Once you’ve booked your flights and start thinking about what to pack for a trip to the Cook Islands, one of the next questions is about food, drinks and dining. It is a fair question to ask if the tap water in Rarotonga is ok to drink.
For convenience, cost, and the environment, tap water is the clear winner. But does drinking tap water in Rarotonga come with any health risks?
Unsafe tap water contains impurities that can pose health risks. But don’t worry; there’s no need to panic. We’ve got you covered.
If you follow the simple tips in this article, you’ll enjoy the safe trip to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands that you are dreaming of – all while staying hydrated.
Hey! We are Away With The Steiners. Wondering about living in Rarotonga, Cook Islands?
Drinking Water in Rarotonga & Cook Islands
Like most of the islands in the pacific, in the Cook Islands – including Rarotonga – drinking water is not chemically treated.
Instead of a chemical water treatment, the Cook Islands relies mainly on coarse gravel filters to remove solids and organic matter from its water supply.
Rarotonga currently has a gravity-fed water distribution system. There are 12 main intakes around the island from streams and freshwater sources that is collected and fed into storage tanks or directly into the water infrastructure.
So, Is It Safe To Drink the Water in Rarotonga?
In Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, drinking water is not chemically treated.
Thus, the majority of tap water in Rarotonga is not safe for drinking as the bacteria has not been filtered.
However, Rarotonga has a great system of drinking water stations in the local villages around the island. There are about 48 ‘water stations’ in total.
Tap Water
Compared to many other countries, the tap water in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands is of reasonable quality. In Rarotonga itself, it’s not uncommon for locals to drink it with no treatment.
However, it’s not fully recommended for short-term visitors to follow this approach. As a visitor to Rarotonga you won’t have built up any tolerance to the bacteria in the water. Drinking tap water increases your risk of a minor stomach bug during your stay.
While some accommodation providers have filtered taps, it is always best to treat or boil tap water before drinking it.
Do note though that boiling water in a kettle (jug) won’t effectively kill bacteria. To purify water for drinking by boiling, the water must be boiled for several minutes.
Bottled Water
Bottled drinking water in the Cook Islands is readily available. The Cook Islands has a company called ‘Vaima’ that produces and sells bottled drinking water in Rarotonga. You can find Vaima bottled water in the supermarkets and convenience stores around the island. Or the larger stores also stock Pump and other brands of bottled water from New Zealand and Australia.
There’s no doubt they’re convenient and you’ll be drinking a consistent product in purchasing these. But consider the impact these plastic bottles have on the environment.
Please remember to reuse or recycle the bottles after use.
Filtered Water
Some homes, restaurants and many of the resorts and accommodation providers have a filter water system in Rarotonga. This means that the tap water is pre-filtered and safe to drink straight from the tap.
Though do look for signs in your hotel room or in the restaurant you are dining at to check whether they confirm the water is indeed filtered and safe to drink.
Water Stations – Drinking Water in Rarotonga
Rarotonga has a great system of drinking water stations in the local villages around the island.
There are about 48 ‘Water Stations’ in total.
These are essentially a table and water tap system with one or two filtered drinking water taps. All you need is to bring a drink bottle or container to collect your water in.
Portable Filtration Options – Drinking Water in Rarotonga
A drink bottle with a built-in water filter system is a fantastic invention for travel!
We have always used the WaterWell Travel Ultra 700ml Water Filter Bottle.
This is a water bottle with a filter system that removes bacteria and parasites (including Salmonella, E-coli, Giardia) and nasty chemicals. It’s the perfect water bottle for travellers and ideal for a short holiday to sort drinking water in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.
Water purification tablets are an alternative that is also portable and easy to carry on your holiday too. Drop them into a reusable bottle filled with tap water and within a few minutes, it’ll be ready to drink, with all the bad stuff removed.
Some people (especially kids) find the taste slightly off-putting, so also consider bringing along some fruit flavoured tablets to mask the slight chemical taste.
What About Ice?
In Rarotonga, adding refreshing ice to your drinks is acceptable and I’d say the ice on the island is safe to consume. Most restaurants use commercially made ice anyway.
Do Rental Houses in Rarotonga Have Drinking Water?
Our first house that we lived in on moving to Rarotonga had no filter water system. We used the water stations on the island instead.
Though I feel very fortunate to say now that our current house has a filtered water system. In fact, all of the tap water in our rental house here in Rarotonga is drinkable with a water filtration system.
However, if you are moving to the Cook Islands and looking to rent a house in Rarotonga it is a good question to ask about the drinking water.
Living Here – Drinking Water in Rarotonga
Setting up your rental house with drinking water in Rarotonga isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Even if you don’t have a water filtration system. It is easy to use the drinking water stations on the island.
There are 48 Water Stations dotted around Rarotonga. You just need to get set up.
Do as the locals do and buy yourself a large water container and dispenser. Vaima is the company that produces and filters the drinking water in Rarotonga. The main Vaima factory is located on the backroad in Nikao, Avarua.
Here they have a large warehouse that stocks water containers, coolers and dispensers. Plus, they also sterilise and refill the water containers at a charge.
The original 15L water bottle costs $39 NZD and is supplied full.
- 15L Plastic Water Bottle: $39
- Non-Drip Tap Dispenser: $30
- Metal Stand: $25
- Refills of Vaima Water: $6.50
We purchased a 15L container with dispenser and metal stand and refill the container at the local water stations. Every few refills we take the container to Vaima. It costs $6.50 NZD for the bottle to be hygienically washed and refilled.
Drinking Water in Rarotonga & Cook Islands
Overall, in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands, while some accommodations offer filtered tap water, it’s generally recommended to avoid drinking tap water directly unless it has been boiled or filtered. Waterborne illnesses are a concern. So it’s best to err on the side of caution.
Here are some safe options for drinking water in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands:
- Boil Tap Water for at Least 10 Minutes to kill bacteria and ensure it’s safe to drink.
- Use a Lifestraw Filtered Drink Bottle.
- Refill Reusable Bottles at Filtered Water Stations. Located around Rarotonga.
- Purchase Bottled Water. From supermarkets or other convenience stores.
- Check With Your Accommodation. Ask about their water filtration system and whether the tap water is safe to drink.
By taking these precautions, you can enjoy your trip to the Cook Islands without worrying about waterborne illnesses.
Final Thoughts on Water in Rarotonga?
To keep healthy and hydrated to make the most of your holiday to the Cook Islands, be conscious of the drinking water in Rarotonga. While some accommodation providers have filtered taps, it is always best to check before drinking it.
You can also refill your reusable bottle at filtered water stations around the island.
Read More About Travel to Rarotonga
- 10 Foods To Try In Rarotonga.
- All About The Rarotonga Bus.
- Hiring A Scooter In Rarotonga.
- Renting A Car In Rarotonga.
- 15 Quintessential Souvenirs From Rarotonga.
- Finding & Renting A House In Rarotonga.
- Rarotonga Reef Explorer Tour With Ariimoana.
- Is Dengue Fever A Worry For Travel To Rarotonga?
- Transport & Getting Around Rarotonga.
Travel Planning for Cook Islands & Beyond
These are the companies we use and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. Easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for.
- 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.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s 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.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel including those who have already left home. Make sure you have travel insurance before holidaying to Rarotonga!
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.