Taking The Bus In Rarotonga (Everything You Need To Know!)

All you need to know about taking the bus in Rarotonga. I will be giving you all the information you need to know such as whether you should go clockwise or anti-clockwise, the bus schedule, costs, and what to expect!

If you are just wanting a simple and relaxed holiday then taking the bus in Rarotonga is the perfect transport option for you. Join locals and travelers alike as you journey around this small island together. It never takes too long to get to your destination. So sit back and smell the salty sea breeze.

The island of Rarotonga might not be a large place being 32km around. Though unless you have some damn good running shoes and a sporty spirit you are going to need some sort of vehicle. Now, hiring a car or scooter may not be the best option for you, perhaps you are not comfortable on the roads and don’t want to deal with insurance worries. Well, you better learn how to take the bus in Rarotonga.

Riding the bus is super easy to do and you can’t get lost as the island is a circle, the bus route will eventually take you back to where you started! This guide to taking the bus in Rarotonga has everything you need to know including the Raro bus schedule, fares, buying tickets, and more!

Taking The Bus In Rarotonga: Everything You Need To Know

Why Should You Take The Bus
Anti Clockwise or Clockwise
The Raro Bus Schedule
Where To Catch The Bus In Rarotonga
How Much Is The Bus In Rarotonga

Why Should You Take The Bus

Taking the bus in Rarotonga is an excellent way to discover the island. It is small enough that the journey doesn’t get uncomfortable and boring. The friendly drivers are also a bonus, always greeting everyone with a big Kia Orana.

Though personally, I think the main drawcard to taking the bus in Rarotonga is that you will really slip into island life. Time here is slower than you’ll experience in busy cities. Everyone is friendly and no one is in a rush. Watch the palm trees swaying in the breeze and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. Feel yourself breathe and relax away from the stresses of reality. Welcome to Rarotonga.

two men walking in rarotonga along palm trees — walking down the back roads in rarotonga to the main circle road to catch the bus

Anti Clockwise or Clockwise

Now before we get into the bus schedule in Rarotonga it is important you understand the anti-clockwise or clockwise concept. Essentially what you need to understand is there is a single main road in Rarotonga. This road is a circle so there are only two ways the bus can travel. This is either anti-clockwise or clockwise.

The majority of the time there will be two buses on the road except for some exclusions which I will cover later. These two buses will be going in opposite directions on a circular road. This makes things super easy for us tourists as it is near impossible to not be able to get to your destination.

Depending on where your accommodation is located on the island in comparison to your destination will determine whether you catch the clockwise or anti-clockwise bus. A ten-minute bus ride will either take ten minutes or fifty minutes, depending on which bus you take! So just make sure you jump on the correct one.

The Raro Bus Schedule

The following are the clockwise, anti-clockwise, and night bus schedule for Rarotonga. The locations listed are the bus stops, sometimes there will be physical shelter there, sometimes not. The time is when the bus departs on the hour.

Public Holidays run as per the Sunday Day Schedule with the night bus running per normal.

There are no buses on Good Friday, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Clockwise Raro Bus Schedule:

Monday to Saturday from 7.00 am until 5.00 pm on the hour. Sundays from 8.00 am until 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

