GETTING ROUND RAROTONGA
Cook's Island Bus is an inexpensive way of travelling. The one main road round the coastal perimeter - Ara Tapu (Sacred Road) - is 32 kms (20 miles) long. The buses go all round the island and stop almost anywhere you want to get on or off. Services start and end at Cook's Corner in town. Then...you only need to decide if you want to go in a clockwise or anti- clockwise direction! There's also a back road but you'll need to hire a car or scooter to explore it
Cooks Island Bus services and timetable
Scooters are the main form of transport and there are plenty of places to hire them. Helmets are compulsory and there's an on the spot fine of NZ$250 for not wearing one. Driving licences from Australia, Canada, the UK, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the USA and EU member countries are now accepted in the Islands (previously you had to queue up to get a Cook Islands licence which was also a great souvenir!). You are allowed to drive the same class of vehicles as in your home country provided it's a full licence (provisional licences are not acceptable) and you're 16 or over
If you're planning to hire a motorbike or scooter, and you're not already fully licenced to ride one in your own country, you'll also have to pay for a short test...to prove, among other things, you know how to go round the only roundabout on Raro! Drink driving is also illegal and police use breathalysers.
Driving tip: Keep left and give way to traffic from the right
