Raro Buggy Tours — Attraction in Ngatangiia

BRAKES FAILED!!!! Wife and I almost smashed into another stationary buggy on a slight down hill along a  public road, luckily I swerved onto a grass berm, if my wife was driving this would of been a different outcome..

I am absolutely furious that my wife could of been hurt due to this laid back attitude, there is a difference between being laid back and being unprofessional, seems to be laid back when it suits...

To start off the tour I noticed the brakes were very poor as they struggled to pull up doing 20kph..

This tells me the buggies were not checked over before going out..

Mechanically these buggies are extremely basic (I could do it myself or teach my 3 year old) if maintained by a person with a small amount of knowledge a brake master cylinder failure would not happen, this would be picked up with a simple brake test or seen signs of brake fluid leaking, checking brake fluid condition and level, master cylinder condition seals etc..

Seat belts and helmets are not mandatory, these buggies are extremely tired and lack of maintenance is quite evident, they would have been shut down if in NZ or OZ.

I don't suppose this is the "ISLAND TIME" saying that gets chucked around all the time, seems to be island time when its convenient..

Tourism seems to be the life blood of this country one would think they would invest alot more effort in to sustaining this.

If you decide to drive these make sure you have travel insurance that covers a hospital visit...

Beware, they plan to get some new buggies soon.. lol get in early before they require some maintenance.

My money was refunded with an apology.

Thumbs down guys you need to go back to the drawing board and get a better structure in place. The saying goes you need to spend money...

Mudtastic Mayhem: Raro Mud Buggies is a Must-Do Adventure! Hold onto your hats (or should I say bandanas?) because Raro Mud Buggies is not for the faint of heart – but absolutely exhilarating for adventure seekers! This was mud splattering, laughter-filled fun that left us grinning from ear to ear (though admittedly, unrecognizable under layers of glorious mud).

Here's the deal:

Get ready to dirty: Wear the oldest clothes and shoes you can spare, because they'll likely never be the same again. Embrace the mud – it's part of the adventure!

Hold on tight: The buggies are one-gear wonders, bouncing you around like a ragdoll in a muddy washing machine. Be prepared for bumps, bruises, and a whole lot of muddy thrills.

Goggles are provided: No need to bring your own, the tour provides goggles to keep your eyes mud-free (well, mostly mud-free!).

Awesome guide: Our guide was a legend – friendly, informative, and always ensuring everyone was safe and having a blast.

More than mud: The fun doesn't stop with the buggies. We also tackled a challenging ATV ride through the forest, adding another layer of excitement to the day.

Beach bliss: To wash off the (literal) grime, we were whisked down to the beach for a refreshing swim and mud-rinsing session. Paradise regained!

Local flavour: Our guide sprinkled in interesting local history and stories throughout the tour, enriching the experience beyond just the adrenaline rush.

The verdict? Raro Mud Buggies is an absolute must-do for anyone seeking adventure and laughter in Rarotonga. Just be prepared to leave your inhibitions (and pristine clothing) at the starting line, and embrace the glorious...

Lots of fun - I highly recommend! And good for any weather! Thanks to our friendly tour guides for a whole heap of fun and doing it safely.

I recommend wearing swimmers underneath clothes so you can have a better ocean/waterfall rinse off. And wear whatever shoes (or barefoot) you like - just know they'll get soaked. Take a phone at your own risk - it is possible to hold onto it and keep it clean/dry, if you want to risk it for those extra muddy photos. Guides can hold some items safe and dry for you and return after your tour.

Only constructive criticism is they could improve communication a bit - their website says arrive half an hour early, but nothing on their email says that, so we started off on the wrong foot for arriving at 8.20 for the 8.30 tour. The website says wear sensible/covered shoes, but they let us go with flip flops and barefoot (I preferred this but didn't know it was allowed - wanting to avoid flying home the next day with wet runners). And it was hard to know what to take (Is there a safe spot for phones? Can we take photos? Should we bring a towel or will it get soaked?) A simple overview of the tour, either in the confirmation email, the initial check-in or both would really help...