Clockwise (location)	Time (on the hour)
Cooks Corner	00
Trader Jacks	01
Paradise Inn	02
Tamarind House	03
Game Fishing Club	03
Club Raro	04
Kiikii Motel	05
Superbrown 24 Hr Store	06
Mount View Lodges	06
Love Cafe	08
Takitumu School	08
Matavera Village Traders	09
Tropical Sands	10
Sunrise Motel	11
Pa’s Palace & Museum	12
Avana Waterfront Apartments	12
The Mooring Cafe	13
Aroko Bungalows	13
Kura’s Kabanas	13
Sokala Villas/ Manea Beach	14
Muri Beach Club Hotel/ Te Vara Nui	14
Pacific Resort	15
Te Vakaroa Villas	15
Muri Beach/Captain Tama’s Cruise	16
Muri Beachcomber	16
Koka Lagoon Cruise	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
Rumors of Romance	18
Fruits of Rarotonga	18
Raina Beach Apartments	18
Little Polynesian Resort	19
Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel	20
Royale Takitumu Villas/Kent Hall	21
Whitesands Villas	21
Bella Beach Bungalows	22
Sea Change Villas	23
YWAM	24
Arapati Villas/Victoria’s Garden	24
Palm Grove Lodges	25
Moana Sands Beach Villas/Wigmore’s Superstore	26
Vaima Steak House	26
Wigmore’s Waterfall	26
Raro Beach Bach/ Daydreamer Apartments	27
Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa	30
Lagoon Breeze Villas	31
Cocoputt	31
Backpackers International	33
Black Pearl of Puaikura	33
Aro’a Beachside Inn/Shipwreck	34
Tex Mart – Arorangi	34
Sunhaven Bungalows	35
Rarotonga Backpackers	35
Kia Orana Beach Bungalows	35
Moana Sunset	35
Castaway Resort	36
Magic Reef Bungalows	36
Are Renga Motel	36
Manuia Beach Resort	37
Crown Beach Resort	38
Tumunu Restaurant	39
Edgewater Resort & Spa	40
Sunset Resort	42
Cooks Oasis/Kikau Hut	42
Reefcomber/Black Rock Store	42
Black Rock Lookout/Tuoro Cafe	42
Rarotonga Golf Club	43
Corner Store	43
Parliament/Oasis 24hr Store	44
Vaiana’s Bar & Bistro	44
Rarotonga Airport	45
Islander Hotel	46
CITC Supermarket	48
Palace Takeaway/Sea Salt Takeaway	48
Punanganui Market/Reefside Cafe	49
Triad Petroleum	49
COOK’S CORNER – TERMINAL	50

Anti-Clockwise Raro Bus Schedule

Monday to Friday from 8.30 am until 4.30 pm at half past the hour. Saturday from 8.30 am until 1.30 pm.

Anti-Clockwise (Bus Stop Location)	Time (on the hour)
Cooks Corner	30
Cook Islands Police Station	30
Punanganui Market	32
Mama’s Cafe	32
CITC Supermarket	33
Islander Hotel	34
Rarotonga Airport	35
Vaiana’s Bar & Bistro	36
Oasis 24Hr Store	36
Corner Store	37
Rarotonga Golf Club	37
Reef Comber Motel	38
Kikau Hut/Cooks Oasis	39
Sunset Resort	39
Edgewater Resort & Spa	40
Crown Beach Resort	42
Manuia Beach Resort	43
Are Renga Motel/Waterline Café	43
Magic Reef Bungalows	43
Castaway Resort	45
Rarotonga Backpackers	46
Sunhaven Beach Bungalows	46
Aro’a Beachside Inn/Shipwreck	47
Black Pearl of Puaikura	48
Backpackers International	48
Lagoon Breeze Villas	49
Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa	50
Daydreamer Apartments	52
Wigmore’s Waterfall	53
Vaima Steak House	53
Wigmore’s Superstore/Moana Sands Beach Villas	54
Palm Grove Lodges	55
Victoria’s Garden/Arapati Villas	55
YWAM	55
Turoa Bakery/Saltwater Cafe	58
Sea Change Villas	58
The Beach Lodge	58
Bella Beach Bungalows	59
Whitesands Villas	59
Royale Takitumu Villas	59
Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel	0
Little Polynesian Resort	0
Raina Beach Apartments	1
Fruits of Rarotonga	2
Rumors of Romance	2
Te Manava Villas	2
Muri Beach Cottages	3
Muri Retreat/Tiana’s	3
Muri Beach Resort/Nautilus Resort	3
Aremango Guesthouse	4
Koka Lagoon Cruise	4
Muri Beachcomber	4
Muri Beach/Captain Tama’s Cruise	5
Te Vakaroa Villas	5
Pacific Resort	5
Te Vara Nui/ Muri Beach Club Hotel	7
Manea Beach Villas	7
Sokala Villas/The Navigator	8
Kura’s Kabanas	8
Aroko Bungalows	9
Avana Fishing Club/Avana Passage	10
Avana Waterfront Apartments	10
Sunrise Beach Bungalows	10
Tropical Sands	12
Tex Mart-Matavera	12
Matavera Village Traders	13
Takitumu School	13
Love Cafe	13
Tradewinds Store	13
Manea Foods-Ooa	14
Ariana Bungalows/Super Brown Store	15
Kiikii Motel	16
Club Raro	16
Cook Islands Game Fishing Club	16
Tamarind House	16
Chillies Sports Bar	17
Victoria Park/Paradise Inn	18
Bamboo Jacks	18
Trader Jacks	19
Cook Islands Tourism Information Centre	19
COOK’S CORNER – TERMINAL	20

