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The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com
The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2024]

© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

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

  1. 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?
  2. Haggling the price is not customary in the Cook Islands
  3. While most stores are open 9am-4pm Monday to Friday, be aware that shops typically close early on a Saturday and are closed on a Sunday
  4. 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
  5. 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 [2023]© DH - Cook Islands Tourism

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

A must-do for shop-a-holics, the Punanga Nui Market is the largest market in the Cook Islands where an array of local sellers gather for an extravaganza of local crafts, clothing, art, jewellery, food and produce. If you’re looking to purchase authentic Cook Islands souvenirs, this is the best place to do it! Punanga Nui Market takes place every Saturday morning at the west end of Avarua.

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 only experience Arorangi if staying at one of the resorts lining its sunset beach, Arorangi also holds 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 has a small selection of boutiques that will quench the thirst for shopping between exploring the beach and its watersports. Check out watersports and beach apparel at the KiteSUP shop, 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]© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

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 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm
  • Mareko Island Creations, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 8.30am to 2pm
  • Tuki’s Pareu, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 12pm
  • Stonefish Studio, Aitutaki – Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm
  • Ollie’s Surf Gear, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm
  • CITC Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm
  • CITC Island Surf, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 10am to 3.30pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm
  • Joyce Peyroux Garments, Arorangi – Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm
  • KiteSUP Shop, Muri – Sunday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm and Saturday from 12pm to 4pm.

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 9am to 3.30pm, Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm
  • Cooks Fudge Factory, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm
  • Bounty Bookshop, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8am to 1pm and Saturday from 8am to 12pm
  • Rito Cook Islands, Titikaveka – Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 8.30am to 1pm
  • Tivaevae Collectables, Nikao – Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm
  • Tokerau Jim, Arorangi – Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm
  • Island Craft, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm
  • Aladdin’s Cave, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 1pm
  • CITC Avarua, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm
  • Treasure Chest, Avarua – Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 8am to 12pm.

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

The Best Art Galleries in the Cook Islands

  • The Little Red Gallery, Avarua – Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm
  • 2Mamas Gallery, Arorangi – Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 2pm
  • The Art Box, Arorangi – All day seven days a week
  • Charlotte Piho Gallery, Muri – Various opening hours.

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 morning
  • Muri Night Market, Muri – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5pm
  • Friday Morning Market, Mangaia – Friday from 5.30am to 8.30am…

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

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands [2023]© CookIslandsPocketGuide.com

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.

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

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