Cook's Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd — Local services in Avarua

Raro Pass Tiare Transport, what a joke these guys are.

I am not talking about the actual big bus service, because this service is great, but the Tiare Transport airport courtesy van service.

The time from reporting into their guest desk at the Tiare Transport travel podium, to the arrival at our Sunset Sands rental accomodation was 1 hour plus, a distance of around 6 odd kilo meters.

Note:- we were also the first guests to be off loaded from their van.

We arrived and got their mandatory flower lei, we took our bags to the van and were told to wait for "one" other couple, which was not a problem.

That couple duly turned up around 20 plus minutes after we had first checked in, also not a major problem.

We all sat in their van waiting for the driver.

Around 15 or so minutes he showed up, and said, his boss told him there was a change, and we had to wait for another couple that was going to be traveling with us.

The four of us in unison all complained that we have been waiting far too long now, and he should just get going.

He wouldnt budge, and around another 15 to 20 minutes this other couple showed up, got into the van after we all had to disembark to make room.

We finally left well over 1 plus hours after arriving at their podium.

What a joke.

Now to top that off, the owner of Sunset Palms who organised our stay, had booked a confirmed return trip back to the airport with these guys at our specified time of 1.15 to no later than 1.45pm.

When we checked in with them, when we were getting ready to leave, they said it would be 2.00 to 2.15pm. We responded saying that this was just not acceptable to us, as we had to check goods with agriculture, that is why we required an earlier stipulated leave time.

We told them that we needed our confirmed pickup time, but they would not budge, they didn't even respond back.

The day before, this lot picked up a lady from Sunset Palms at 2.10 and the checkin closes at 2.30, she said just as well she checked in online.

We were just not able to checkin on line, as we had to go to Agriculture first.

Anyway we just booked a taxi "1AAA Taxi" Roimata Tel 52578, and let them fly on their own, not sure if they turned up or not, I couldnt care less if they did.

What a joke of an outfit, just don't use these guys, their customer service is poor to nonexistent.

They also charged the lady and her husband $65 per person, but the taxi cost for the two of us was $50 total, and he...

After your first ride you will be an expert.

Recommend the 10 ticket ‘concession’ card for multiple trips; driver will stamp it and you can go as far as you like. Use between 1 or more people over several days.

Call out to the driver when you want to de-bus, or let him know as you en-bus.

Get the ‘bus tracker’ app to see how close the next bus is. It might be going the other way, but could be the quickest.

Bus stops (official) do exist, but easier to just raise your arm in a friendly fashion when you see the bus coming, then stand back as it pulls over.

If you want to go to lots of places quickly (why?), maybe a car is more flexible.

Check the schedules if planning evening outings.

If new to Rarotonga, a 40-50 minute ride around the island is a great way to get orientated: follow your progress on a paper tourist map from the tourist magazines and come back to...

THANK YOU RARO BUSES 10 RIDE TICKET $35 CAN BE SHARED UNTIL Finished. 1 x click per person per ride Purchase on the bus with NZ Cash Great way to get around Raro All the drivers were cool and so patient with all of us tourists and bad drivers on the island In the peak season. The bus drivers all need a special thank you. Meitaki maata!!!! We found the information is not accurate on the websites and the times of buses differs alot from site to site. So get the app, download it before you go on your trip to the Cook islands and track the buses in real time. Then you know where the buses are on the island and how long they will be to reach your stops. TRANSPORT ME App, Favourite COOK ISLANDS LIVE TRACKER And then load you favourite stops. Buses from the night Muri markets are packed so be prepared to walk if you don't get on the bus because it's too full or wait for the...