Night Raro Bus Schedule

The night bus follows the clockwise route. It departs on the hour from 6 pm to 10 pm Monday to Saturday. Be aware there is no night bus on Sundays in Rarotonga.

Night (Clockwise Only) Bus Stop Location	Time (on the hour)
Cooks Corner	00
Hidie’s Bar/ Cafe Sala	00
Garden Bar/Boogies Burgers	01
Trader Jacks	02
Rehab/Empire Theatre	02
Staircase Restaurant & Bar	02
Tahiti Cafe	02
Bamboo Jacks	02
Paradise Inn	03
Chillies Sports Bar	03
Tamarind House	03
Flying Boat Fish n Chips	03
Club Raro	04
Super Brown Takeaway	06
Manea Foods – O’oa	06
Tradewinds	07
The Plantation	07
Matavera Village Traders	08
Tex Mart – Matavera	09
Te Ata Kura Store	10
Kia orana Store	11
Avana Fishing Club	12
La Casita Restaurant	14
The Rickshaw Restaurant	14
Te Vara Nui Village	14
Pacific Resort	15
Sails Restaurant	16
Deli-licious	16
Aqua Cafe/ Muri Outlet	17
Te Manava Villas	19
Fruits Of Rarotonga	19
Hidden Spirit Cafe & Grill	20
The Sands Restaurant	20
Turoa Bakery/Lavazza	22
The Yellow Hibiscus	24
Wigmore’s Super Store	25
Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa	30
Kaena Restaurant	31
Cocoputt	31
Aroa Beachside Inn Shipwreck	34
Tex Mart- Arorangi	35
Waterline Bar & Grill	36
Manuia Beach	37
Crown Beach	38
Tumunu Restaurant	39
Spaghetti House	39
Edgewater Resort	40
Alberto’s Steak House	41
Sunset Resort	41
Kikau Hut Restaurant	42
Corner Store	44
Oasis 24hr Store	45
Cafe Jireh	45
Aquarius Motel	46
Nu Bar	46
Palace Takeaways	47
Mama’s Cafe	47
Drift In cafe	48
Raviz Indian Cuisine	48
Apii Cafe	49
Cafe Ariki	49
Robs Charcoal Chicken	50
COOK’S CORNER – TERMINAL	50

Island Time

Let’s get the first thing first, island time. It is a thing in Rarotonga and the locals love it, including the bus drivers. Though, in saying that they are not going to be too far off the scheduled time. I have even taken buses that came early!

Generally speaking, it is best to be at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. Also if your bus is for some reason crazy late, don’t worry, there will be another one going the other direction soon.

palm trees in rarotonga — continuing up the back roads to the main road where you can catch the bus from

Where To Catch The Bus In Rarotonga

There are well over fifty different bus stops depending on which route you are on so you will never be too far away. All major accommodations will often have a bus stop in front of it, as well as popular restaurants. This way you will never have a problem when taking the bus in Rarotonga.

It is very unlikely you will need to walk more than a few meters from your final destination. Just tell the bus driver where you would like to go when you jump on and he will drop you as close as possible.

blue hibiscus mural in rarotonga — sitting at the bus stop in rarotonga outside of the backpackers

How Much Is The Bus In Rarotonga?

