Cruising the coastal road and looping the island of Rarotonga on a scooter is the ultimate of holiday vibes. There’s only one main road that circles the whole of Rarotonga with no traffic lights and just two roundabouts. But there are a few things to know about hiring a scooter in Rarotonga first.
Here is everything you need to know to plan an epic trip including all the details about scooter hire, costs, airport transfers and scooter licensing in the Cook Islands.
Do You Need a Scooter Licence in Rarotonga?
Visitors to the Cook Islands can drive a motor vehicle (car) for up to six months using their full overseas license.
However, there is an exception for scooters and motorbikes.
On an overseas license you will only be allowed to drive the class of motor vehicle you are licensed to drive in your home country.
In other words – you cannot drive a scooter in Rarotonga on an overseas car licence.
If your current license does not permit you to ride a motorbike or scooter in your home country, then you will need to obtain a Cook Islands Visitor Scooter License which will enable you to drive a motorbike or scooter.
Note that if you have a current motorcycle class license on your overseas license you do not need to sit the test to acquire a Cook Islands License. In this case you just need to visit the police station, pay NZ$20 and you will be issued your visitor license.
How Do You Get a Cook Islands Scooter License?
To get a Scooter License in Rarotonga – your Cook Islands Visitors Bike License – it is a two-step process.
For the visitors driver’s license application you need to complete a theory test.
After you have passed the theory test you need to pass a practical scooter driving test.
Hiring a Scooter in Rarotonga
Scooter hire in Rarotonga is hands down the most popular mode of transport for getting around the island on your holiday.
Most vehicle rental companies include scooters and motorbikes in their fleet. Plus, every company that hires scooters in Rarotonga also hires out or includes helmets.
SCOOTERS – Hiring a Scooter in Rarotonga
Most of the popular scooters to hire in Rarotonga carry two passengers.
- Yamaha Mio 125CC Scooter
- Yamaha Cygnus-ZR 125CC Scooter
- Honda Vision 125CC Scooter
- Suzuki AN 125CC Scooter
- Suzuki GN 125CC Motorcycle
They generally have storage under the seat, and are automatic, which makes them simple and fun to ride.
OPTIONS – Hiring a Scooter in Rarotonga
The following are the major scooter hire companies in Rarotonga with prices and details for comparison.
Polynesian Rentals
Polynesian Rental Cars & Bikes is the largest vehicle rental on Rarotonga.
The company has offices located at seven convenient locations around Rarotonga and at Rarotonga International Airport for quick and easy car, van, scooter hire.
There is even a depot literally right next door to the Police Station in Avarua where you sit your Cook Islands Scooter License. So it makes it very easy to hire a scooter in Rarotonga from Polynesian Rentals and sit your test right away.
Scooters available from Polynesian Rental Cars & Bikes include:
- Yamaha Mio 125CC Scooter
- Yamaha Cygnus-ZR 125CC Scooter
Note the minimum age hiring a scooter in Rarotonga with Polynesian rentals is 18 years.
For scooters the Third Party Liability and Collision damage Waiver (damage to the rental car) is an excess of $500 NZD and this cannot be reduced.
Raro Cars
Raro Cars has recently offered hiring a scooter in Rarotonga. They have scooters and motorbikes available for hire at the main depot in Avarua near the port.
Scooters available from Raro Cars include:
- Suzuki AN 125CC Scooter
- Suzuki GN 125CC Motorcycle
The minimum age to hire a scooter with Raro Cars 18 years.
There is a security deposit of $50 NZD that is refundable when the scooter is returned in the same condition. Insurance to reduce the excess from $2000 to $500 is $10 NZ per day. A second helmet for a pillion passenger is $7 NZD hire per day.
Rarotonga Rentals
The main Rarotonga Rentals depot is conveniently located directly across the road from the Rarotonga International Airport. So airport pickup and drop off for rentals with Rarotonga Rentals come at no additional cost.
Scooters available from Rarotonga Rentals include:
- Suzuki AN 125CC Scooter
- Suzuki GN 125CC Motorcycle
The minimum age to hire a scooter with Rarotonga Rentals is 18 years.
Insurance is included in scooter rentals, covering third-party liability and collision damage waiver with an excess of NZ$2,500. Or the excess rate can be reduced to $1,000 NZD or $0 NZD by purchasing an excess reducer for $5 – $19 NZD per day.
Note also that there is a $10 NZD administration fee for booking online with Rarotonga Rentals.
Island Car & Bike Hire – Hiring a Scooter in Rarotonga
Island Car & Bike Hire offers three convenient pick-up and drop-off depots around the island in Avarua, Muri and Arorangi.
