Back راروتونغا Arabic Раратонга Byelorussian Раротонга Bulgarian Rarotonga Catalan Rarotonga CEB Rarotonga Czech Rarotonga German Ραροτόνγκα Greek Rarotonga Esperanto Rarotonga Spanish
 NASA satellite image of Rarotonga | |
  Rarotonga  Rarotonga  Rarotonga | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Central-Southern Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 21°14′6″S 159°46′41″W / 21.23500°S 159.77806°W |
| Archipelago | Cook Islands |
| Major islands | Motutapu, Oneroa, Koromiri, Taakoka |
| Area | 67.39 km2 (26.02 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 652 m (2139 ft) |
| Highest point | Te Manga |
| Administration | |
| Largest settlement | Avarua (pop. 4,906) |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Rarotongan |
| Population | 10,898 (2021) |
| Pop. density | 162/km2 (420/sq mi)[1] |
Rarotonga is the largest and most populous island of the country of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of 67.39 km2 (26.02 sq mi), and is home to 72% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040.[1] The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is the location of the Parliament buildings and the capital of the Cook Islands. The country's international airport is also in Avarua, and Rarotonga is a popular tourist destination, with many resorts, hotels and motels.
Captain John Dibbs, master of the colonial brig Endeavour, is credited as the European discoverer on 25 July 1823, while transporting the missionary Reverend John Williams.