The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Rarotonga

Rarotonga lies in the Southern Group of the Cook Islands, 3,000 km (1,865 mi) from Auckland, 4,980 km (3,095 mi) from Sydney and 2,855 km (1,775 mi) from Hawaii. The main island of the Cook Islands is home to the country's only international airport and receives regular flights from New Zealand and Australia, which are well connected to the rest of the world.

Find out about airlines travelling to Rarotonga: Which Airlines Fly to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?.

Alternative ways to get to Rarotonga include day trips with cruise liners and sailing via private yacht. Find out more about your arrival options in Getting Here: How to Get to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

How to Get Around Rarotonga

Rarotonga is well-connected with a coastal road network. The main road (Ara Tapu) is 32 km (20 mi) long, taking approximately 45 minutes to drive around the entire island. Car rentals, scooter rentals and bicycle rentals are readily available – just note that you’ll need to apply for a scooter license if your current driving license doesn’t already cover motorcycles.

Alternatively, there is a frequent bus service travelling in both directions around Rarotonga, while taxis and airport transfers are also available.

Find out all you need to know about transport in our Rarotonga Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Rarotonga.

While there are almost endless things to do on Rarotonga (don't believe us? Just check out the 50 Best Things to Do on Rarotonga), there are some experiences that are designed for romance or are just better done as a couple. Here are a few that come to mind...

Couples' Spa Treatments

Soothe the senses and rejuvenate together with a couple's spa treatment on Rarotonga. You'll struggle to find a spa that doesn't do couples' massages on Rarotonga between the couples' treatments at the Waterfall Spa of Rumours Luxury Villas and the beachfront massages of the Muri Beach Club Spa. Compare all of the spas available for a relaxing retreat in the 10 Best Spas in Rarotonga.

Maire Nui Gardens

Cross the quaint footbridges and into seven acres of botanical paradise at Maire Nui Gardens. These gorgeous tropical gardens in Titikaveka provide an effortlessly romantic environment, with lily ponds, intriguing plants, and a backdrop of the dramatic mountain landscape.

You can also stop by the garden's café, where food is fresh and flavoured with the garden's very own herbs and spices. Guided tours are the best way to immerse yourselves and learn more about sustainable gardening. Entry to the gardens is a small cash fee, making it one of the 20 Free & Cheap Things to Do on Rarotonga.

Double Kayaking

It’s the ultimate test of any relationship: navigating a kayak together. Kayaks are a staple of beachfront accommodations on Rarotonga, while kayak rentals are also available with Adventure Cook Islands, KiteSUP and Captain Tama Aquasportz. Ask your host for the best places to go from your chosen accommodation, and don’t forget to take some snorkelling gear to enjoy the tropical marine life below.

Check out more kayak rentals in the 5 Best Kayak Tours & Rentals in the Cook Islands.

Ride Tandem on a Jet Ski Tour

For those seeking more thrill than kayaking, hop on a jet ski with TVK Watersports. It's perfect for couples – you can share a jet ski and wrap your arms around your partner's waist (because nothing says love like holding on for dear life!).

Choose from a one-hour tour covering half the island or a full island adventure lasting up to two and a half hours. Led by Marama, a professional with a surf rescue background, you'll enjoy a safe yet exhilarating ride. Tours are flexible, often including snorkelling and spearfishing. With a maximum of four jet skis per tour, you're guaranteed a personalised experience.

Rarotonga's Sunset Spots

If you're not staying on Rarotonga's sunset coast, Arorangi, at least make your way to its never-ending beach to soak up the sunset. Whether it's from restaurants like On The Beach (OTB) or The Waterline Restaurant, or simply while taking a stroll, the sunset from Arorangi offers a memorable and romantic display.

Check out other sunset spots in the 10 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, as well as sunrise in the 10 Best Places to Watch the Sunrise.

Honeymoon Packages

Sometimes, just relaxing at your glorious honeymoon accommodation can provide effortless romance. Enhance the experience further by letting your accommodation know that it's your honeymoon; they might include a little extra treat for you.

Some resorts and accommodations even offer honeymoon packages complete with pampering experiences and, typically, a bottle of bubbles waiting for you on arrival. Learn all about Rarotonga's honeymoon specials in the 10 Best Honeymoon Packages on Rarotonga.

Other Things to Do on Rarotonga

And that’s just a taste of the romantic experiences you can have on a Rarotonga honeymoon or romantic getaway. Treat yourself and your loved one to a glorious day tour to Aitutaki, romantic walking trails, off-roading tours, and more, as listed in the 15 Most Romantic Things to Do on Rarotonga for Couples and the 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands.

From five-star adults-only resorts to self-catering boutique beach bungalows, Rarotonga’s accommodations effortlessly set the scene for a romantic holiday. Some providers also have honeymoon packages to up the romance.

Although we outline all your options in the 10 Most Romantic Honeymoon Resorts on Rarotonga, here are some of our top picks for couples.

Little Polynesian – Romantic Seaside Escape for Couples

A five-star boutique resort situated on the sandy shores of southern Rarotonga, Little Polynesian offers an idyllic escape for honeymooning couples. Indulge in a delightful breakfast around the chic infinity pool, which reflects the beach’s swaying coconut palms.

Each of the 14 intimate studios feels private enough between the tropical gardens and the beachfront. The interiors are modern, with subtle Polynesian touches that remind you you’re on island time.

