We Did the Rarotonga Scenic Flight & So Highly Recommend It.

Gavin Steiner

1 month ago

Did you know there is a Rarotonga Scenic Flight?

It is incredible. If you think the view of Rarotonga from the top of Te Kou or the Cross-Island Walk is impressive, just wait until you see this volcanic paradise from a thousand feet up in the air!

While we are massive fans of lace-up-your-boots island adventures, this is one Rarotonga experience that gave us absolute goosebumps: the Air Rarotonga Scenic Flight.

Choosing a Scenic Flight Adventure

We at Away with the Steiners have personally taken this flight as a family experience, and we highly, highly recommend it.

Ever since our boys were small, we’ve loved celebrating special milestones with an “adventure” instead of material gifts. This time, it was for Harry’s birthday, and we gifted him the “adventure” of a scenic flight in Rarotonga.

We had never taken a scenic flight like this before. It was a totally new experience!

Taking to the sky together gave us a completely fresh appreciation for how incredibly beautiful, isolated, and visually jaw-dropping our island home truly is.

Did you know we have been Living in Rarotonga?

Oscar and I with views down to the runway in the background.

The Rarotonga Scenic Flight

If you get the chance, definitely do it.

There are lots of adventures and tours that you can do in Rarotonga. But this is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Here is everything you need to know.

The Aircraft: A high-wing Cessna, which means every seat gets a completely unobstructed view of the island below – perfect for taking photos and video!
Duration: 30 minutes of flight time.
Passenger Number: It is an intimate experience with a minimum of two passengers and a maximum of three per flight.
The Route: A full, panoramic loop around the island, past The Needle and tracking the vibrant reef outline.

Views to the mountains, the reef and passages to the lagoon in Muri.

Cruising Over Rarotonga

The scenic flight takes off from the main Rarotonga International Airport and as soon as you get up in the air the landscape is epic.

Looking out the window of the plane, you get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape that defines the island.

What Can You See?

On one side, you fly directly alongside the volcanic ridges and inland valleys. Oscar reckoned the local taro plantations look like puzzle pieces!

On the other side, you look straight down into the lagoon. You can see the line of the reef separating the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.

It really makes you realise how small the island is.

Flying over the abandoned Rarotonga Sheraton Hotel.

Flying Over Muri

You also get a fantastic aerial perspective of the four motu (small islets) in Muri Lagoon.

The pilot gives a great commentary along the way, pointing out island landmarks and sharing local insights. The flight is as educational as it is beautiful!

Seeing the motu inside the incredibly blue Muri Lagoon.

How to Book and What it Costs

Because of the small aircraft size and high demand in the tourist season, you definitely want to secure your tickets well in advance.

The Cost: Tickets are $175 NZD per adult and $87.50 NZD per child. It is a really reasonable price tag for a private flight tour!
Where to Book: You can buy tickets and check real-time availability directly on the Air Rarotonga official website (via their booking portal at airraro.com). Or you can head directly to their terminal desk at the airport in Nikao or give them a call locally at +682 22 888.

Book the Rarotonga Scenic Flight

If you want to treat yourself to an unforgettable holiday memory or just want to capture the ultimate aerial shots of Rarotonga and the South Pacific, this 30-minute flight is worth every dollar. 🙂

Travel Planning for Cook Islands and Beyond

These are the companies we use and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.

Booking.com – Best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. 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!