Muri Lagoon

Muri sits on Rarotonga's eastern side where the reef swings wide and leaves a broad, shallow lagoon of graded turquoise dotted with four small motu - sandy islets you can paddle to, or in places wade toward at low tide. It is the island's watersports centre: kayaks, paddleboards, kite surfers using the steady trade wind, and glass-bottom boat trips that stop for snorkelling and a barbecue on a motu. The Saturday morning Punanga Nui market in Avarua and the Muri night market give the food side of the island, and the sunrise over the lagoon is the reason to stay on this coast.

What you actually see

• The four motu - sandy islets reachable by kayak or boat.
• Glass-bottom boat trips - snorkelling stops and island barbecue lunches.
• Kite and paddle sports - the lagoon's steady wind and flat water.
• Sunrise over the lagoon - the east coast's daily show.

When to go

The dry season from May to October brings the most reliable weather and the trade winds that kite surfers want. The wet season from November is hotter with heavier showers and occasional cyclone risk. Water is warm year round.

Honest expectations

The lagoon is very shallow in places and coral heads are close to the surface - reef shoes prevent cuts and protect the coral from feet. Water quality in the lagoon has been a local concern in the past from land runoff, and swimming spots vary. Muri is the busiest part of Rarotonga with the most accommodation and restaurants, which some love and others avoid. Rarotonga has one road and one bus that goes clockwise and anticlockwise, which is genuinely all you need.

Nearby

Avarua town, the cross-island track and Aitutaki by air.