Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Grocery stores on a Sunday in Raro?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Cook Islands

Hi there,

I am wondering if anybody can tell me if there are any grocery stores open on a Sunday in Rarotonga? I think The Hartal shop is open in Tupapa, does anyone know of any others - maybe close to Arorangi and also any close to Avarua?

Many Thanks
:-)

I know almost all of the small village stores are open at least part of the day and I am pretty sure Foodland in Avarua is open. If Raro is out there he could tell you for sure. Many open after church and in the evening. No beer sales on Sunday. Big Brown is open on Sunday. I really don't think you will have a problem getting simple groceries on Sunday.

Papa Mike

1

Shopping on Saturday afternoon can be difficult too. A lot of places shut down around 2:00PM.

2

To the best of my knowledge Foodland has never been open on Sundays. But Wigmore's on the south coast is open, and each village has at least one small food shop open on Sundays. There's a larger 24 hour shop called Oasis near the airport, and another 24 hour store in Tupapa, on the Matavera side of town. Two or three are open in arorangi, one near Balck Rock, a couple in the main village area.

Yes, as indicated above, beer and liquor cannot legally be bought on Sundays. But it can be sold with a meal on Sunday eves.

3

I heard that Foodland went out of business. Is that true?

4

It's combining with CITC. Not sure how it will all play out yet.

5