Pack your snorkel, friends! If you’re planning a visit to Rarotonga, there’s a good chance you are coming from somewhere less tropical. And you’re likely already wondering about which beautiful Rarotonga beaches you need to visit…
Rarotonga beaches are some of the most iconic in the South Pacific. And some of the most beautiful in the world!
However, understanding how to find them and which Rarotonga beaches to visit can be cause for concern for many visitors. There are some private beaches, some beaches reserved for tourists/adults only and some beaches where the water is only 20cm deep!
But rest assured, there are many ideal spots for swimming, snorkeling and catching those golden sunsets.
The best Rarotonga beaches
- Vaimaanga Beach
- Aroa Beach
- Muri Lagoon
- Blackrock
- Papa’aroa Beach
- Titikaveka Beach
- Nikao Social Centre
Vaimaanga Beach
Vaimaanga is a beautifully iconic looking white sand beach on the southern coast of Rarotonga.
- Local Tip: Be aware of the Avavaaroa Passage which leads out to the ocean from Vaimaanga beach.
More about the passages below, but this is literally a gap leading from the lagoon out through the reef to the ocean. It can have very strong tidal currents that are not safe for swimming. Stick to the lagoon end of the beach and take note of the passage signs.
- Parking: There is some roadside parking along the shoreline of Vaimaanga beach.
Take regard of signs for private property. (Families own the land leading right up to the beach and use these areas for living space).
There is some parking available outside the YWAM building. Just check on the day to make sure they are not in use.
Aro’a Beach – Best beaches in Rarotonga
Aroa beach is located just in front of the Rarotonga Beach Resort. But it stretches in a north direction with public access next to the resort as well.
Aroa Beach is our favourite beach in Rarotonga! Aroa showcases some amazing tropical marine life and is one of the best spots on the island for snorkelling.
- Parking: There is an area for parking to the right-hand end of Aro’a beach (away from the resort) and along the roadside heading towards Kavera.
Note, there is also a green, fenced-in grass space right in front of the lagoon but do not park here – this is private property.
Muri Beach and Lagoon – Best beaches in Rarotonga
The lagoon at Muri is one of the best Rarotonga beaches for families and adventure seekers alike. The beach is beautiful with pristine white sands and is located in the sheltered lagoon on the eastern side of Rarotonga.
It’s a great beach for swimming. And there are many options for hiring a stand-up paddle board or kayak to explore one of the motu (islands) within the lagoon.
Muri beach is also close to many of the popular resorts on the island. And the beach is in walking distance to the Muri Night Markets.
- Parking: There is a public parking area alongside the Ngatangiia sports field.
This is handy if you plan to go to Muri beach. From the main road, turn off down the gravel driveway towards Muri Beach Club Hotel.
Blackrock Beach – Best Rarotonga beaches
Blackrock is located on the west side of the island. It is a popular place for catching the golden sunset over the Pacific Ocean. During the daytime however, it’s a great one of Rarotonga’s smaller beaches for swimming.
- Tip: Blackrock also has a special spiritual meaning to the people of the Cook Islands.
Known as Tuoro in Maori; Blackrock is believed to be the place where spirits of the dead leave Rarotonga. From Blackrock, they ascend to a pua tree and leap from it to begin the journey back to their ancient homeland Avaiki.
Take your time to read more about this from the information sign at the top of the rocks.
- Parking: There is a large gravel pull-off bay and parking area directly above Blackrock.
Papaaroa Beach
Papaaroa Beach is just along the road from Titikaveka beach. And Papaaroa is a shallow, sandy beach opposite the large Papaaroa Seventh Day Adventist School. The lagoon is particularly shallow here so this is an ideal beach for young kids to have a splash around safely.
There is plenty of shade and picnic tables. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind after soaking up some sun.
- Parking: There is lots of parking in among the coconut trees that line to social area at Papaaroa Beach. (Take care not to park directly under a coconut tree!).
Titikaveka Beach
Titikaveka is located just south of Muri.
