Driving in Cook Islands
Travel is a breeze around Rarotonga, which is 32 kilometers in circumference. There are two main roads on Rarotonga, you can circle the island on the Ara Tapu sealed road, through the villages and past the beaches; or you can take the older inland road, which winds through fields of taro, pawpaw, bananas and local farmlands.
The most common form of transport around the islands is by motor scooter. Driving is on the left hand side of the road and speed limits vary between 40kph in the town and 60 kph in low populated areas.
All drivers must have a valid Cook Island Drivers License which can be obtained by presenting your own drivers license at the local police station in Avarua. If you would like to drive a scooter, a short practical test is also required . The police station is open from 8am to 3pm on weekdays and 9am to 12pm on Saturdays for obtaining your local driver's license. The cost is $20 per license and an extra $6 per practical test.
There is a circle island bus running every half hour from 7:30am to 4:30pm and again from 6:30pm to 10:30pm. The fare is $4.00 for a return trip journey. The bus travels clockwise on the hour and anti clockwise on the half-hour.
Taxi service is available upon advance booking. There are no meters and rates vary substantially from one taxi to the next so it is important to establish the fare before entering the taxi.
Push bikes are also a great form of transport as the main road on Rarotonga Island is basically flat and makes for easy cyclying. It takes approximately half a day to cycle around the island.