro’a Beachside Inn/Shipwreck Hut – 34
• Sunhaven Bungalows – 35
• Rarotonga Backpackers – 35
• Kia Orana Beach Bungalows – 35
• Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre – 35
• Castaway Resort – 36
• Magic Reef Beach Bungalows – 36
• Manuia Beach Resort – 37
• Crown Beach Resort – 38
• Tumunu Restaurant – 39
• Edgewater Resort & Spa – 40
• Sunset Resort – 42
• Cooks Oasis/Kikau Hut – 42
• Black Rock Lookout/Tuoro Cafe – 42
• Rarotonga Golf Club – 43
• Super Brown Corner Store – 43
• Parliament/Oasis 24hr Store – 44
• 21.3 Vaiana’s Bar & Bistro – 44
• Rarotonga International & Domestic Airport/RSA – 45
• Islander Hotel – 46
• CITC Supermarket – 48
• Palace Takeaway/Sea Salt Takeaway – 48
• Punanga Nui Market – 49
• Triad Petroleum – 49
• Cook’s Corner – 50

Anticlockwise Bus Timetable

The Anticlockwise bus departs Cook’s Corner in Avarua on the half-hour every hour from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday and from 8.30am to 1.30pm on Saturdays. There is no Sunday Anticlockwise bus.

• LOCATION – MINS PAST THE HOUR
• Cook’s Corner – 30
• Cook Islands Police Station – 30
• Punanga Nui Market/The Bond Store/Kai Pizza – 32
• CITC Supermarket – 33
• Islander Hotel – 34
• Rarotonga Airport – 35
• 21.3 Vaiana’s Bar & Bistro – 36
• Oasis 24Hr Store – 36
• Super Brown Corner Store – 37
• Rarotonga Golf Club – 37
• Kikau Hut/Cooks Oasis – 39
• Sunset Resort – 39
• Edgewater Resort & Spa – 40
• Crown Beach Resort – 42
• Manuia Beach Resort – 43
• Waterline Restaurant – 43
• Magic Reef Beach Bungalows – 43
• Castaway Resort – 45
• Rarotonga Backpackers – 46
• Sunhaven Beach Bungalows – 46
• Aro’a Beachside Inn/Shipwreck Hut – 47
• Black Pearl of Puaikura – 48
• Backpackers International – 48
• Lagoon Breeze Villas – 49
• The Rarotongan Beach Resort/Sanctuary on the Beach – 50
• Daydreamer Apartments – 52
• Wigmore’s Waterfall/Cross Island Trek – 53
• Vaima Video Shack – 53
• Wigmore’s Superstore/Moana Sands Beach Villas – 54
• Palm Grove – 55
• Arapati Villas – 55
• YWAM – 55
• Sea Change Villas – 58
• Bella Beach Bungalows – 59
• Whitesands Villas – 59
• MOTU Villas – 59
• Makayla Palms – 59
• Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel – 0
• Little Polynesian/Maire Nui Gardens – 0
• Raina Beach Apartments – 01
• Fruits of Rarotonga – 02
• Rumours Luxury Villas – 02
• Te Manava Villas – 02
• Muri Beach Cottages – 03
• Muri Retreat – 03
• Muri Beach Resort/Nautilus Resort – 03
• Aremango Guesthouse – 04
• Koka Lagoon Cruise/KiteSUP/LBV – 04
• Muri Beachcomber – 04
• Muri Beach/Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise – 05
• Te Vakaroa Villas – 05
• Pacific Resort – 05
• Te Vara Nui Village/Muri Beach Club Hotel – 07
• Manea on Muri – 07
• Sokala Villas/The Navigator – 08
• Kura’s Kabanas – 08
• Aroko Bungalows – 09
• Avana Fishing Club/Avana Passage – 10
• Avana Waterfront Apartments – 10
• Sunrise Beach Bungalows – 10
• Tropical Sands – 12
• Matavera Village Traders – 13
• Takitumu School – 13
• Love Cafe – 13
• Ariana Bungalows/Super Brown Store – 15
• Kiikii Inn & Suites – 16
• Club Raro Resort – 16
• Cook Islands Game Fishing Club – 16
• Tamarind House – 16
• Victoria Park/Paradise Inn -17
• Trader Jacks – 18
• Cook Islands Tourism Information Centre – 19
• Cook’s Corner – 20.

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Tracking Buses in Rarotonga Using the Mobile App

Did you know you can track buses in Rarotonga using an app? Well, you can in theory. All you need is a good internet connection (see How to Get Internet & WiFi in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands) and either an Apple or Android device.

The Rarotonga buses use the Transportme Passenger app available on Google Play and Apple App Store. Once you have downloaded the app and logged in with your Apple ID or Google Account and given the app access to use your location, select “Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd” from the list of operators. You can select the “Anticlockwise” or “Clockwise” route.

Have a Backup

However, due to the Transportme Passenger app presenting some bugs at times, combined with the fact that internet and data aren’t exactly cheap in the Cook Islands, we don’t recommend that travellers solely rely on the app to track the bus. It’s best to wait at the bus stops on time.

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Rarotonga Bus Etiquette

Like travelling anywhere new, there are customs to bear in mind when taking the bus on Rarotonga. A few bus etiquette tips include:

• To stop the bus from the roadside, simply stick out your hand and wave to the bus driver to stop
• Let the driver know where you are going when you board the bus; they usually remember to stop when they get there
• If you see your stop coming up, however, make your way to the front of the bus as a gentle reminder for the driver to stop
• Try to have the correct change when boarding the bus (i.e. don’t be “that guy” that pays for his NZ$5 fare with a NZ$50 note!)
• Wear dry clothing on the bus; the driver may refuse you if you’re still soaking from your swim
• Wear respectable clothing knowing that you’re sharing the bus with locals
• Eating, drinking and smoking on the bus are prohibited.

For more customs to respect while visiting the Cook Islands, check out Cook Islander Etiquette: Rarotonga & Cook Islands Customs & Traditions.

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Other Bus Services on Rarotonga for Travellers

What are the other ways for visitors to take the bus on Rarotonga? There are shared airport transfers by bus and a limited selection of bus tours on the island.

Rarotonga Airport Buses

Offering shared airport transfers on buses, companies like Raro Tours and Cook Islands Tours provide door-to-door airport transfers. Find out more about airport bus transfers and alternatives in the 10 Best Airport Transfers in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Bus Tours on Rarotonga

A small selection of bus companies on Rarotonga also offer sightseeing bus tours around the island – ideal if you want an orientation of the island if this is your first time visiting or if you’re only on Rarotonga for the day off the cruise ship, for example. Find out more about bus tours in the 5 Best Rarotonga & Cook Islands Bus Tours.