For a simple and relaxing island holiday, taking the Rarotonga bus is a great way to get around.
Here is everything you need to know about the Rarotonga Bus.
- Getting Around Rarotonga
- About The Rarotonga Bus
- Fares
- Tickets
- Schedule
- Night Bus
- Does It Run On time?
- Where Does It Stop?
- More About Rarotonga
Getting Around Rarotonga
Ever since we moved to the Cook Islands, living in Rarotonga we’ve fast realised that one of the first questions asked by visitors to the island is about how to get around.
The answer is fairly simple.
There are essentially two main options for transport: hire a vehicle or take public transport with the Rarotonga Bus.
Even if you’re in between accommodation and a rental vehicle, taking the bus in Rarotonga is an easy option. The bus is a relaxing way to get a glimpse of island life around the entire of Rarotonga.
You can take the bus from Point A to Point B, or you can just jump on and take a ride right around the entire island.
Plus, I can confirm that living here in Rarotonga and coming from people that normally get around by car or motorbike, you get a great view from being that little bit higher up on the road!
It’s easy, affordable and a relaxing option for transport around Rarotonga.
The Round-Rarotonga Bus Service
The round-Rarotonga bus service runs around the island in both a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. That’s it!
The entire island of Rarotonga is encircled by a single main road – Ara Tapu – that connects the districts and villages of the island with a 32km sealed loop road.
The bus in Rarotonga follows the main island road and runs around the coast in both directions departing from the Bus Stop at Cook’s Corner in Avarua.
- The Clockwise Bus departs Cooks’ Corner in the centre of town (Avarua) on the hour, every hour, from 7:00 am (First Departure) to 10:00 pm (Last Departure), Monday to Saturday.
- The Anti-Clockwise Bus departs Cooks’ Corner in the centre of town (Avarua) at half-past the hour, every hour, from 8:30 am (First Departure) to 4:30 pm (Last Departure), Monday to Friday, and from 8:30 am (First Departure) to 1:30 pm (Last Departure) on Saturdays.
Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise?
Each bus will have a sign in the left hand (passenger door) bottom side of the windscreen indicating its current operating service.
Fares – Taking the Bus in Rarotonga
Fares can be purchased on the bus from the driver and are to be paid in cash.
The Cooks’ Island Bus in Rarotonga does not currently accept EFTPOS Transactions.
| Adult One Way | $5 | One Ride |
| Adult Round Trip | $8 | Full ride around the island without disembarking the bus |
| Child Single Ride | $3 | Children aged 3yrs to 12yrs |
| All Day Pass | $20 | Hop on, hop off |
| Adult Concession | $35 | 10 rides |
| Child Concession | $25 | 10 rides |
All fares are in NZD and are a standard price that applies all year.
Tickets – Taking the Bus in Rarotonga
All tickets/fares can be purchased on the bus from the driver.
- The Adult Single Ride ticket allows the user to catch the bus from Point A to Point B without making a full circle of the island.
- The Concession Ticket allows for the user 10 rides aboard the bus subject to the conditions of the One-Way Fare.
It is also with the exception that one ride on the Concession Ticket may be used for up to a full circle.
The 10 rides can be used by a Single Person or Distributed amongst multiple users. This ticket does not expire.
The Rarotonga Bus Schedule
The Rarotonga Bus schedule is based on an hourly departure from the Cooks’ Corner bus stop in Avaura.
It is the Clockwise Bus that starts with the first departure from town, heading clockwise at 7:00am, Monday to Saturday. This Clockwise Bus operates until 4:00pm.
The Anticlockwise Bus departs from town starting at 8:30am and running until the last anticlockwise departure at 4:30pm.
Clockwise Rarotonga Bus Schedule
The Clockwise Bus departs Cooks’ Corner on the hour every hour from 7:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Saturday.
The time displayed is the minutes past the hour during the Hours of Operations.
| Location | Mins Past Hour |
| COOKS’ CORNER – TERMINAL | 0 |
| Club Raro | 5 |
| Kiikii Motel | 6 |
| Matavera Village Traders | 9 |
| Avana Waterfront Apartments | 12 |
| Muri Beach | 16 |
| Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel | 20 |
| Wigmore’s Superstore | 26 |
| Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa | 30 |
| Rarotonga Backpackers | 35 |
| Edgewater Resort & Spa | 40 |
| Rarotonga Airport/RSA | 45 |
| Punanganui Market | 49 |
| COOKS’ CORNER – TERMINAL | 50 |
Anti-Clockwise Rarotonga Bus Schedule
The Anti-Clockwise Bus departs Cooks’ Corner at half past the hour every hour from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday and from 8:30am to 1:30pm on Saturdays.
Note there is NO Anti-Clockwise Bus operating on Sundays.
The time displayed is the minutes past the hour during the Hours of Operations.
| Location | Mins Past Hour |
| COOKS’ CORNER – TERMINAL | 30 |
| Punanganui Market | 32 |
| Rarotonga Airport | 35 |
| Edgewater Resort & Spa | 40 |
| Rarotonga Backpackers | 46 |
| Rarotonga Beach Resort & Spa | 50 |
| Wigmore’s Superstore | 54 |
| Moana Sands Beachfront Hotel | 0 |
| Muri Beach | 5 |
| Avana Waterfront Apartments | 10 |
| Matavera Village Traders | 13 |
| Club Raro | 16 |
| COOK’S CORNER – TERMINAL | 20 |
Night Rarotonga Bus Schedule
The Night Bus runs every hour nightly, from 6:00pm to 11:00pm being the last departure from Monday to Saturday.
This schedule for the Night Bus follows the clockwise route.
Does the Rarotonga Bus Run on Schedule?
Albeit we have all heard about ‘Island Time’ and there are times where that is blissfully part of the holiday package. However, in general the Rarotonga Bus does run fairly well to schedule.
We suggest aiming to be at the bus stop or shelter 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.
Where Does the Bus Stop in Rarotonga?
There are in fact more than 50 different bus stops and shelters around the main road on the island. Each of the major accommodations has a bus stop and you will find bus shelters outside the restaurants and popular tourist stops.
In this sense you are never far from a scheduled bus stop.
But although there are scheduled stops, it isn’t necessary to be there to catch the bus. The Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise Bus will stop anywhere along the main road where the bus can safely pull off the road to pick you up.
- Tip: As you see the bus approaching, wave out to indicate to the driver your intention to board the bus.
Further Information
For more information contact Cooks’ Bus Rarotonga via email: info@busaboutraro.com.
Read More About Travel to Rarotonga
- 12 Fruits Of Rarotonga You Need To Try.
- Hiring A Scooter In Rarotonga.
- Renting A Car In Rarotonga.
- How To Buy A Car In Rarotonga.
- Finding And Renting A House In Rarotonga.
- Is Dengue Fever A Worry For Travel To Rarotonga?
- Getting Around Rarotonga.
Travel Planning for Cook Islands & Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia.
- 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 including everything from walking tours, adventure ticket, local tours 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 – Make sure you have insurance before embarking on travel 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.