The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2025]

Last Updated: 6 June, 2025

Where to Shop in the Cook Islands

Rarotonga might be a South Pacific island but it has the perfect blend of Polynesian and cosmopolitan culture which includes a vibrant shopping scene. If you love browsing gift shops and buying new fashions from the places you visit, then you’ll love Rarotonga.

The main hub for shopping is the capital, Avarua, but you’ll find the odd hidden gem in the smaller towns of Rarotonga, as well as on the atoll of Aitutaki. As for the other outer Cook Islands, shopping is only really available at the infrequent markets.

Whatever you’re looking to purchase, whether it’s elegant black pearl jewellery, Polynesian artwork, island clothing or even groceries, you’ll be pointed in the right direction with this ultimate guide to shopping in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

5 Quick Tips for Shopping in the Cook Islands

While many stores accept MasterCard and Visa, make sure you have cash available, especially for the markets and the outer islands – find out more in What is the Best Way to Pay in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?
Haggling over the price is not customary in the Cook Islands
While most stores are open 9 am-4 pm Monday to Friday, be aware that shops typically close early on a Saturday and are closed on a Sunday
Most souvenirs will pass through biosecurity when you arrive home (such as in New Zealand, for example), just remember to declare any shell or wood products
Do not pack foods like fresh fruit or coconuts into your baggage for your departure flight from Rarotonga.

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2025]

The Best Places to Go Shopping in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

A vibrant shopping scene awaits on Rarotonga with shopping centres in the island’s capital, Avarua, and boutique stores scattered elsewhere on the island. The cosmopolitan vibe doesn’t exactly extend to the outer islands of the Cook Islands, however, but you will find the odd hidden gem on Aitutaki.

Punanga Nui Market

The Punanga Nui Market is a vibrant hub of local culture and commerce in the Cook Islands. Every Saturday from 7 am to 12 pm, this bustling marketplace comes alive with an array of local crafts, clothing, art, jewellery, food, and produce.

It’s the perfect spot to snag authentic Cook Islands souvenirs and immerse yourself in the local atmosphere. Located at the west end of Avarua, it’s also a convenient place to make tour bookings for your island adventures.

Avarua Banana Court

The historic Banana Court building is the heart of Avarua town, harbouring shops such as the fashion store, id.CK, tattoo parlour Next Tattoo Cook Islands, while the shop next door has a rotation of businesses between fashion and black pearl brands.

CITC Shopping Centre

The largest shopping centre in the Cook Islands, the CITC Shopping Centre and department store in Avarua has an array of island fashion brands and island gifts and souvenirs that are most likely to attract visitors, while homeware and sports apparel are also departments to peruse.

Cooks Corner Shopping Centre

Easy to miss, Cooks Corner is located down Tutakimoa Road in Avarua at the bus station. There’s a vibrant selection of shops here, such as Bergman & Sons black pearl shop, the sweet shop Cooks Fudge Factory and cafes.

Check out the selection of pearl shops in Avarua in The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in the Cook Islands.

Arorangi

While most visitors experience Arorangi only if staying at one of the resorts lining its sunset beach, Arorangi also boasts some excellent boutiques. Some of our favourites are the Pearl Lounge and Joyce Peyroux Garments next door to each other on the main road (Ara Tapu) opposite Arereenga Road.

There is also Tokerau Jim‘s jewellery store with carved pearls well worth checking out.

Muri

The holiday hotspot on the east side of Rarotonga features a small selection of boutiques that will satisfy the shopping cravings between exploring the beach and its watersports.

Browse an array of exclusively Cook Islands products at the Te Ara Museum gift shop, Cook Islands photography, art and gifts at the Charlotte Piho Gallery, and the Muri Beach Club Hotel also has a good range of local gifts and souvenirs.

Rarotonga Airport

Save some Cook Islands Dollars to spend at the Departures Lounge of Rarotonga International Airport with its array of duty-free stores selling an array of local arts, crafts and apparel. In fact, we have a whole guide to the stores here in The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Shopping in Aitutaki

Shopping in Aitutaki is nothing like Rarotonga, as the main town here is much sleepier. However, there are a couple of hidden gems to scout out, such as T&S Artworx and Stonefish Studio, which you can find out more about in 10 Things to Do in Aitutaki on a Rainy Day.

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]

The Best Shops in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

What are the shops you can’t miss on Rarotonga and Aitutaki? Check out these lists of the most popular clothing, gift, black pearl, art gallery stores and more.

The Best Clothing Stores in the Cook Islands

id.CK, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm
Mareko Island Creations, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 2 pm
Tuki’s Pareu, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm
Stonefish Studio, Aitutaki – Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 3 pm
Ollie’s Surf Gear, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm
CITC Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm
CITC Island Surf, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3:30 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm
Joyce Peyroux Garments, Arorangi – Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm
KiteSUP Shop, Avarua – Sunday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm.

More details on some of our favourite fashion stores can be found in The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in the Cook Islands.

The Best Gift Stores in the Cook Islands

Perfumes of Rarotonga Factory, Nikao – 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
Cooks Fudge Factory, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm
Bounty Bookshop, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8 am to 1 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm
Rito Cook Islands, Titikaveka – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 1 pm
Tivaevae Collectables, Nikao – Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm
Tokerau Jim, Arorangi – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
Island Craft, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm
Aladdin’s Cave, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm
CITC Avarua, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm
Treasure Chest, Muri – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Learn more about local gift stores in The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in the Cook Islands.

The Best Black Pearl Stores in the Cook Islands

Pearl Lounge, Arorangi – Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm
Farm Direct Pearls, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm
Kora Pearls, Avarua – 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 – Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm
Paka’s Pearls, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm
Fishers Black Pearl Jewellery, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm
Bergman & Sons, Avarua & Pacific Resort Aitutaki –Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 12 pm
Beachcomber, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3 pm
Island Craft, Avarua & Rarotonga Airport – Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm.

The Best Art Galleries in the Cook Islands

Te Toki Tupuna, Avarua – Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
2Mamas Gallery, Arorangi – Monday to Wednesday from 9 am to 2 pm
Ani’s Art Gallery, Arorangi – All day, seven days a week
Charlotte Piho Gallery, Muri – Various opening hours.
Rarotonga Fabric Arts – Takitumu – Sunday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm

Learn more about art galleries and others in the 5 Best Art Galleries in the Cook Islands.

The Best Markets in the Cook Islands

Punanga Nui Market, Avarua – Saturday from 7 am to 12 pm
Muri Night Market, Muri – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5 pm
Friday Morning Market, Mangaia – Friday from 5:30 am to 8:30 am…

… And there’s more listed in the 5 Best Markets in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Groceries and Essentials

Of course, grocery shopping and essential supplies are always useful to have on your radar, especially on remote islands where you can’t always rely on a Walmart, New World or Woolworths just down the road. Luckily, we have grocery shopping guides for every one of the islands (that receive visitors) in the Cook Islands. Check them out in the links below:

And anything we’ve missed will be in the Information, Shops & Services in the Cook Islands.

For more details on what grocery supplies are available, check out A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in the Cook Islands.

More About Shopping in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

Now that you know all about shopping in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, as well as the best shops in the Cook Islands, take a look at more of our guides that will help plan the perfect shop-a-holic’s outing:

Finally, plan more experiences beyond shopping in the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List.

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.

About the 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.

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