What to Pack for Rarotonga – The Perfect Packing List

When visiting Rarotonga for some rest and relaxation, only bother with bringing the bare essentials. The following post explains what to pack for Rarotonga, travel packing tips and the things you simply DON’T need.

Also, don’t forget to check out our posts on the best Rarotonga Accommodation and Aitutaki Resorts if you haven’t managed to book your accommodation yet!

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Rarotonga Packing List

Clothes to Pack For Rarotonga

The Cook Islands have great tropical weather all year round, so pack summery clothing that is loose and allows you to breathe. Materials like linen and merino are recommended. Linen is super breathable, allowing for airflow and it also stays away from the skin. If you’re likely to overheat, linen will keep you cool.

Find the balance between packing a sufficient amount so that you don’t have to worry about doing the washing and packing too much. 

Merino wool is naturally antibacterial, so it lasts multiple wears without producing an odour. A common misconception is that you should only wear wool to keep you warm. However, merino wool is great in the heat and regulates body temperature by releasing heat and moisture from the body. 

My partner loves his Icebreaker Merino T-shirt for hot, tropical climates. They’ve also got Icebreaker t-shirts available for women too.

If you’re intending on climbing Te Rua Manga (one of the most popular Cook Islands points of interest), pack sports clothes. We would highly recommend this as it is one of our favourite activities in Rarotonga.

The following Rarotonga packing list is sufficient for a six to 10 day holiday:

Males

• 6 casual shirts (tees and/or singlets)
• 1 button down shirt (for going out)
• 2 pairs of shorts (one pair of chino shorts and one pair of sports shorts)
• 1 pair of pants/chinos (for going out)
• 1 light sweatshirt
• Packable raincoat
• Pyjamas
• Swimwear
• 6 pairs of underwear
• 6 pairs of socks

Females

• 5 casual shirts (tees and/or singlets)
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 casual dresses/playsuits/skirts
• 1 nice outfit (for going out)
• 1 cardigan
• Packable raincoat
• Pyjamas
• Swimwear
• 6 pairs of underwear
• 3 bras (one strapless, one sports bra and one comfortable bra)
• 6 pairs of socks

Shoes

Jandals, Thongs or Flip Flops

Bring shoes that slip on easily after going for a swim. I personally didn’t bother with bringing jandals – instead, I brought sandals that worked for the beach but were nice enough to wear out to dinner or a bar. If in doubt, there are jandals for sale in Avarua town for a few dollars.

Nice sandals/shoes

If you’re planning to go out for nice dinners or bars, bring along a nice pair of sandals. Don’t bother with heels – most bars are located on the beachfront where you’ll have to walk across the sand to get to your table. If you are going to Raro for an event such as a wedding, consider bringing low wedges instead of a heel.

Comfortable shoes for walking

It’s always tempting to bring shoes that look good over a pair that is more practical. You’ll surprise yourself with how much walking you’ll do on holiday, so it makes sense to choose practicality. For climbing Te Rua Manga (The Needle), you’ll need sports shoes with a decent grip as it can get quite slippery.  I love my Adidas Ultra Boosts as they are extremely comfortable and still look good.

Aqua shoes

This one is definitely optional. We found these more useful in New Caledonia where it is quite rocky by the shore and you could cut your feet. But, if have sensitive feet and have extra space in your luggage, it doesn’t hurt to bring these along.

If you’re buying aqua shoes for the first time, make sure to buy some with rubber soles that help with gripping onto wet, slippery surfaces and offer more protection and sturdiness over neoprene soles. Don’t spend a fortune on these, you can get great quality aqua shoes for cheap. These ones are affordable, fit like a glove and do the job. Check out their cool designs.

• Jandals, Thongs or Flip Flops
• Nice sandals/shoes
• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Aqua shoes (optional)

Toiletries

Where possible, pack travel-sized toiletries. This includes smaller-sized travel bottles, a small hairbrush, and makeup samples. You’ll save space as well as weight, which typically causes more issues, especially at the airport. Opt for a roll-on deodorant or tube mosquito repellent rather than a large spray can.

We always travel with silicone travel bottles. Find them here on Amazon.

Use multipurpose items i.e. a shampoo that contains a conditioner and a body wash sensitive enough to also be used as a facial cleanser. 

• Combined shampoo/conditioner
• Combined body wash/facial cleanser
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shaving necessities
• Hairbrush
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Packet tissues
• Sanitiser
• Makeup
• Makeup towel

Makeup

Rarotonga has a tropical climate. There’s really not much of a point to wearing makeup during the day as it’s easy to sweat it off. Not to mention, you may also plan to be in the water on most days. For this reason, it only makes sense to wear makeup on a night out and be minimalistic. I use a microfibre makeup towel so there is no need to bring makeup remover and wipes – my favourite thing about this is it’s the more sustainable option.

