From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rarotonga Island from space, September 1994

View of a Rarotongan beach.

Rarotonga is the most populous island in a group of islands known as the Cook Islands, with about 9,500 residents. Cook Islands' Parliament buildings, as well as the international airport, are located there. Because it is the most populous island, Cook Islanders may be referred to as Rarotongan, but they may in fact come from one of the other 15 islands in the group, such as Aitutaki or Mangaia. Rarotonga is also a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels.

The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is also the capital of the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is divided into 12 districts, the first six of which constitute the capital, Avarua, and the others villages:

1. Pue - Matavera
2. Tupapa - Maraerenga
3. Takuvaine - Parekura
4. Tutakimoa - Teotue
5. Avatiu - Ruatonga
6. Nikao - Panama
7. Ruaau - Arorangi
8. Akaoa - Arorangi
9. Murienua - Arorangi
10. Titikaveka
11. Ngatangiia - Muri
12. Matavera

Typical scene along the Ara Tapu (main road) on Rarotonga.

Rarotonga Island stands 14750 feet (4500 meters) above the ocean floor. The island is 20 miles (32 km) in circumference and has an area of 26 square miles (67 km²). At a depth of 13000 feet (4000 meters), the volcano is nearly 31 miles (50 km) in diameter. The highest peak on the island above sea level is 2140 feet (658 meters).

The island is surrounded by a lagoon, which extends several hundred yards (meters) to the reef, which then slopes steeply to deep water. The reef fronts the shore to the north of the island, making the lagoon there unsuitable for swimming and watersports, but to the south east, particularly around Muri, the lagoon is at its widest and deepest. This part of the island is the most popular with tourists because of the suitability of the lagoon for swimming, snorkelling and boating. Agricultural terraces, flats, and swamps surround the central mountain area.

The Ara Tapu (main road) near Tikioki Beach, Rarotonga.

• Rarotonga only has two bus routes: Clockwise & Anti-Clockwise [1]. Although they have bus stops, the bus drivers drive around picking up anyone they see and dropping them off when the passengers want them to.
• Rarotonga has a 3-Dollar bill in circulation [2].
• The central peak of the Island is known as Te Rua Manga, 'the needle'.
• The 1995 album Finn by The Finn Brothers ends with the song "Kiss the Road of Rarotonga", which was inspired by a motorcycle accident that Tim Finn had during a visit there.
• One of the "tribes" in the U.S. Television series Survivor: Cook Islands was named for the Island

• Rarotonga: An independent non-commercial guide
• Main Cook Islands website
• Official website of Cook Island tourism
• Photographs of Rarotonga, Cook Islands
• Rarotonga Photographs
• Map of Rarotonga
• Rarotonga Cook Islands include map

Coordinates: 21°0′S 160°0′W