A reef walk in Rarotonga is incredible! You get the chance to be up close and personal with the marine life and experience the special marine environment within the reef, without having to snorkel or dive.
Ariimoana has created a brilliant eco friendly low tide reef walk to discover the island culture and marine life from that different point of view.
And Rarotonga has a lot to offer!
For us, one of the greatest changes to come from our travels is the pleasure shared in experiences together. Since travelling, we have started new traditions so that at Christmas we gift each of the boys an ‘adventure’ instead of a tangible present…
And this year, we had an incredible time exploring the lagoon on a Reef Walk with Ariimoana; Oscars Christmas gift adventure.
Read on to learn about the incredible life in the lagoon and make your plan to experience a reef walk in Rarotonga too.
About Rarotonga’s reef
The island of Rarotonga is surrounded entirely by a lagoon. In parts, the lagoon extends more than a hundred metres to the reef before sloping steeply into deep water.
To the north of the island, the reef fronts the shore making the lagoon there unsuitable for swimming and exploring.
But to the South, the lagoon is at its widest and deepest, with parts on each of the south east and west coastline suitable for swimming, water sports and exploring.
There are areas of Ra’ui around different parts of the lagoon and shoreline, marked with signs visible from the roadside.
- A Ra’ui is a section of the reef, lagoon and shoreline that has been sanctioned so that there is no fishing or collecting of kai moana (seafood).
The idea of this is to help the ecosystem to be sustainable and allow the herbivorous and carnivorous fish and marine life to get back into balance.
A Reef Walk in Rarotonga with Ariimoana
The reef walk starts in Vaimaanga; a village on the south coast of Rarotonga.
This is a perfect spot to explore the extended reef and lagoon at low tide. Because here the lagoon stretches out almost half a kilometre to the edge of the reef before the drop off into deep water.
- Kura Happ is our host for the walk, and along with her partner Jacapo, they live and breathe life in the waters of Rarotonga.
Having grown up on the reef, Kura gives a real insight into how important the ocean is to the people of Rarotonga. And Kura’s passion for her reef and all the incredible life in it is contagious…
Learning about coral
In a welcoming chat before we leave the beach, Kura explains carefully about the importance of coral and how to recognize coral in the lagoon.
Coral are fragile and can easily be killed or damaged. (Not to mention they can sometimes also be very sharp!). So, it is in your best interest to ensure you do not come into direct contact with them.
There are different types of coral in the lagoon but the main coral visible is a soft yellowy colour.
All of the corals are vital to the lagoon, so make sure to walk carefully and away from them.
Different creatures from the sea
There is a myriad of sea creatures to discover on a reef walk, including:
- Star fish
- Sea cucumbers
- Sea urchins
- Clams
- Crabs
- Trochus shells
- Edible sea grapes
And much, much more!
Learning the reo
The language of the Cook Islands is central in expressing the things that make the country and culture unique.
And thus, experiencing the reef walk with Kura is a humbling opportunity to hear about and learn some of the reo for the life in the water:
- Etu Moana:Â Blue sea star
- Rori Puakatoro: Red surf fish/sea cucumber
- Avake: Collectors urchin
- Paua: Clam
- Rori toto: Blood sea cucumber
- Rori matie: ‘Green fish’ (spiky looking sea cucumber)
- Remu kai: Sea grapes
- Onu: Turtle
- Eke: Octopus
What to take on a reef walk with Ariimoana
There are a few things you need to bring with you for the reef tour in Rarotonga.
- Protective Footwear: If you have hiking boots or solid sneakers these are your best bet.  Water shoes for swimming will not protect you against the sharp rocks.Â
- Sun Protection: Wear a wide brimmed sunhat to protect against the sun and cover up with a layer of clothing.  You will be out in the sun for several hours.Â
- Sunscreen: Check first to use reef-safe sunscreen.
- Walking Pole: You will be given one of these to help you balance and avoid walking where there might be coral.Â
- Camera: Because it is incredible!
How long does the walk take?
The walk itself takes around 2 – 3 hours in total including a delicious fruit platter and fresh, cold nu to drink afterwards.
What time of day is best to do the reef walk?
The best time to walk in the lagoon is the hour either side of low tide.
Contact Ariimoana about a reef walk in Rarotonga
If you are interested in a reef walk in Rarotonga with Ariimoana more information is available on their Facebook page and Instagram.
Or just give Kura a call on +682 70 070 and find out when the next best time is to explore the incredible reef life of this magical island.
More about travel planning for Cook Islands and beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.Â
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia.Â
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner. Â
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, adventure ticket, local tours and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.Â
- World Nomads – Make sure you have insurance before embarking on travel to Rarotonga!
