Avarua Town, North Rarotonga

Avarua Town on the north coast, minutes from the international airport, is the administration centre of the Cook Islands. Most people end up in town for a shopping trip or part of a bus trip around and it's a nice place to spend a few hours, especially on Saturday morning when the open air market takes place. You'll find everything from brightly coloured sarongs (wrap around dresses), to flower garlands, fresh fish and tropical fruits. The town is very small though with only a few supermarkets, two banks both with ATM machines, several restaurants / cafes, internet booths and several good boutique shops specialising in the sale of black pearls and fine handicrafts. There are a few budget places to stay in town but without a beach and mostly located in the hills it's not a great option.

Club Raro Resort, Rarotonga

NZ$ 185 - 250 per couple

Club Raro Resort is conveniently located only 5mins from the main town of Avaru along the east coast. Club Raro offers 55 air-conditioned rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean and offers excellent value for money with a lively atmosphere and plenty of activities throughout the day.

The coast along Avarua Town is rocky but a passage through the reef makes it ideal as a harbour for fishing boats and yachts (yachting season May-Sep). There are a few interesting buildings to see, notably the Cook islands Christian Church, the adjacent palace of the ancient kings and the more modern museum, all to the east of the main shopping area.

There are a few part-sandy beaches to the east of Avarua Town but swimming is restrictive. Heading east from town you'll get stunning views of mountains from the main road and you'll find some ancient stone foundations (marae) on the inland road, as well as several dirt tracks leading into valleys.