rarotonga tours

Tumutoa Tours

Explore Rarotonga with Tumutoa Tours, a family-owned and run tour company that gives you real insight into life in the Cook Islands.

Discover the Real Rarotonga

We’re Mānia & Ngame and we’re the husband and wife team behind Tumutoa Tours, one of the top 10 things to do on Rarotonga.

Together we offer you a real insight into what local life is like here on Rarotonga. 

We love sharing our beautiful home with our visitors and we look forward to welcoming you into the family. 

Our Experiences

We offer a range of different packages that are suitable for the whole family. We can cater for large groups, different ages and different abilities. Take a look at our different options below and if you have any questions just send us a message.

UMU FEAST, STRING BAND & FIRE SHOW

Spend the day with us creating your dinner in a traditional Umu cooking class. While it’s cooking weave your own food basket then storytelling. String Band plays while you husk, open & grate coconut, then squeeze coconut cream for ikamata (raw marinated fish). Enjoy the umu feast then FireShow.

MONDAY & THURSDAY 3pm -7.30pm

Adult $105, Child 5-15 Half Price, 0-4yo Free | 4.5 hours

Discovery Walking Tour

Explore, touch, smell & taste the fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants & hear legends of our Inave Village. Fruits & fresh coconut water provided after tour. Bring: water, comfy shoes, hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.

TUESDAY & FRIDAY 8.30am -10.30am

Adults $75, Child 5 – 15 half price | 2 hours

LEGENDS OF RAEMARU

The story of Mountain Raemaru has been passed down by our ancestors. Enjoy a mountain walk & discover the history & legends of warriors during battles. Take in the amazing views and a feast of fruits and coconuts for brunch. Bring water, walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.

WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 8:30am-12pm

Adults $85, Child 5-15 Half Price, 0-4yo Free | 3.5 hours

TRADITIONAL UMU & DISCOVERY WALK

Enjoy everything included in the discovery walking tour above, while the traditional umu earth oven food you prepared earlier is cooking. Weave your own food basket, husk, open, grate coconut & squeeze cream into ikamata. Then share a delicious feast together. For groups of 7 or more people.

TUESDAY or FRIDAY  2pm – 6.30pm

Adults $95, Child 5-15 half price | 4.5 hours+

From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel at home. An absolutely must-do activity when in Rarotonga. We did the Umu Kai tour. It’s hands-on and we learned so much! Amazing friendly, sincere hosts with welcoming hearts who shared their lives and stories with us.   Thank you so much for an amazing afternoon/evening. We enjoyed every minute of our time with you.

Our extended family group had an awesome experience on this tour.

I would highly recommend this for families of all ages but it was very good for the children in particular to have such a ‘hands on’ and genuine Rarotongan experience.

The Umu (we helped prepare) was delicious too!

The cultural and fire show was the best experience we had in the Cook Islands. Ngametua and Mania and their family and friends made us feel part of their family. Enjoyed preparing and cooking the feast, plate weaving, being entertained, coconut husking, tree climbing, being entertained and the fire show. Awesome experience and truly a memory my family and I will forever treasure.

Te Ara Tapu Road, Inave Village, Arorangi Rarotonga

[email protected]

Join us at Tumutoa Tours

Tumutoa Tours offers an authentic cultural experience, helping you discover how our ancestors lived. We can’t wait to share our way of life with our visitors.

[email protected] +682 87608

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10 Best Tours of Rarotonga 🍍 [2024]

Explore rarotonga’s land and lagoon with the best tours of rarotonga.

Don’t be that guy that just rents a car, sticks to the coastal road and misses all the highlights of Rarotonga without realising it. Get a local to show you the hidden gems, best snorkelling spots, places to eat, historical sites and more on a tour of Rarotonga. Minibuses, safari Jeeps, electric tuk-tuks and glass-bottom boats have all been kitted out to show you around the island on tours ranging from two hours to a half-day – you’ll be back well on time for happy hour ! So check out some of the best lagoon and island tours, right here, in our list of the best tours of Rarotonga.

1. Tik-ebikes & Tours

Hop on one of the most unique vehicles to tour around Rarotonga with Tik-ebikes & Tours ! Their “ Island Tour ” takes you around Rarotonga in an environmentally-friendly tuk-tuk where you’ll stop by historical sites, such as the Tinomana Palace , stunning landscapes like the Mairie Nui Gardens and along the soft sands of Muri Beach . You’ll get an insight into the history and culture of the island with an interesting stop at the Rito Organic Coconut Oil Factory and get some time to experience the local arts and shops of Avarua before you’re transported back to your accommodation.

Tours last approximately three hours and depart at 9am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

2. Cook Islands Tours

The locally owned and operated Cook Islands Tours offers a few popular tours of Rarotonga, more famously their “ Progressive Dinner Tour “, but if you want to see more of the island, do their “ Orientation & Sightseeing Tour “. Their 2h30mins tour is a must for first-time visitors, pointing out some excellent places to eat on the island, interesting activities to do, as well as stopping by some cultural attractions that you can tick off the list, such as Black Rock and the Rarotonga Brewery .

Find out more about Cook Islands Tours, check out reviews and book tours on Viator and Tripadvisor . 

3. Koka Lagoon Cruises

For some fun on the water, take a tour with Koka Lagoon Cruises . The half-day cruise from Muri Beach includes snorkelling at the  Tikioki Marine Reserve where you’ll be free to swim among the giant clams, angelfish, butterflyfish, surgeonfish and much more. After snorkelling, the cruise on the glass-bottom boat crosses the Muri Lagoon to the uninhabited Motu Koromiri for a barbecue lunch combined with a fun yet informative coconut and sarong-tying show. The ukulele band entertains throughout the experience.