The resort offers e-bike rental for a fee. One of the best adults-only resorts on Rarotonga for couples.

Discover why Little Polynesian is perfect for couples seeking romance and luxury, and book your stay on Booking.com or Expedia!

Nautilus Resort – Ultimate Adults-Only Privacy & Luxury

Indulge in absolute privacy and design choices that can’t help but “wow” at the Nautilus Resort. Each ‘are (bungalow) here features a private saltwater plunge pool, high ceilings and a spacious layout, as well as a bathroom with “his and hers” basins and a deep freestanding bathtub.

Beachfront ‘ares have their own lounging space with a hammock in the palm trees, along with free use of watersports equipment. On-site is also a larger infinity pool, the popular Nautilus Restaurant, as well as the indulgent Spa Nautilus. They also organise unique weddings on an uninhabited motu (island), if you’re so inclined.

Experience the exclusivity and luxury of Nautilus Resort, and book your stay on Booking.com or Expedia!

Nothing wraps up a day in paradise more perfectly than a romantic meal with the most important person in your life. From luxurious private dinners on the beach organised by your resort to picking up a picnic from a food truck and finding a scenic spot, couples are sure spoiled for choice when it comes to romantic dining experiences.

Private Dining Experiences

A must for couples celebrating a special occasion or simply elevating romance, there are several private dining experiences available on Rarotonga. The adults-only Crown Beach Resort & Spa offers private dining under a gorgeous decorated gazebo on the beach.

You can also inquire about private dining options at Sanctuary Rarotonga on the Beach, The Rarotongan Resort & Lagoonarium, Pacific Resort Rarotonga, and more. Trust us, this experience of dining with your toes in the sand while watching the sunset is readily available.

Romantic Restaurants on Rarotonga

Going out for dinner has been a textbook date night for centuries. On Rarotonga, it's no different, except that most dining options here are typically made with fresh, local ingredients, and couples are spoiled for choice.

Some of the most romantic dinner spots include the three-course feet-in-the-sand venture of On The Beach (OTB) at the Manuia Beach Resort and the inland Mediterranean-inspired Antipodes.

Dine with your toes in the sand at the BlueWater Grill of the Sanctuary Rarotonga on the Beach. Nestled between Aroa Beach and the pool of the adults-only resort, BlueWater Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner exclusively for guests, serving a range of crowd-pleasers and excellent vegan and vegetarian options.

Indulge in a romantic beachfront dining experience at the laid-back Falafel Shack. This hidden gem offers casual Middle Eastern and fusion fare right on the sand. Don't miss their "Lovers' Seat", an intimate table for two nestled on the beach. With affordable fresh meals like falafel, kebabs, and shawarma, plus vegetarian options, it's the perfect spot to linger, eat, and even take a dip in the calm swimming area. The friendly vibe and unbeatable location make it a must-visit, especially on sunny afternoons.

Nestled on Titikaveka Beach, the adults-only Little Polynesian Restaurant & Bar offers an intimate dining experience by the shore. Open daily from 8 am to 9 pm, it serves an all-day menu from 11 am featuring local delights like ika mata and island-style sashimi. Dinner specialities after 6 pm include a wild turmeric seafood sizzler and slow-roasted chicken with rukau. Don't miss their indulgent desserts like the Raro Tiramisu. With its romantic setting and fusion cuisine, it's a must-visit for guests 18 and over. (We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot!)

Alternative Dining Experiences

Of course, with Cook Islands Tours' progressive dinner tour, the street food of Punanga Nui Market and locals' favourite, Charlie's, there's a whole spectrum of dining delights, into which you can dive further in The Food Guide to Rarotonga: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

The tropical island wedding of your dreams is waiting on Rarotonga. A toes-in-the-sand ceremony is a speciality here, while saying your "I dos" among tropical gardens with dramatic mountains in the distance is also an option.

What’s more, the requirements to get married in Rarotonga are relatively easy, with couples only needing to be in the country for three days prior to the wedding and to have their passports, birth certificates, and a divorce or death certificate, if applicable. Get a full insight into the marriage requirements and more in How to Plan a Wedding in the Cook Islands.

With that, there are several wedding services across Rarotonga that can help make your dream wedding a reality. Most operate out of the resorts, such as Nautilus Resort, Sea Change Villas, Edgewater Resort & Spa, Crown Beach Resort & Spa and Manuia Beach Resort.

There are also independent wedding planning operators, like Weddings Cook Islands and Wedded Bliss, who can arrange weddings, no matter how big or how small, at your chosen venue. For something a little unique, add a spice of culture with the wedding services of Te Vara Nui Village or Highland Paradise.

Learn about the packages each wedding planner provides in the 10 Best Wedding Packages for Rarotonga, as well as beach and island venues in the 10 Best Wedding Venues on Rarotonga.

That's it for our complete guide to romantic getaways, weddings and honeymoons to Rarotonga, but by no means is the end of the advice we can offer for your special occasion. Take a look at the following guides for more inspiration:

• 20 Most Romantic Things to Do in the Cook Islands for Couples
• 10 Reasons a Wedding in the Cook Islands is a Must!
• Cook Islands Proposal Ideas: 5 Romantic Ways to Propose

Finally, don't miss a thing when it comes to planning the perfect getaway by checking out The Wedding, Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to the Cook Islands.