While all of the Cook Islands have plenty of hiking and trekking opportunities, some of the best walking and hiking trails have to on the island of Rarotonga. With a mountainous and densely forested interior landscape, hiking in Rarotonga is an excellent way to see the other wonders this island has to offer.

The best part about hiking in Rarotonga is that there are no snakes, poisonous insects or wild animals of any kind found here. The most that will annoy you are mosquitoes, which can be easily avoided by putting on plenty of mosquito repellant. Shorts are great to walk in, but be sure to wear proper socks and shoes when hiking as the trails here can be quite challenging, especially to the novice hiker. Do not wear sandals, slippers or thongs.

If you are in Rarotonga during the rainy season remember that most trails will get quite muddy and slippery, so a proper hiking shoe is vital. Also bring along plenty of water while hiking as walking here can be quite thirsty work. Never go hiking here alone as there is safety in numbers, in case you get lost or walk off the trail.

While hiking in Rarotonga, you will get the chance to see many native bird species as well as exotic butterflies and plenty of endemic plants and ferns. Be sure to bring your camera on your hiking trip as you will get a number of photo ops, not just of the wildlife here, but of the lush landscapes as well.

Pa Mountain Trekking is one of the best organized hikes on Rarotonga. The hike is around 4 hours long and is a wonderful educational experience for the entire family to enjoy. Not only do you get to learn about the local flora and fauna, but Pa is well known for telling many ancient myths and legends associated with the island.

Besides the Cross Island track which passes through ‘The Needle’, some other good hiking trails on Rarotonga include the Papua Waterfall track, the Avana Valley track, the Turangi track and Raemaru Lookout. Another great hiking destination on Rarotonga is the Takitumu Conservation Area, which is a protected rainforest reserve. Home to several endemic bird species including the kakerori, walking tours need to be prearranged and booked.