Punanga Nui Market
Saturday morning market in Avarua: ika mata, fruit, black pearls and live music.
Duration
1 hr 30 min – 2 hrs 30 min
Best time
Saturday morning, before 9am
Open
Saturday mornings
Entry price
Free
The Punanga Nui market is held in Avarua on Saturday morning, roughly six until noon, and it is Rarotonga's weekly event: families come to see each other as much as to shop.
You eat ika mata, the national dish — raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk, close to Tahitian poisson cru. The black pearls come from the northern Cook atolls, Manihiki especially, and the market is where to buy them without a middleman. Bands play live under the awnings.
Getting there
On the Avarua waterfront, west of the centre. The island bus stops there.
Hours
Saturday morning only, until noon
Rules on site
The market runs on Saturday morning only and empties from eleven. On Sunday almost everything on Rarotonga is closed — it is a strongly observant country and business follows suit.