Hiking to The Needle in Rarotonga is the most famous hike in the Cook Islands. This beautiful half-day hike is as memorable as magnificent, taking you through the island jungle, up along the ridges to incredible views out over the Pacific ocean and island of Rarotonga.
If you are wondering about some sort of adventure on Rarotonga, the chance is you might have heard about the walk to ‘The Needle’. It really is one of the islands best adventures. (And hey; did I mention that we live in Rarotonga?). The Cross Island walk in Rarotonga is our favourite.
Keep reading for all the details you need to plan your island adventure and hike to Te Rua Manga – The Needle, Rarotonga.
Quick facts about the Cross Island Walk, Rarotonga
- Distance: 6km from start to finish
- Time needed: 3-4 hours
- Main township: Avarua
- Cost: Free. There is no current charge to walk the track.
- Track difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Pram/wheelchair access: No
- Toilets: There are no toilets at either end of the track.
- Mobile coverage: There is mobile reception at the summit of the walk, right at the base of The Needle.
- Location: The track starts at the end of Uruau Drive in Avarua District.
Do you need a guide to hike to The Needle in Rarotonga?
For safety, the hike to The Needle in Rarotonga is always recommend to trek with a guide for your first time. There is a lot they can show you along the way that you might not notice hiking alone.
There are some fantastic guide options on the island with Ariimoana Walkabouts, Maunga Tours and more.
And if you’ve done it before and you are going it alone, set off earlier rather than later and always be sure to tell someone what you are doing.
It may be a small island but the jungle is extensive. And it isn’t a track we would class as ‘easy’.
Read on for all the details about the Cross Island Walk in Rarotonga from start to finish.
Finding the start of the hike to The Needle, Rarotonga
I suggest starting the hike from the north side of the island. (This gets the steepest climb out of the way first, and means you will finish the walk at the waterfall).
Opposite the entrance to Punanga Nui Market in town, there is a petrol station on the corner of the road heading away from the harbour (towards the back road).
Take this road inland past the Rarotonga Power Plant and continue as the road narrows, until you get to a turnaround point. (Ps. If you mistakenly end up at the airport you have taken the wrong inland road!).
This turnaround point is as far as you can drive with a vehicle. If you are being dropped off get out here at the turnaround point.
From here you join onto a pedestrian/small road-width track. Follow this for about a kilometre to find the start of the Cross Island walking track.
About The Needle, Rarotonga
I would describe the Cross Island Walk as a moderate to difficult hike.
Even if you ignore the fact that the tropical summer temperatures exaggerate the heat of the jungle, the walk itself is still a decent challenge for the avid hiker.
The walk is made up of three main sections:
- Uphill through the jungle to reach The Needle
- Along the ridge tops
- Downhill to the waterfall
Part 1 Hiking the Needle: The hike (climb) UP
This is the steepest uphill climb of the overall walk. But the good news is; it isn’t the longest part, distance-wise.
If you are walking from town to the start of the track, the gravel road to the base of the Cross Island Walk is about 2km. From there, the road narrows to a private road.
It does look a bit confusing, and it’s hard to tell whether you are going the right way (or whether you are on private property!). But keep a look out for the small, red triangular signs nailed sporadically to trees (at about eye height). These will guide you on the right track.
From the end of the main vehicle road, there is a footpath that leads off and winds towards the jungle for about 10 minutes. At about this point it drops down towards a small stream crossing. Don’t follow the white plastic power-cable track up the valley; instead take the track beside the massive boulder on the ridge to your left after the stream crossing.
On entering the jungle, the path begins to climb upwards almost immediately. The track is fairly narrow in parts and there are areas where it is very steep. However, there are plenty of tree roots to grab onto that line and criss-cross the track, creating a natural ladder support.
It is suggested that from here, the climb up to The Needle takes around 45 minutes. With kids, this part of the track took us just over an hour.
Part 2 Hiking the Needle: Almost at the top
Near the top of the first ridge is a large boulder in the middle of the path. From here you can get a first glimpse of The Needle (and it’s a good place for a quick rest stop!). Not too far onwards from here you will arrive at a T-junction with a sign.
The track down to the South of the island is to your left. And to the right is a short track that takes about 10 minutes to the foot of The Needle.
Part 3 Hiking the Needle: The downhill
The long awaited downhill!
The downhill towards the end of the track and Papua Waterfall is the longest section of the walk. And, I would describe this part as the most arduous.