This is all I brought with me:

• Foundation
• Concealer
• Setting spray
• Eyebrow pencil
• Mascara
• Lipstick

Tech

Travel Adapter

Rarotonga uses the power socket/outlet I. If you live in New Zealand, Australia, and many of the Pacific islands, you’re lucky enough not to need a travel adapter. 

We like to travel a lot and were sick of buying and carrying multiple adapters around. So instead, we’ve bought an international plug adapter with a surge protector. There are two USB ports and two outlets so you can charge two phones, a laptop and a power bank or camera batteries at the same time. Because we have a lot of tech equipment to charge, we use both the Belkin adapter and this JOOMFEEN International Travel Adapter.

Power Bank

We often left our resort early in the morning and wouldn’t return until after dinner. We spent a lot of the day using Google Maps and our phone cameras which seem to drain the battery significantly. Bringing a power bank with us meant we didn’t have to forgo using our phones to conserve battery. 

The Xiaomi 20000mAh power bank allows for up to 10 full charges so we barely had to charge this up during our trip. 

• Phone and charger
• Camera, lenses, mini tripod, memory cards and charger
• Headphones (for the plane)
• Laptop and charger
• Travel adapter
• Power bank

First Aid Kit

This is one of the things you hope you’ll never need to use, but it definitely comes in handy for those just-in-case moments. Even for things as small as a cut on some coral while snorkelling to a headache, or relief from some pesky mosquito bites. 

Our whole kit is the size of my hand so we can take it around with us all day in a backpack. Don’t bother bringing the cardboard boxes which medications and band-aids are kept in as they take up too much space.

• Immodium, ibuprofen, paracetamol, sore throat lozenges and cold/flu tablets
• Allergy medication including hayfever relief
• Antiseptic cream
• Antihistamine cream
• Band-aids/plasters
• Alcohol swabs

Minimal Miscellaneous

Raro is hot and humid no matter what time of the year you visit. So, bring sunglasses, a hat, and a drink bottle. 

Towel

For the beach, bring a quick-drying travel towel. Not only do these dry quickly, but they also take up a fraction of the space and weight that a normal bath towel would. The last thing you want to worry about on holiday is a damp towel stinking out your bag. 

Since we spent everyday swimming and snorkelling, we had to carry towels on us at all times. Whatever space we could save in our backpack is important to us. We have always sworn by microfibre towels, but we have also heard others rave about 100% Turkish linen towels. It depends on your preference. Microfibre is half the price of Turkish linen. We use this one – it is honestly one of our favourite travel purchases and super compact.

Waterproof Armband

When you’re out snorkelling or swimming, it’s recommended to leave all your valuables in your car, or consider buying a waterproof armband. This is big enough to fit your phone, keys, cash and cards. 

We’ve used The Moko Waterproof Phone Case for countless overseas holidays and have never encountered any problems.

Snorkelling gear

You can rent snorkelling equipment at all the major snorkelling spots for around $10 to $15 NZD. If you’re thinking of snorkelling quite a few times during your trip, hiring gear will add up. It would be more cost-efficient to bring your own snorkelling gear, given you’ve got enough luggage room.

I love using these Promate Fins and Mask Set – they help me keep up with my Fiance who’s a fast swimmer!

He uses this Cressi Snorkelling Set. If you’re looking for portability, this set with shorter fins is perfect. They easily fit in a backpack.

Make sure to check out our post on the best snorkelling spots in Rarotonga – some areas can be quite dangerous!

Packing Cubes

We used to think packing cubes weren’t necessary, but after using them for a long trip through Southeast Asia, we bring them everywhere. You’re able to squeeze so much more into a small space and it’s a good way to keep everything compartmentalized rather than a disorganized suitcase.

We love these so much that we even included them as one of our top tips in our guide on how to pack a suitcase!

We started off with cheap, but highly rated packing cubes on Aliexpress.  We’ve now upgraded to the Eagle Creek Spectre Packing Cubes.

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Travel towel
• Water bottle
• Waterproof armband (or keep valuables in your car/scooter storage compartment)
• Book/e-reader
• Snorkel gear (or just rent this while you’re there)
• Packing cubes
• Backpack for day trips

What You Don’t Need

Heels

I mentioned this earlier, but there’s no need to bother with heels – walking across the sand in them at beachfront bars will take some serious skill! Take a nice pair of flats instead, or if you must bring heels for a special event, opt for low wedges.

Sarong

Sarongs make for a convenient cover-up at the beach. They also make great souvenirs. So, why not just buy one there? They’re available at the weekly Saturday market (Punanga Nui Market) and at souvenir shops in Avarua town. 

