Ara Metua

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.

Highlights

• 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.

Before you go

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.