Ara Metua
An inland coral road circling Rarotonga, built centuries before European contact.
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The Ara Metua is the inland road that circles Rarotonga behind the coastal one, and it is old: laid with coral blocks and attributed to the chief Toi around a thousand years ago, which makes it among the oldest constructed roads in the Pacific. Much of it is now surfaced, but it still follows the original line through the taro terraces and plantations, past marae and villages, and it is the way to see the island's inland life.
What you actually see
- The ancient line - a road attributed to Toi around a thousand years ago.
- The inland route - the way through taro terraces and plantations behind the coast.
- The marae - the ceremonial sites the road runs past.
- The village life - the settlements and gardens along the inland ring.
When to go
May to October is the drier season for cycling and walking. Sections are unsurfaced and muddy after rain. Mornings are coolest.
Honest expectations
Much of the road is now modern surface and the ancient fabric is mostly buried. Sections are rough and unsurfaced. Traffic uses it despite the name.
Nearby
Arai-te-Tonga is on the route, and Avarua is north.
What to pack for Ara Metua
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.