There are tonnes of designs to choose one so you’re guaranteed to find one you like. They’re also really useful if you’re travelling to countries where you need to cover your shoulders and knees.

Umbrella

Umbrellas aren’t convenient to carry around. Just carry a packable raincoat in your backpack instead. It’s also possible your resort will have spare umbrellas for guests.

Thick Jacket or Hoodie

Temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees during the coldest part of the night and can be as warm as 29 degrees during the day. Don’t fill up your suitcase with a bulky jacket – just a light sweatshirt or cardigan will suffice.

Travel Pillow

Most travellers to Rarotonga are from close-by i.e. New Zealand and Australia. Flights are only a few hours, so I’d recommend not bothering with a travel pillow, which is another belonging to worry about.

Packing Tips

Organisation

Pack all like items together in each packing cube. We kept all our chargers and cables together which make it easy if we were searching for something. We also kept tops in one cube, bottoms in another and had a separate cube for socks, underwear, bathing suits, and pyjamas.

Have plastic bags and ziploc bags handy. They’ll be useful to keep laundry and wet items. 

Carry On

Keep your first aid kit, chargers, swimwear, toiletries (under 100ml) and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on luggage. In the unlikely event that your luggage goes missing, you don’t want to waste your holiday buying all the essentials.

We’d often spend the whole day out at the beach snorkelling, walking about or reading a book. Instead of having to leave to grab a snack then come back to the beach, we brought snacks with us. Muesli bars, bliss balls, and dried fruit came in handy when we got peckish.

Other tips

Email your bank to let them know you’ll be travelling. The last thing you want on holiday is for your bank to block your card.

Check the voltage capacity of your travel adapters and chargers. This may differ from your origin country.

Toothpaste doubles as antifog in your snorkelling mask. If you’re bringing your own equipment, rub some toothpaste onto the inside of your goggles before you head out for the day. If you’re renting, bring your toothpaste with you and run some onto the inside of your goggles before snorkelling.

Full Rarotonga Packing List

Clothing- Males

• 6 casual shirts (tees and/or singlets)
• 1 button down shirt (for going out)
• 2 pairs of shorts (one pair of chino shorts and one sports shorts)
• 1 pair of pants/chinos (for going out)
• 1 light sweatshirt
• Packable raincoat
• Pyjamas
• Swimwear
• 6 pairs of underwear
• 6 pairs of socks

Clothing- Females

• 5 casual shirts (tees and/or singlets)
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 casual dresses/playsuits/skirts
• 1 nice outfit for going ou
• 1 cardigan/light sweatshirt
• Packable raincoat
• Pyjamas
• Swimwear
• 6 pairs of underwear
• 3 bras (one strapless, one sports bra and one comfortable bra)
• 6 pairs of socks

Shoes

• Jandals, thongs or flip flops
• Nice sandals/shoes (optional)
• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Aqua shoes (optional)

Toiletries

• Combined shampoo/conditioner
• Combined body wash/facial cleanser
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shaving necessities
• Hairbrush
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen
• Packet tissues
• Sanitiser
• Makeup (optional)
• Makeup towel (optional)

Minimal miscellaneous

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Travel bowel
• Water Bottle
• Waterproof armband (optional)
• Book/e-reader (optional)
• Snorkel gear (optional)
• Packing cubes (optional)
• Backpack for day trips
• First aid kit

Rarotonga Accommodation

If you haven’t yet booked your accommodation in Rarotonga you’re going to want to get on it as the best places can book out. However, choosing the best Rarotonga resorts and where to stay in Rarotonga can be challenging.

We’ve written a guide to the best Rarotonga accommodation including the best areas to stay and a list of the top resorts and hotels to make your decision a lot easier! We’ve also divided it out into the best luxury accommodation Rarotonga, through to mid-range and cheap resorts and backpackers.

Our top luxury pick is Te Manava which is a stunning 5 star resort, whilst Castaways is our favourite mid-range option.

Aitutaki Accommodation

Aitutaki accommodation is much more scarce so you’re going to want to be on the ball when it comes to booking early. The best hotels and resorts in Aitutaki are near the water and you generally can’t go wrong if you book anything on the island as they are all conveniently located.

We reckon Aitutaki Escape is the best accommodation on the island so if your budget can reach then definitely consider it as the spot is gorgeous.

Things to Do in Rarotonga

Ultimately, everything in Rarotonga revolves around the idea of being on the water, in the water, or lying next to the water. However, there are still a bunch of great things to do in Rarotonga that do, surprisingly, go beyond just these three activities.

Our top Rarotonga activities do, naturally, include snorkelling, cocktails and a lagoon cruise. However, other attractions in Rarotonga can stretch to Raro Buggy tours and hiking The Needle for extraordinary views.