Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church

The Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) is the most prominent historical landmark in the capital city on the island of Rarotonga. Completed in 1853, the church was constructed using coral lime, a traditional method where coral was harvested and burnt to create a durable, bright white mortar and stone blocks. As the first mission building established by the London Missionary Society (LMS) in the islands, it stands as a testament to the early 19th-century religious transformation of the region. The surrounding graveyard is of great historical significance, housing the tombs of many noble families and influential figures, most notably Sir Albert Henry, the Cook Islands' first Prime Minister. Inside, the church features simple yet elegant wooden architecture. The highlight of any visit is the Sunday morning service, where congregants, often dressed in traditional white hats and attire, perform 'Imene Tuki', a powerful form of traditional polyphonic singing. The resonant, rhythmic hymns are world-renowned for their emotional depth and represent a living fusion of Polynesian culture and Christian worship.

Nearby cities

Nikao

Nikao is a busy village located west of the capital, Avarua.

Avarua

Avarua is the capital of the Cook Islands, situated on the northern coast of Rarotonga.

Matavera

Matavera is a quiet village on the eastern coast of Rarotonga.

Ngatangiia

Ngatangiia is a historic village in the east of Rarotonga.

Arorangi

Arorangi is a significant village on the western coast of Rarotonga.

History & landmarks

Punanga Nui Market

The Punanga Nui Market in Avarua is the commercial heart of Rarotonga, where local farmers and artisans sell their goods.

Rarotonga

The most populous island of the Cook Islands is of volcanic origin and surrounded by a coral reef.

Te Vara Nui Village

A cultural landmark that showcases traditional Polynesian life and legends through architecture and staged performances.

Nature

Ikurangi

Ikurangi towers over the capital Avarua and is one of Rarotonga's most prominent landmarks due to its rugged profile.

Maungatea

Maungatea is a prominent peak on Rarotonga located west of the Cross-Island Track, dominating the Avatiu Valley.

Te Atukura

Te Atukura is a significant peak in the rugged interior of Rarotonga, forming part of the Te Manga mountain massif.

Te Rua Manga

Also known as 'The Needle', this prominent rock pinnacle is one of the most recognizable geological landmarks on Rarotonga.

Te Rua Manga (The Needle)

A prominent rock spire in the center of Rarotonga that towers above the surrounding rainforest.

Te Manga

Te Manga is the highest peak on the island of Rarotonga and the entire Cook Islands.

Te Kou

Te Kou is the second highest elevation on Rarotonga, featuring a broad summit plateau with unique high-altitude flora.

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Takitumu Conservation Area

This protected area on Rarotonga was established to save the endemic Rarotonga Monarch.

More places

Para-O-Tane Palace

Para-O-Tane Palace is the historic seat of the Makea Nui Ariki.

National Museum of the Cook Islands

The museum displays an extensive collection of Polynesian artifacts, traditional clothing, and historical sea charts.

Beachcomber Building

This 1845 building was originally constructed as a mission school from coral stone.

Wreck of the SS Maitai

The wreck of the steamship SS Maitai has rested on the Avarua reef since 1916.

CICC Avarua

The Avarua Christian Church was built in 1853 from coral limestone.

National Culture Centre

The center, named after Sir Geoffrey Henry, houses the National Archives and Library.

Takamoa Theological College

Founded in 1839, Takamoa College is the oldest theological school in the South Pacific.

Library and Museum Society

This volunteer-run institution preserves a significant collection of Pacific literature and historical artifacts in Avarua.