Kia Orana, travel friends! If you’ve been following our journey over on Away With The Steiners or checking out our island tips on Away To Rarotonga, you know that we don’t just love visiting the Cook Islands – we’ve literally made the leap moving to live here as a family – twice!
Deciding to pack up your entire life and head to a tropical dot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean sounds like an absolute dream (and spoiler alert: it mostly is!).
But if you’re curious about what actually goes into making the move, finding a rental, getting the kids into school, and adjusting to daily life on ‘island time’, here is the honest, raw, and exciting reality of settling into the move to Rarotonga.
Hey! We are Away With The Steiners. Wondering about the Pros & Cons of Living In Rarotonga?
Making the Big Move: Logistics, Check-ups, and Packing Up
When we first made the decision to relocate to Rarotonga, we realised pretty quickly that moving to an island isn’t as simple as booking a one-way ticket. Even when travel corridors are open, there is a whole process to go through before you can step onto that plane.
Before leaving New Zealand, we had to go through extensive health checks with immigration. That meant heading into Auckland for pre-flight medical checks, health screenings, and making sure all our paperwork was completely sorted.
Packing & Shipping for Rarotonga
Then came the ultimate question every island relocator faces: What on earth do you pack for life on a tropical island?
We ended up packing up key household essentials and shipping them on freight pallets. Watching our boxes loaded onto forklifts and packed into shipping containers made it all feel terrifyingly real!
Once the pre-flight checks were done and our bags were checked at the airport, we said our tearful goodbyes to family and boarded the plane for our brand-new island life.
We were actually here! We had officially moved to Rarotonga!
Settling In: The Reality of Island Renting & Arrival Vibes
Stepping off the plane at Rarotonga International Airport is an instant sensory experience. You are greeted with the warm tropical air and local musicians playing live music as you walk through arrivals. Being welcomed with traditional floral ei (flower garlands) feels surreal. It is just like the pictures and makes all the stress of packing and paperwork melt away.
But there are a few logistical realities that aren’t quite so like the images. Can you remember us arriving six years ago to a cyclone warning and fishing ants out of our first meals of island-life?!
There is definitely a settling in period too that comes with this beautiful new home.
Finding a Rental Home in Rarotonga
When you first move to Rarotonga, renting is one of your biggest priorities (and challenges!). Long-term rentals can be competitive on the island because so many properties are geared toward short-term holiday homes.
This is something that was much easier the first time round when we arrived six years ago. The second time we moved to Rarotonga (2025) this was trickier.
Accommodation for rentals isn’t as abundant now. A lot of the new AirBnB’s listed would have previously been rentals for expats now switched over to short term accommodation.
Top Tips for Renting in Rarotonga
But we did what we still recommend for moving to Rarotonga and rented a place for a month first while we sorted out a house to rent.
Which also meant, when we landed, we moved into our beachfront rental house! There is nothing quite like waking up, stepping out onto your front deck, and looking out straight into the blues of the Pacific Ocean, right?
- The Long-Term Hunt: Long-term rentals in Rarotonga can be notoriously competitive because so many properties operate now as short-term holiday homes. Word-of-mouth, local community Facebook groups, and asking around are often how the best long-term homes are found!
- Island Living Reality: You’ll quickly learn to trade air-conditioning for ceiling fans and ocean breezes. We lucked out with an incredible beachside for the first month and literally across the road from the lagoon in our second rental.
- Waiting for Shipments: When you move, your shipping or freight container takes time to arrive and clear port customs. We spent our first couple of weeks living super simply while waiting for our household gear and snorkelling equipment to arrive at our doorstep!
Getting Around: Island Cars & Scooter Life
You quickly learn that life in Raro revolves around the main coast road. There are no traffic lights, the speed limit is a relaxed 30–50 km/h, and you share the road with dogs, chickens, and scooters.
To get around, you’ll need local wheels. Searching for a car in Rarotonga is an experience in itself! You aren’t going to find brand-new luxury cars everywhere; instead, you find character-filled island runners.
We went car hunting the first time and tried three in the $5000 – $10,000 range and ended up getting a cute, eggplant-coloured Nissan March. It wasn’t something we ever thought we’d buy back home, but hey – you’re moving to the Cook Islands, so why not embrace it?
Schooling & Raising Kids on Island Time
Moving to Rarotonga with kids is hands-down one of the best decisions we’ve ever made for our family. The lifestyle here gives children more the kind of free-range, outdoorsy childhood that is getting so hard to find back in big cities.
I always reckon it is like clinging on to the best parts of the childhoods that we had. Island life is just beautifully slower and behind mainland life – but in all the good ways!
Schooling in Rarotonga
If you’re moving to Rarotonga with kids, the schooling experience is one of the most rewarding aspects of island life.
Rarotonga has wonderful local primary and secondary schools (such as Apii Nikao, St Joseph’s, Apii Rutaki, Avarua, and Arorangi Primary, alongside Tereora College for high school students).
There are more schools and – I know I am bias – but some fantastic early childhood options too.
The Cook Islands education system follows a curriculum closely aligned with New Zealand, making the transition pretty smooth for Kiwi and Aussie kids. Primary schools across the island (both public and private/church schools) warmly welcome expat kids into their classrooms.
What makes schooling here so special is the cultural integration:
- The Vibe: Schooling here is warm, community-focused, and deeply intertwined with Cook Islands culture, language (Cook Islands Māori), and outdoor activities.
- School Size: School sizes are smaller, making it less daunting and meaning your children quickly make groups of friends.
- The Adjustment: The kids adjust surprisingly fast! Wearing jandals (or our two going barefoot), class outings just across the road to the beach, and learning local songs and dance quickly become the norm.
Adjusting to Daily Life & “Island Time”
Life on an island operates at a delightfully slower pace. It’s the ‘island time’ we all hear about, right?
In our first few weeks after moving, we spent our days exploring local markets, drinking fresh coconuts (nu), getting to know where was what and learning the rhythms of daily life here.
Food & Local Markets
The Saturday Punanga Nui Market in Avarua quickly became our weekly ritual and still is! It’s the ultimate spot to buy fresh local produce – like pawpaw (papaya), bananas, and tomatoes – or grab tasty local food like homemade poke and pineapple pies.
You’ll also find roadside stalls around the island selling fresh fruit and vegetables directly from local plantations. Plus there are supermarkets, convenience stores and local shops to add onto your shopping list as regular go-to’s.
Navigating the Challenges
Moving to Rarotonga and living in paradise isn’t without its quirks! Island life means learning to adapt to supply delays, occasional power or internet hiccups, and learning that if a shop is out of something today, you just wait until the next boat comes in.
But that’s all part of the charm. It forces you to slow down, stress less, and focus on what really matters – family time, breathtaking sunsets and a tropical island to truly call home.
Final Thoughts: Should You Make the Move?
Moving to Rarotonga was one of the best decisions our family ever made. Which we’ve now done twice! We are officially living in Rarotonga after moving back here again a second time and loving it all over again.
It taught us to live more simply, appreciate community, and swap the rush of modern life for the rhythm of island life.
Whether you’re planning a long-term relocation or just dreaming of an extended family holiday, living in the Cook Islands offers a special kind of magic.
Got questions about moving, renting, or schools in Raro? Check out more of our detailed guides over at awaytorarotonga.com or follow our video adventures on Away With The Steiners!
Kia Manuia!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