This beach is one of the best Rarotonga beaches for swimming and snorkeling. (It has in fact been voted as one of the top 25 beaches in the South Pacific by TripAdvisor!).
And it’s a great place to spot a whole array of brightly coloured tropical fish – so don’t forget to pack your snorkel!
- Parking: There is a signposted parking area just above the shoreline at Titikaveka.
Nikao Social Centre
This is a bit of a local secret. (Well, apart from the large road sign that indicates ‘Nikao Social Centre’). But this social little spot near the end of the runway is a great place to be.
The reef here on the north-western tip is quite far out from the shoreline. Which means it has a shallow and protected lagoon. It’s not particularly great snorkelling (simply as its often too shallow). But it is a beautiful sunset spot and a safe beach for kids to play.
- Tip: This is one of the best whale-watching spots!
During July – October it’s not uncommon to see a mother whale and calf swimming by outside of the reef. Find a place to sit, watch and enjoy!
- Parking: The Nikao Social Centre has plenty of parking. (Make sure again not to park directly under a coconut tree!).
Where NOT to swim
While there are many Rarotonga beaches that are ideal for swimming and enjoying, there are also spots on the island that are not safe.
The island of Rarotonga is surrounded by a large reef which circles the entire island and creates the beautiful lagoons and calm waters inside. However, there are multiple passages in the surrounding reef. These are gaps in the reef where the water flows out into the ocean and back in again with the tides and waves.
The passages in the reef need to be regarded with respect as the waters in these areas can be unpredictable and at times have strong currents.
Exercise caution and keep away from these areas (some are signposted) while swimming at Rarotonga beaches.
Tips for swimming in Rarotonga
A few tips to keep safe while swimming at the best beaches in Rarotonga!
- Reef shoes or flippers: In the shallow sandy parts of the beach it isn’t necessary to swim with footwear but heading any further out into the lagoon it is a good idea to wear reef shoes.
Flippers are not necessary inside the lagoon and can be damaging to the live corals. (Plus, the motion of flippers will scare the fish away!).
- Stonefish: These are one of the most dangerous marine creatures and there are stonefish in the waters in Rarotonga.
However they are essentially stationary and not swimming around – just be careful where you put your feet down if you need to rest while snorkelling.
- Sunscreen: Make sure to be sun-smart on your holiday but also take care to consider the environment with a reef friendly sunscreen.
Best beaches in Rarotonga
So there you have it! A list of beautiful Rarotonga beaches including some of our favourites that we have truly come to love since living here.
The lagoons are ideal for swimming with children and otherwise offer a relaxing paradise to lounge in and enjoy.
The water temperature ranges from 23°C to 28°C making all of the beaches inviting all year round!
Looking for where to stay in Rarotonga?
As well as living in Rarotonga, we have been traveling the world full-time for the last five years as a family!
We book all our accommodation for our travels through Booking.com. We find it the best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. It’s easy to filter and sort into budget and number of people, location etc.
And it helps there are lots of fantastic places to stay in Rarotonga!
Resorts in Rarotonga
- The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium, Aro’a
- The Edgewater Resort & Spa, Arorangi
- Club Raro, Tupapa
- Nautilus Resort, Muri
- Pacific Resort Rarotonga, Muri
Hotels and motels in Rarotonga
- Magic Reef Bungalows, Arorangi
- Coral Sands Apartment, Arorangi
- Black Pearl at Puaikura, Aro’a
- Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel, Titikaveka
- Muri Garden Lodge, Muri
Holiday homes and AirBnB
- Cooks Oasis Holiday Villas, Arorangi
- Lagoon Breeze Villas, Aro’a
- Muri Lagoon Beachfront Villa, Muri
- Ariki Bungalows, Muri
There are loads of amazing options when choosing accommodation in Rarotonga.
Read more about Rarotonga
That’s it for our guide to the best beaches in Rarotonga. But we have plenty of other guides to local activities, highlights and some of our favourite things to do in the Cook Islands!