It is very steep and slippery in parts, so there is a lot of root-grabbing and easing your way down around the trees roots on the path.
The highest parts along the ridge line have a few spots where there is a very steep drop on the side of the path. Be sure to take extra care at these parts, and especially if walking the Cross Island track with kids.
There are ropes to hold onto in some spots (these also serve to confirm that you are indeed on the right path!).
As you reach the lower section of the track there are around eight or nine stream crossings of varying depth and slippery status… Keep an eye out for the orange trail markers and you will soon be able to hear the sound of the waterfall as you approach.
The trek ends as the track emerges from the thick jungle and out into a car park. A few steps beyond that is the waterfall; a welcomed sight to cool off after an epic Cross Island trek.
Hiking to the Needle Rarotonga with kids
The hike to The Needle in Rarotonga is a decently challenging day walk. We had done the walk several years ago – sans-kids – so had a fair idea of what to expect. Our kids were 5 and 7 at the time of doing the walk and handled the trek really well.
Lengthwise, it took us around four and half hours to complete the hike. But that included stopping for lunch at the top right by The Needle, and a few rest stops on the steeper slopes as well.
It had rained the day prior and even rained a little right as we reached the summit of the walk. This made the track more slippery than usual, and that slowed us down a bit.
There is one particular area at the top ridgeline where there has been a slip. The drop off down the bank there is very steep and the path narrows right down. Take extra caution here if walking The Needle with kids, and don’t feel bad about taking your sweet time.
Overall it was a great family hike – challenging, and definitely rewarding.
What to take
- Sturdy footwear: The track is seriously slippery in parts. You will need to ensure you have suitable footwear.
- Water: It’s always important to carry enough water for the hike, but especially here in Rarotonga where it is exceptionally humid.
- Snacks: There are no shops at either end of the hike so be sure to plan ahead and carry snacks with you.
- Sunblock and a hat: A lot of the walk is covered under the jungle canopy, but part of the ridge line at the top is exposed and it’s easy to get burnt.
- Insect repellant: No further details needed. Just pack insect repellant with you and if possible, a tropical strength deterrent with DEET.
- Mobile phone: There is cell phone coverage just at the base of The Needle Rarotonga (at the summit of Te Rua Manga). Coverage throughout the rest of the track is not reliable.
- Backpack: Obviously, you need a backpack of some sort to carry all of this in. But you also need to make sure you carry out any rubbish or trace of your hike on the beautiful Cross Island Track.
There are no rubbish bins so be sure to look after this beautiful patch of Pacific Island treasure.
If you are completing the Cross Island walk with kids then make sure to carry enough water (and many extra snacks!) for them as well.
And, then there’s the age-old reminder to always pays to pack a change of clothes for the kids (regardless of the weather) just in case you need it…
Enjoy your island adventure!
The Cross Island walk in Rarotonga is the most well known of hikes on the island. And for a good reason!
The walk is both challenging and interesting, covering island jungle and terrain that can only be seen when you leave the main tourist track in the town and head out into the bush.
We loved the sense of adventure and the epic views of Rarotonga from a different perspective. If you have a spare day and a keen sense of adventure… Hiking The Needle Rarotonga is for you!
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 hiking The Needle 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!
6 thoughts on “Hiking to The Needle: A guide to Rarotonga’s Cross Island Walk.”
Kia Orana, My family and I wish to do this hike, we don’t want to hire a car. Do you think getting picked up to and from is a smart idea or is it best to hire a car for that day ?
Hi Shaniqua,
You don’t need to hire a car but you will need to be dropped off at the starting point of the hike. And at the end of the hike you can walk down to the main road from the waterfall and you could get the bus from the main road (or someone will probably stop and offer to pick you up!).
There are a couple of shuttle services (Gavin said to try Damo at ‘Call a Kuki’ – tell him Gavin sent you!) or you could ask your hotel/accommodation to drop you off and pick you up at a estimated time (there is not always mobile reception at the waterfall). Hope that helps!
How deep are the strems? maybe a silly question but would you suggest a second pair of shoes or barefoot to cross them?
Hi Maria you definitely will be fine with one pair of shoes – I reckon you can jump across the rocks carefully and you might not even get your feet wet 🙂
This so well written Sarah… well done. I think maybe I would struggle with this but would give it s good shot to see that waterfall xxxxx
Thanks for reading! And yes! I reckon the waterfall ending makes it worth the climb 🙂