The main office is in Avarua (opposite Punanga Nui Market). This operates six days a week. The depots in Muri Beach (opposite Muri Beachcomber), and Arorangi (opposite Manuia Beach Resort) are open seven days a week.
Scooters available from Island Car & Bike Hire include:
- Suzuki AN 125cc Scooter
- Suzuki GN 125cc Motorcycle
The minimum age hiring a scooter in Rarotonga with Island Car & Bike Hire is 18 years.
Insurance is included in scooter rentals, covering third-party liability and collision damage waiver with an excess of $2,500 NZD. Or the excess rate can be reduced to $1,000 NZD or $0 NZD by purchasing an excess reducer for $5 – $19 NZD per day.
Pacific Cars – Hiring a Scooter in Rarotonga
Pacific Cars (online as Raro Rental Cars) is a small, single depot company located in Muri.
Scooters available from Pacific Cars include:
- Honda Vision 125CC Scooter
The minimum age hiring a scooter in Rarotonga with Pacific Cars is 21 years.
Insurance is included in scooter rentals, covering third-party liability and collision damage waiver with an excess of NZ$2000. Or the excess rate can be reduced to $500 NZD by purchasing an excess reducer for $10 NZD per day.
Adventure Cook Islands
Adventure Cook islands is located in Aroa just 100m from The Rarotongan Beach Resort. This is a single-depot company as well but with a huge range of water sports equipment and scooter hire in Rarotonga.
Scooters available from Adventure Cook Islands include:
- Kymco Super 8 125CC Scooter
The minimum age to hire a scooter in Rarotonga with Adventure Cook Islands is 21 years.
Basic insurance is included with an excess of $750.00 NZD. Replacement value for the scooters is $3,000.00 NZD (in case of breach of rental agreement) with Adventure Cook Islands.
COSTS – Hiring a Scooter in Rarotonga
The next question is of the cost to hire a scooter in Rarotonga.
Obviously the rates vary slightly from company to company. But the general prices for scooter hire in Rarotonga are:
- Scooter – Daily: $24 – $30
- Scooter – Weekly: $140 – $165
- Helmet – Daily: $2 – $5
Note that helmet hire is included with the daily rate of scooter hire in Rarotonga. However there is an additional charge for a second (pillion) scooter helmet.
Tips for Riding a Scooter in Rarotonga
The good news is that most rental companies on Rarotonga offer low-powered scooters without gears or a clutch. So in theory, riding a scooter in Rarotonga is technically fairly straightforward.
However, do take it seriously.
The rules regarding helmets and bikes in Rarotonga have only come into place in the last few years. This is due to the high numbers of tourist accidents while riding motorbikes or scooters on the roads.
Road Rules for Driving a Scooter in Rarotonga
Rarotonga is not recommended as the place to learn to ride a scooter or motorbike. While the speed limit may seem low at 50km per hour, don’t forget that the island is not a resort.
Local residents are going about their day-to-day life and there is actually a rush hour in the morning getting to work and then again in the afternoon with more motorbikes and cars on the road.
There are road rules for riding a scooter in Rarotonga:
- Drive on the left side of the road
- Wear a helmet
- The maximum speed limit in Avarua and Muri is 30 kmph
- The maximum speed limit outside of populated areas is 50 kmph
- At roundabouts, give way to vehicles approaching from the right
- Give way (yield) to oncoming traffic
- Only two people are permitted on a motorcycle or scooter, seated astride. Pillion passengers must sit behind the driver.
That, plus there are all kinds of island hazards to look out for while riding a scooter in Rarotonga. Like chickens and dogs crossing the roads!
Please do adhere to the laws and take care when hiring a scooter in Rarotonga.
Getting Your Scooter Licence in Rarotonga
If your current license does not permit you to ride a motorbike or scooter in your home country, then you will need to obtain a Cook Islands Visitor Scooter License which will enable you to drive a motorbike or scooter.
Note that if you have a current motorcycle class license on your overseas license you do not need to sit the test to acquire a Cook Islands License. In this case you just need to visit the police station, pay NZ$20 and you will be issued your visitor license.
Read More About Travel to Rarotonga
- All About The Rarotonga Bus.
- Renting A Car in Rarotonga.
- How To Buy A Car In Rarotonga.
- Finding And Renting A House In Rarotonga.
- Rarotonga Reef Explorer Tour With Ariimoana.
- Is Dengue Fever a worry for travel to Rarotonga?
- Transport And Getting Around Rarotonga.
Travel Planning for Cook Islands & 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 the Cook Islands!
Gavin is our people-meeter wherever we go. For all the stories we share about the kindness of strangers in Uzbekistan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and more, it is Gavin that extends a handshake and meets a new friend without even sharing the same language.