Navigating early childhood options in a new country can feel a bit daunting, and if you are moving to the Cook Islands, it’s important to know that things work a bit differently here.
As an Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher living in Rarotonga, I have been fortunate enough to visit all 11 ECE centres and the daycares on the island. Each is unique and beautifully reflects our local community, but the structure might surprise you – especially if you are arriving from New Zealand or Australia.
I have been teaching at Apii Nikao ECE since our family first moved to the Cook Islands in 2020. Based on my firsthand experience across the island, here is a complete breakdown of what is available for babies and preschool-aged children on Rarotonga.
ECE vs. Daycare in Rarotonga: Understanding the Difference
If you are moving to Rarotonga as a family and looking into options for ECE and daycare on the island, the main thing to understand is that ECE in Rarotonga is not the same as childcare in NZ.
- ECE Centres: These are educational early childhood spaces. They focus on preparation for primary school.
- Daycare Centres: These are geared more towards childcare and are closer to babysitting services, with shorter educational components, though there are excellent exceptions.
In total, Rarotonga has 11 registered ECE centres, 2 daycares, and 1 home-based care provider.
Another key difference is school starting age. In the Cook Islands, school strictly starts at 5 years old. Unlike New Zealand, there is no option to delay your child’s primary school start until they turn 6. Consequently, ECE centres cater to children aged 3 to 5 years old.
Mainstream Government and Religious ECE Centres
The vast majority of ECE centres on Rarotonga are attached directly to primary schools.
They function on the school calendar and operate from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, catering to 3-5-year-olds.
If you are looking at mainstream options, here are the school-attached ECE centres spaced around the island:
- Apii Nikao ECE: (Where you’ll find me teaching!) Located in Nikao.
- Apii Avarua ECE: Centrally located in Avarua at the biggest primary school on the island.
- St Joseph ECE: A Catholic option located alongside Nukutere Secondary School in Avarua.
- Takitumu ECE: Serving families on the eastern side in Tupapa/Matavera.
- Papaaroa ECE: A Seventh-Day Adventist school option.
- Academia Imanuela: A Christian school located near Muri.
- Apii Rutaki ECE: A small, full-immersion Māori school.
- Apii Arorangi ECE: Located on the sunset side of the island.
- Titikaveka Preschool: A small public ECE not associated with a school.
Private ECE Options (Longer Hours)
If a 12:00 PM pickup doesn’t work for your schedule, Rarotonga has two private ECE centres. Both operate extended hours from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM for children aged 3–5.
Apii Te Uki Ou ECE
This is an established private school that runs all the way from ECE up to Year 9. Because it is independent, there is a tuition fee of $2,800 NZD per year (which breaks down to roughly $800 NZD per term). It offers a smooth, continuous transition from preschool right into primary years on the same campus.
Blackrock ECE
Blackrock has flexible sessions allowing parents to enrol children for either morning-only or full-day sessions. While it is primarily for 3-5-year-olds, they will occasionally accept 2-year-olds on a case-by-case basis, provided they are fully toilet trained.
- Education Levels: ECE 3 – 5 years
- Location: Nikao
- Opening Hours: 8am – 2pm
- Morning Session: 8am – 12pm ($30 per child weekly)
- Full-Day Fees: $40 per child weekly (8am – 2pm)
- Current Enrolment: 40
Daycare Options for Babies and Toddlers
If you have a child under 3 or need full-day care that extends past 2:00PM, you will need to look toward our daycares.
The two main options on the island are:
Island Bubz Daycare Centre
Island Bubz caters to children aged 1 to 5 years old. A massive bonus for working parents is that they provide lunch daily, taking the hassle out of packing meals.
- Cost: $25 NZD for a half-day session / $40 NZD for a full-day session.
Tarome’s Early Learning Centre
While classified as a daycare, Tarome’s is owned by a qualified teacher, Liz, and functions as an Early Learning Centre. They have a fantastic 1:5 staff-to-child ratio and have a cozy environment with space capped at about 20 children.
- Cost: $30 NZD for a half-day (morning) session / $45 NZD for a full-day session.
Final Thoughts: ECE and Daycares in Rarotonga
Every centre on Rarotonga has its own distinct qualities. Whether you want the community vibe of a village government school ECE or the extended care of a private daycare, there is a perfect space here to welcome your little ones to island life!
Read More About Moving to Rarotonga
- PART 1 – Moving to Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- PART 2 – Navigating Health Checks for Your Move to Rarotonga
- PART 3 – Shipping for Your Move to Rarotonga
- PART 4 – Finding and Renting a House in Rarotonga
- PART 5 – Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Travel Planning for Cook Islands and Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling as a family 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 and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 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 and nomads including those who have already left home. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE BEFORE TRAVELING TO COOK ISLANDS!
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.
