Your day, step by step
08:45
Tender ashore to Avatiu Harbour. Get New Zealand dollars at the BSP ATM by the market; the bus takes cash only.
09:00
Punanga Nui Market beside the landing: fruit, drinking coconuts, ika mata and crafts.
10:00
Walk about 10 minutes east into Avarua and on to the Cook Islands Christian Church.
10:30
Round-island bus from Cooks' Corner to Muri (clockwise on the hour or anticlockwise at half past). Buy a NZ$20 day pass if you will make several stops.
11:30
Swim or snorkel in Muri Lagoon, then visit Te Ara museum on the main road.
13:00
Lunch in Muri.
14:30
Wait by the main road for a bus back towards Avarua. Be on a bus by 15:00 at the latest.
15:30
Back near Avatiu Harbour. Last look round the market.
- Latest you can leave Avarua town centre15:50
16:00
Join the tender queue, 90 minutes before all-aboard.
One port done
Your Avarua (Rarotonga) day is timed. Now the rest of your cruise.
The Cruise Pass times every port of one sailing, up to 10, to your all-aboard like this, with a Plan B if you run late, an offline copy, and live mode on the day: Google Maps travel time back to the pier and alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes.
€14.99 once, nothing renews. 30-day full refund.
Where to leave from, and when
on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.
Going further? Leave by these times
- Avarua town centreWalk about 10 min to Avatiu Harbour, then the tender queue15:50
- Punanga Nui MarketNext to the tender landing; join the tender queue16:00
- Muri LagoonRound-island bus, up to 50 min, plus walk to Avatiu Harbour and the tender queue15:00
- Black Rock (Nikao)Round-island bus, up to 50 min, plus walk to Avatiu Harbour and the tender queue15:00
Where people get Avarua (Rarotonga) wrong
Relying on an afternoon anticlockwise bus at the weekend and missing the last tenders.
Built from our Avarua (Rarotonga) guide, checked against 17 official sources (November 2026). Nothing here is guessed. Read the full guide or see the sources.
Make it yours
Tell PortTrip what you love, who's coming and how fast you like to go. It builds the day from these checked facts, and you can add, drop and reorder stops.
Personalise my Avarua (Rarotonga) dayYour whole cruise, planned like this
This is one port. The Cruise Pass times every port of your cruise.
You just timed Avarua (Rarotonga) to your own all-aboard. Every other port on your cruise needs the same, and your ship's times change at each one. The Cruise Pass does this for every port of your sailing, up to 10: each day timed to your ship, a Plan B if you run late, and live mode on the day with Google Maps travel time back to the pier and alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes. Every plan uses the same checked facts as this guide. Nothing is made up.
Cruise Pass
€14.99
One sailing, up to 10 ports. Pay once, nothing renews.
- Every port of your cruise timed to your all-aboard, in port time and ship time
- Live on the day: Google Maps travel time back to the pier, alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes
- The full planner for each port, with a Plan B if you run late
- An offline copy for when there is no signal
Year Pass
€39/yr
Every cruise you take for 12 months. Renews yearly; cancel any time.
Everything in the Cruise Pass, for as many sailings as you like.
30-day full refund. Secure checkout with Stripe.