It rained for half the time I was in Rarotonga. I read a lot of articles looking for good suggestions on what to do when the weather’s bad, and came across a lot of… umm… boring stuff. “Read a book. Play a board game. Go for ice cream.” Yikes. I knew this little island paradise had more to offer, and ultimately found lots of fun stuff to do in Rarotonga on a rainy day (or five). Hopefully this provides some valuable inspo and you don’t let the weather ruin your trip!
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Enjoying Rarotonga on a rainy day
Whether you’re wanting to stay bone dry inside or feeling a little more adventurous and ready to brave the weather, there’s lots to do indoors and out in Rarotonga on a rainy day. Here are 15 fun and creative suggestions.
Indoor activities for Rarotonga on a rainy day
You guys already know how to spend a day indoors reading books, playing board games, catching up on Netflix, going to an indoor restaurant. I’m not going to waste your time with that stuff. Here are some more uniquely Cook Islands activities you can do inside on a rainy day.
Join a creative class
From learning to make a traditional Cook Islands ei (floral crown) to manual fabric printing, there are lots of creative local experiences you can have in Rarotonga on a rainy day. Even when the weather is nice for your whole trip, you should at least fit one of these classes into your itinerary.
Ei making: Learn to create the Cook Islands’ iconic flower crown with Coco Brush! Sure, you could buy one at the market, but making your own is so much more immersive. And it’ll bring a bit of brightness to Rarotonga on a rainy day.
Painting class: Another fun activity hosted by Coco Brush, you can do a little paint and sip session. The activity is indoors but has a great view of the lagoon!
Cooking class: The Umu Experience can still host their Cooking 101, Kava, or Home Brew experiences if it’s raining in Rarotonga. The cooking class is usually only held on Thursday mornings, so make sure you plan/book in advance.
Fabric printing: Head to Rarotonga Fabric Arts and learn to paint and print fabrics the traditional Cook Islands way. (The woman who runs these classes actually picked me up when I was hitchhiking and she was sooooo lovely!)
Tour and sample at the Rarotonga Brewery
Make no mistake, the Rarotonga Brewery isn’t like what you’re used to at home with a bar or restaurant. You can drop in for a tiny sample before you buy, but you need to book a tour to make the most of this experience.
The tours are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am. But you can contact them to request another time. It makes a perfect rainy day activity in Rarotonga!
Visit the Te Ara Museum in Rarotonga on a rainy day
I actually loved the little Te Ara Museum! I learned a lot about the islands’ history in a short amount of time. It’s good for a rainy day. And makes a pretty good budget activity at just $15. (Nothing in the Cook Islands is cheap.)
You’ll walk yourself through the one-room museum and read about the Cook Islands Indigenous peoples, beliefs, traditions, and how the country was affected by European influence in the Age of Exploration. It’s a lot of reading, but I found it really insightful. There’s also a nice cafe on-site, so grab a little treat before or after you explore the museum.
Explore the Discover Marine and Wildlife Centre
Another teeny tiny but worthy museum to visit, whether it’s raining or not. The Discover Marine and Wildlife Center features turtle, shark, and whale bones, stories of historic shipwrecks around the Cook Islands, and some live local critters. There’s even a small petting pool for kids, a coconut crab, and a tank with a stone fish. They sometimes have rescued turtles on-site too, but I wasn’t so lucky.
One small portion of the museum is partially covered, but you’ll still be able to enjoy the wildlife center if it’s raining. It’ll take you an hour max to go through and costs $15.
Tour the Chocolate Factory
Not like the Willy Wonka version you may be picturing, you’ll learn all about the cocoa production process at the Cook Islands Chocolate Factory. The plantation is just a short walk from Muri Beach and the Te Ara Museum. It’s a great way to support a small business and get a peek at the local production process from seed to table.
Note, you’re not going to exit through the chocolate-lined gift shop. However, you do get to try some pretty raw chocolate and cocoa beans during the tour. People who know what to expect, love it; people who think they’re taking the kids to the Cadbury’s factory are disappointed.
Contact tagit@raromail.com for more details.
I downloaded a Vodafone eSIM before I got to Rarotonga and connected to the local network as soon as I arrived. It’s so much nicer than relying on hotel Wi-Fi!
Catch a movie at Empire Cinema when visiting Rarotonga on a rainy day
For a cozy escape with the comforts of home, head to Empire Cinema — the island’s charming local movie theatre. It’s a laid-back, air-conditioned spot where you can grab some popcorn and catch one of the latest blockbusters.
A perfect plan for when the tropical weather takes a turn. And definitely more interesting than watching Netflix in your hotel. Tickets cost $11-15 for adults or $6-8 for kids.
