The Guide to Cycling & Mountain Biking in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands

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Guided Cycle Tours or Do it Yourself?

You have two options when it comes to cycling in Rarotonga: take a guided tour or do it yourself.

Of course, renting a bike and hitting the road is the far cheaper option at only around NZ$15-$25 a day for a pushbike (or free if it’s included in your accommodation) or NZ$35-$45 a day for an e-bike.

You can ride at your own pace and independently, should you not feel like being part of a tour group. And with the “Self-Guided Bike Trails” listed at the end of this article, we’ll point you in the direction of some neat routes.

On the other hand, guided cycle tours are well worth considering on Rarotonga – the only island with guided cycle tours – mainly because local guides can point out things on the side of the trail that you would easily miss if you were just cycling on your own.

Guides work with local farmers to showcase local fruit and vegetables to try, as well as take you to the workshops of local craftspeople so you can see, for instance, how island ukuleles are made. More on the cycle tours of Rarotonga can be found in the section below.

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Cycle Tours of Rarotonga

There are a couple of fantastic cycle tour operators on Rarotonga offering an alternative way to see the island. After a tour with these guys, needless to say, you’ll see Rarotonga in a whole new light.

Storytellers Eco Cycle & Walking Tours

Storytellers Eco Cycle Tours offers a cultural journey on two wheels, providing the most comprehensive range of bike tours in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. With bikes for all ages, there’s no excuse not to join their eco-adventures. Each tour begins with a briefing, allowing guests to choose their focus: food, history, art and culture, or a combination of all.

Their cycling tours include:

• Discover – A three-hour tour perfect for beginners and families, cycling along the ancient Ara Metua coral road. You’ll hear legends, taste local foods, and meet amazing people. Includes a delicious Rarotongan lunch.
• Explore – A four-hour adventure for confident cyclists. Pedal past quaint villages, learn about history along the Ara Metua, enjoy local fruit tastings, and visit Rarotonga’s “secret” waterfall. Lunch included.

For those preferring to explore on foot, Storytellers offers the “Afternoon Stroll” walking tour, allowing you to soak in the island’s beauty at a leisurely pace.

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Where to Hire a Bike in the Cook Islands

Prefer to ride the roads of Rarotonga yourself, or perhaps you’re visiting the islands of Aitutaki, Atiu or Mauke and want to explore by bike? Bike hire is available from a mix of rental companies and accommodations.

Bicycle Rental in the Cook Islands

• Ride Rarotonga, Rarotonga – Ara Tapu Main Road, Avarua. Opposite the Punanga Nui Market, open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12:30 pm.
• Adventure Cook Islands, Rarotonga – Aroa Beach opposite The Rarotongan Resort. They are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm.
• Tik-ebikes & Tours, Rarotonga – Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm. Located opposite the Crown Beach Resort & Spa, Ara Tapu Main Road, Arorangi, west coast of Rarotonga
• Polynesian Rental Cars & Bikes, Rarotonga – They have locations in St Joseph Road Avarua, Maire Nui Drive Avarua, Club Raro Resort, Main Road Muri, Main Road Titikaveka, Main Road Aroa, Edgewater Resort & Spa and at Rarotonga International Airport. Opening hours are typically Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm.
• Rino’s Rentals, Aitutaki – Main Road between Amuri and Arutanga, open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm.

Find out more about these bicycle rental companies in our guide, Cycle Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Where to Rent Bikes & E-Bikes.

Accommodations with Bicycle Rental

• Muri Beachcomber, Rarotonga – Free pushbikes
• Ikurangi Retreat, Rarotonga – Free pushbikes and helmets
• Tropical Sands, Rarotonga – Free pushbikes
• Motu Beachfront Art Villas, Rarotonga – Free e-bikes
• Magic Reef Beachfront Bungalows, Rarotonga – Paid e-bike rental
• Kia Orana Villas and Spa, Rarotonga – Paid pushbike rental
• Matriki Beach Huts, Aitutaki – Free pushbikes
• Tamanu Beach Resort, Aitutaki – Free pushbikes
• Atiu Villas, Atiu – Paid bicycle rental
• Ri’s Retreat, Mauke – Free pushbikes
• Kiikii Inn & Suites – Paid bicycle rental
• Aro’a Beachside Resort – Paid pushbike rental

Check out these places to stay in the 10 Accommodations in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands with Bike Hire.

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Bringing Your Own Bike to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

It is possible to bring your own bike to the Cook Islands, as airlines flying to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands allow it. You will need to check your bike in as checked luggage and pack it appropriately.

For checking in a bike on most flights to the Cook Islands, pack the bike in a bike box or bike bag. Bike boxes are available for purchase at airports; for example, bike boxes at Auckland Airport are approximately NZ$25.

You don’t need to deflate the tyres, but you do need to do the following:

• Remove the handlebars or turn them sideways
• Remove the pedals or turn them in
• Make sure the pressure of any nitrogen gas in the mountain bike struts is no more than 200 kPa (kilopascal) or 29 PSI (pounds per square inch)
• Make sure that any cartridges for inflating tyres are less than 50 ml (1.6 oz) and contain a non-flammable gas.

Remember to seal the box and label it with your name and phone number. It’s a good idea to place accessories in a bag within the bike box/bag.

On flights with the Cook Islands’ domestic carrier, you will need to get in touch with the airline prior to flying as there is limited space for excess luggage on these small planes. They will typically charge you the excess luggage fee for bikes, at around NZ$3.50 per kilogram.

Learn more about the ins and outs of flying to the Cook Islands in our guide, Getting Here: How to Get to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?, as well as domestic flights in Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands: Your Guide to Interisland Flights.

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Self-Guided Bike Trails

There are no marked bike trails in the Cook Islands, but those with a map and a sense of adventure can experience the joys of exploring the Cook Islands on its quieter roads. We have listed some recommended routes in the 5 Best Bike Trails in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, which are, in short:

• Club Raro Resort to Muri Beach via Ara Metua, Rarotonga – 7 km (4.3 mi) – 25-25 mins without stops
• Black Rock to Aroa Beach via Ara Metua, Rarotonga – 6.5 km (4 mi) – 20-30 mins without stops
• Southern Aitutaki Loop – 13.5 km (8.4 mi) – 40 mins to 1 hour without stops
• West Coast of Atiu – 15 km (9.3 mi) – 45 mins to 1 hour 10 mins without stops
• West coast of Mauke – 15 km (9.3 mi) – 45mins to 1h10mins without stops

Again, we go into much more detail in the 5 Best Bike Trails in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.