Great New Zealand and Australian Wines You Can Buy In Rarotonga

IslandAwe - Great New Zealand and Australian Wines you can buy in Rarotonga

Share This Post

Rarotonga is the main island of the Cook Islands and a fantastic vacation destination in the South Pacific. Visitors appreciate the stunning landscape, the warm locals, and the tranquility.

It is a natural paradise with many offers around the lagoon, the sea, and the hinterland. Conversely, there are few shopping opportunities because all goods have to be shipped to the remote islands. The range is particularly limited when shopping for groceries, including good wines.

As wine lovers, we have always been looking out for good wine during our years on the island and got to know most of the stores and what beverages they offer. So in this article, we’d like to give you an idea of which New Zealand and Australian wines you can buy in Rarotonga and how much they cost.

There is an excellent selection of white and red New Zealand and Australian wines you can buy in Rarotonga. The two best stores to find them are located in the capital Avarua: the Bond’s Liquor Store, opposite the Punanga Nui Market, and the CITC Liquors Store, right next to the CITC supermarket.

And here are the details about delicious Kiwi and Aussie wines you can buy in Rarotonga.

Where to Buy New Zealand and Australian Wines in Rarotonga

Sure, there are plenty of small shops all over the island that sell liquor. However, if you are looking for a decent beverage selection, your best bet is to aim for the two major liquor stores in Rarotonga. Especially if you want to buy wine from the great wine regions of New Zealand and Australia.

The Bond Liquor Store

IslandAwe Rarotonga Bond Liquor Store 1
New Zealand and Australian Wines You Can Buy In Rarotonga – @Bond’s Liquor Store

The recently renovated Bond Store offers a wide range of popular spirits.

And the entire right half of the shop is dedicated to wine and sparkling wine. Most of the wines originate from New Zealand and Australia, with various European wines (e.g., from Italy, Spain) gradually being added.

You’ll find The Bond Liquor Store on the main road of Avarua, opposite the Punanga Nui Market.

CITC Liquor Store

The CITC Liquor Store is located at the western end of Avarua, right next to the CITC supermarket. It is the second major store for New Zealand and Australian wines you can buy in Rarotonga. They also offer some fabulous South American wines (e.g., from the Montes Winery, Chile).

New Zealand and Australien Wines You Can Buy In Rarotonga

A Choice of New Zealand Wines in Rarotonga

Name/ BrandGrapeOriginAvg Price NZDStoreOur Rating 1-5
1=low to 5=best
Red Wine
Man O’ War Ironcladred blendWaiheke Island42Bond3,5
Trinity Hill TempranilloHawke’s Bay34Bond3
esk valley red blendHawke’s Bay22Bond3
White Wine
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon BlancMarlborough48Bond5
Man O’ War Valhalla ChardonnayWaiheke Island36Bond5
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon BlancMarlborough32Bond4
Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Sauvignon BlancMarlborough32CITC3,5
Te Awa Single Estate ChardonnayHawke’s Bay32CITC3
Mount Michael Pinot GrisCentral Otago32Bond4
Jules Taylor On The Quiet ChardonnayMarlborough31Bond3
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot GrisMarlborough31Bond3
Trinity Hill Lost Garden ChardonnayHawke’s Bay28Bond3
Saint Clair Pioneer Block Pinot GrisMarlborough27Bond4
MatawheroPinot GrisGisborne27CITC4
Kim Crawford Sauvignon BlancMarlborough25Bond3
Church Road ChardonnayHawke’s Bay25Bond4
Villa Maria Lightly Sparkling Sauvignon BlancMarlborough22Bond4
Mt. Riley Pinot GrisMarlborough20Bond4
Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot GrisOtago20Bond3
HahaPinot GrisHawke’s Bay17Bond3
Delicious New Zealand Wines in Rarotonga

A Choice of Australian Wines in Rarotonga

Name/BrandGrapeOriginAvg Price NZDStoreOur Rating 1-5
1=low to 5=best
Red Wine
JacarandaCabernet SauvignonCoonawarra55CITC5
Yalumba The Signature Red blendBarossa Valley45Bond4
Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra38CITC4
Wolf Blass Gold Label Collection Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra36Bond3,5
Wolf Blass Gold Label Collection ShirazBarossa Valley34Bond4
Church Block Red blendWirra Wirra30Bond3
Pepperjack Barossa Cabernet SauvignonBarossa Valley28Bond, CITC4
Jim Barry – The Cover Drive Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra24Bond4
DeBortoli Woodfired Cabernet SauvignonDixons Creek24Bond3,5
Jim Barry – The Barry Bros Red blendCoonawarra23Bond4
Saddler’s Creek Bluegrass Cabernet SauvignonLanghorne Creekon requestMaire Nui Gardens Cafe4
White Wine
Penfolds Koonunga Hill ChardonnaySouth AU32CITC4
Jacob’s Creek ChardonnaySouth East AU24CITC3
Fantastic Australian Wines in Rarotonga
IslandAwe Rarotonga Aramoana Beach Sunset with Wine 2
Superb New Zealand and Australian Wines You Can Buy In Rarotonga

We hope this article gives you an idea about some stunning New Zealand and Australian wines you can buy in Rarotonga and how much they cost on the island.

The wines are certainly more expensive than in their country of origin. This is mainly due to the freight costs to transport them to distant Rarotonga. But – you are on holiday, right?

Enjoy the wines. Cheers!

If you are interested in more, we have also put together a video for a detailed look at Rarotonga’s island life, including shops.

You can also find much more information about Rarotonga and all the other 11 inhabited Cook Islands on our website and in our Cook Islands Travel Guide.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More To Explore

IslandAwe - Tuamotu Islands to Visit
South Pacific Islands

15 Dreamy Tuamotu Islands to Visit

Craving for a dreamy getaway in French Polynesia? The Tuamotu Islands have got you covered. With their picturesque beaches, fascinating local customs, and tranquil waters,

IslandAwe Advertising

Please complete this form. In return, you'll receive our complete advertising pack.

Palm Sun Waves

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services