Treat yourself at the spa
Rarotonga is full of resorts, and you don’t necessarily have to be staying at one to get a spa booking. For a really luxe experience, get a couples’ massage at the Te Manava Spa. Or try the unique water treatments and range of aromatic scrubs at the Rumours’ Waterfall Spa. There are also some more casual nail salons and independent spas in town.
Pa Ariki Museum
This small museum is dedicated to one of the Cook Islands’ royal families. (From my understanding, there are six!) It won’t take you all day to explore, but is worth a visit if you’re interested in this small nation’s unique history. Open by appointment only, typically Monday to Friday. Contact them to enquire before you go.
Call: 682 74 610
Email: tupeariki@gmail.com
Go shopping for black pearls
The Cook Islands is one of the only countries in the world that farms black pearls. Even if you’re traveling on a budget, you should really find one to bring home!
I got a single pearl drop pendant necklace for $110 NZD. That’s about as low as the price goes lol. But I also saw some multi-pearl necklaces for $20,000, so the sky is really the limit if money is no object.
There are several shops in Avarua that are all close together. It would be easy to dart between shops without getting too wet. Check out Kora Pearls (where I got mine from), Paka’s Pearls, or Bergman & Sons for the really expensive stuff.
Outdoor activities for Rarotonga on a rainy day
If it’s not absolutely pouring and you’re feeling adventurous, the rain doesn’t have to keep you indoors! There’s still lots of fun to be had outside in Rarotonga on a rainy day.
Ride a mud buggy in Rarotonga on a rainy day
This is the best way to make the most of Rarotonga on a rainy day. Rip around the inland trails on an ATV, splashing through puddles and kicking up mud. Even on a sunny day you’ll walk away dirty, so you may as well make the most of a rainy day and get muddy to the max.
There are a few tour operators, but check out Raro Buggy Tours. It’s about $200 if you’re solo or $220 if you drive as a pair.
Reset at Reguvenate saunas and cold plunge
Cozy up in a private Scandinavian-style sauna at Reguvenate. And if you’re feeling brave enough, hop in the cold plunge for some hot-cold therapy. I think the water was only like 18-20 degrees so it’s not like you’ll be doing the ice bucket challenge, but it’s refreshing after time in the sauna.
You can book out a private 1-hr session which comes with hot tea. It’s a perfect rainy day/evening activity for a bit of R&R.
Visit Maire Nui Gardens
The gardens are obviously all outdoors, so it’s not a good activity if it’s bucketing down. However, if there’s a bit of light rain the greenery will be even more lush.
To be honest though, the highlight for me was this butterfly peaflower iced tea at the cafe. Entrance is $10 via a little honesty box, so bring cash!
Go swimming in the rain
Locals assured me swimming is the rain is nice because the water is still warm. So I did it, and it was pretty pleasant beneath the surface, but getting out of the water was less comfortable. Don’t do this in a storm or anything. But if there’s a bit of rain and you really want to snorkel, go for it.
Admire Wigmore's Waterfall
Wigmore’s Waterfall is at its most impressive in the rain. It’s a colder place to swim than the ocean though! So maybe just admire from dry land. You can drive or walk up from the main road easily. Make sure you bring mozzie spray — I got eaten alive.
Ride the bus all the way around the island
Sightsee on a budget without any of the responsibilities of driving. I love the bus in Rarotonga. There are two: clockwise and anti-clockwise. They each make a full rotation every hour. (Except on Sunday!) You’ll probably take the bus at some point, but if you’re at a loss for what to do on a rainy day, doing a full circle tour is a nice relaxing way to spend an hour.
Hot tip: If you plan to take the bus a few times, ask for a 10-click ticket for a better per-ride rate. A one-way ride is usually $5, but a 10-click ticket is $35. You can pay onboard.
Another hot tip: Download the TransportMe app so you can see where the buses are in real time. I found it incredibly accurate and it cut down on the time I spent waiting on the side of the road lol.
Things I DO NOT recommend you do in Rarotonga on a rainy day
Not everything will be fun in Rarotonga if it’s raining. Here are two things to avoid:
- The Needle hike. The pathway is pretty treacherous and not that well-marked. You need to hold onto ropes and chains to get to the top. Add in some rain to make the terrain slippery and muddy and it’s a recipe for disaster. Even if you go the day after it rains, please take care and wear good footwear.
- Lagoon cruise. They don’t cancel unless the weather is bad bad, and I didn’t want to waste a day. So I continued on with my Koka Lagoon Cruise. But I gotta be honest, the vibes were off. We were wet and freezing cold for like 4 hours straight and it was just not enjoyable.
When the weather gets nice again, make sure you go swimming with turtles! This little under water scooter trip is a unique way to see them, and especially fun if you’re not a confident swimmer.