Check out reviews and book your tour with Koka Lagoon Cruises on Viator  or  Tripadvisor . Plus, see how the cruise compares to the 10 Best Day Cruises in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands .

4. Raro Tours

Another spectacular orientation tour of Rarotonga, Raro Tours ‘ “ Island Discovery Tour ” is an excellent way to get acquainted with the island, including its snorkelling spots. The three-hour tour also includes a few exclusive highlights of its own, such as stops and commentary at historical maraes (an ancient gathering place), visiting local industries like a perfumes factory and tasting locally-made liqueurs. You’ll also stop for a coconut husking demonstration to learn more about the “Tree of Life”.

Tours start at 10am, include transfers and operate Monday to Friday. Book tickets and read reviews on Viator or Tripadvisor . 

5. Storytellers Eco Cycle Tours

An alternative way to tour Rarotonga is via bike with Storytellers Eco Cycle Tours . They have bikes for all ages, so there’s no excuse not to join them on their “ Discover ” tour suited to beginner cyclists or their “ Explore ” tour for the more experienced. Cycle past quaint villages, learn about the history along the old Ara Metua coral road, and stop for tastings of local fruit discovered along the way. Whichever of the two tours you choose, your experience with conclude with a delicious local lunch.

Transfers are included in this tour and morning departure times are organised with the operator. Depending on what tour you choose, they are available from Monday to Friday. Learn more about Storytellers on Viator and Tripadvisor .

6. Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes

Almost identical to Koka Lagoon Cruises, Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes also offers a fun-filled half-day on the waters of the Muri Lagoon . The main differences are that the cruise departs a little later (11am instead of 10am for Koka) and the crew are a little more “cheeky” which might not click with everyone’s humour. Nevertheless (or more, depending on how you look at it), the tour still includes an awesome time snorkelling, indulging in an island barbecue on Motu Koromiri , and watching a fun coconut and sarong demonstration.

Learn more about the cruise and check out reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor . Plus, see more tours with amazing snorkelling in the 6 Best Snorkelling Tours in Rarotonga .

7. Raro Safari Tours

Jump in a characterful safari Jeep and hit the coast road, back roads and dirt roads with Raro Safari Tours . This three-hour tour incorporates history and culture as you traverse the inland road seeking out historical sites, visiting plantations and – the highlight – racing up the dirt tracks of an inland mountain to a spectacular viewpoint of Te Rua Manga , a.k.a. The Needle . The tour also includes a stop at Papua Waterfall ( Wigmore’s Waterfall ), a buffet lunch and lots of humour!

Raro Safari Tours has a morning and afternoon departure most days, otherwise, they will just operate their morning tour from 9.30am.

8. Raro Buggy Tours and Raro Quad Tours

Do the driving yourself on an exciting off-roading tour with Raro Buggy Tours or Raro Quad Tours . The main difference is that one tour is in two-seater 4×4 buggies lasting 1h30mins to 2 hours and the other is on quad bikes lasting from 2h30mins to 3 hours. Either way, you’ll start off getting accustomed to your vehicle and following your guide to historical sites before hitting the muddy tracks and plantations on your way to the Papua Waterfall ( Wigmore’s Waterfall ).

Tours depart from Wigmore’s Superstore ( Vaimaanga ) at 8.30am and 11.30am for buggy tours/12.30pm for quad tours, Monday to Friday and only in the morning on Saturdays. This is an epic tour for couples, as listed in the 16 Most Romantic Things to Do on Rarotonga .

9. Raro Reef Sub

A water tour with a difference, cruise to the deep outer reef with Raro Reef Sub . Look out for large pelagic fish, turtles, sharks and even whales in this semi-submersible vessel. The 1h25mins-1h30mins tour takes you around the RMS Maitai shipwreck and to places that are otherwise a challenge to get to. If that wasn’t enough, a percentage of the trip goes toward local conservation!

Tours last approximately 1h15mins to 1h30mins and depart from the Avatiu Harbour ( Avarua ), Sunday to Friday, three to four times a day if the weather allows. This is also a spectacular option with kids, as listed in the 30 Things to Do on Rarotonga with Kids .

10. Aitutaki Day Tour

There’s much more to the Cook Islands than Rarotonga, so we fully encourage you to discover the other islands for yourself and see just how different they are! If you don’t have time to stay on another island, however, then you need the Aitutaki Day Tour . Operated by  Air Rarotonga , the day tour to Aitutaki is a complete island package from Rarotonga including return flights, a six-hour lagoon cruise with The Vaka Cruise (see below), a barbecue lunch on the boat and transfers both on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. It couldn’t be easier!

Tours operate Monday to Saturday and the flight departs at 8am.

More About the Best Tours on Rarotonga

Now that you know some of the best tours on Rarotonga, discover more guided experiences in the following lists:

• 10 Best Eco Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
• 6 Best Snorkelling Tours in Rarotonga
• 10 Best Tours in the Cook Islands

Finally, don’t miss a thing from your bucket list by using the 50 Best Things to Do on Rarotonga and 101 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands: The Ultimate List .

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
• Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2024])
• Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
• Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2024])
• Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2024])
• Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2024])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the Author

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as the Cook Islands. She knows the islands inside out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Raro’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also the editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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