Best places

looking for beachfront, privacy and close to town

Hello, which islands in the Cooks are you visiting?

For Rarotonga, the town of Avurna doesn't have nice beaches. Your best bet is to stay in Muri, which has a nice stretch of beach plus useful things like a grocery store, several restaurants and cafes, and a gas station. We really liked the Muri Beach Cottages--they were maybe a 1 mile walk from the cafes, but were very private.

If you have time, also visit Aitutaki, which has a beautiful lagoon.