Explore on your own rating
Small, friendly and bus-friendly.
Where ships dock
- Tender port: Avatiu harbour
Getting to town
Avarua and Punanga Nui Market are a 10–15 minute walk.
The round-island bus runs clockwise and anticlockwise.
Fares are as reported by the sources below and change often. Treat them as estimates.
Money & entry
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD) and Cook Islands coins.
Entry: Cook Islands: U.S. visitors are granted entry on arrival for tourist stays (reported; confirm with Cook Islands Immigration). Return ticket required.
Top sights nearby
- Punanga Nui Market
- Muri Lagoon
- Cross-island trek
Beaches
- Muri Beach
- Aroa Beach
Safety & tips
- Tenders often cancel in swell.
- Saturday market is best.
- Reef-safe sunscreen.
Check U.S. State Department travel advisories before you sail.
⏰ Back to the ship on time
Be at the tender 45 minutes before the last one.
Ship time can differ from local time. Your ship won't wait for independent travelers.