Standard Bus Ticket Prices

Adult: one way $5.00NZD / return $8.00NZD Child: one way $3.00NZD / return $4.00NZD

Multi Journey Ticket Prices

Hop on Hop Off: Adult $16.00NZD / family $26.00NZD (two adults & two children) 10 Journey Pass: Adult $30.00NZD / child $19.00 NZD

Where To Stay In Rarotonga

There are plenty of options when it comes to accommodation in Rarotonga. From small hostels, apartments on the beach, luxury resorts, and everything in between.

Though just be aware that even 5-star resorts in Rarotonga don’t actually look too great so adjust your expectations accordingly. This is an island with limited resources and seems to be a few years behind New Zealand, which is again, a few years behind the rest of Oceania. As a result, rooms can look quite dated, think floral prints from the ’70s, though that’s just the atheistic on the island.

Find the best hotels in the area

Kiikii Inn & Suites

Beach front location with affordable bungalows from $105.00 per night.

BOOK NOW

Club Raro Resort

With standard rooms from $130.00 you can enjoy life on the beach at an affordable price.

BOOK NOW

Sanctuary Rarotonga Resort & Spa

Romantic adults only resort. With rooms from $230.00 per night enjoy luxury in peace.

BOOK NOW

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa

Set on a private beach this 4 star resort is the perfect getaway from $190.00 per night.

BOOK NOW

Things To Do While In Rarotonga

One great thing about Rarotonga is that is it basically impossible to get bored during your stay! There is such a wide variety of things to do and beautiful sights you will constantly be out exploring.

Also, for a more extensive list be sure to check out my post on the Best Things To Do In Rarotonga.

Aitutaki Day Tour: If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience definitely think about booking the Aitutaki Day Tour. Though it is pricey, 100% worth it. It still has some of the best beaches I have ever seen.

Cultural Show: A more tame activity is checking out one of the evening cultural shows. These are magnificent insights into the Cook Island culture with extremely impressive performances involving dance and fire. A buffet dinner is also included with both Western and local favorites.

Across Island Hike: One of the most popular things to do is do the Across Island Hike and visit The Needle. This will take you right into the interior of the mountainous island with some amazing ocean views.

Raro Buggy Tours: I have always wanted to do the buggy tour as there is such hype so I booked it on my most recent trip. I remember saying at the start to my partner that we must swap halfway so I get some fun. Though when that time came I was enjoying it so much that I was happy to stay a passenger!

Beach Hop: Now you cannot go to Rarotonga and miss out on exploring the incredible ocean life and this can easily be done on a budget, if not for free. Basically, no matter where you are staying on the island the ocean is just a walk away. Do what I did and bring your own snorkel, or hire your own for a few dollars a day. Honestly, you could spend hours exploring the underwater life and corals (pro tip: the best snorkeling spot is Aroa Marine Reserve behind The Rarotongan beach resort or in front of Fruits of Rarotonga)

Swimming With Sea Turtles: No matter what your budget is swimming with sea turtles is one activity I recommend to everyone visiting Rarotonga. This experience will have you swimming alongside these majestic beauties. I did this with Ariki Adventures and cannot recommend this enough. As an alternative, they also offer a lagoon safari which I recently did. This is suitable for all ages and is safe for those who are not the most confident swimmers.

Lagoon cruise: More of a family-friendly activity is the lagoon cruise. There are a couple of companies you can book with, though we went with Koka Lagoon Cruises. It is a perfect way to get into the Cook Island spirit. With plenty of performances, snorkeling, entertainment, and a delicious lunch it is the ideal way to spend half a day.

Quad Biking: If you are a bit of an adrenaline junkie then quad biking is perfect for you! Head right into the inland area and among the jungle. Explore off the beaten track and get some of the best views of the famous needle which stands high over Rarotonga.

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All you need to know about taking the bus in Rarotonga. I will be giving you all the information you need to know such as whether you should go clockwise or anti-clockwise, the bus schedule, costs, and what to expect!

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