Avarua, the capital of the Cook Islands, is located on the island of Rarotonga. Rarotonga is the country’s largest and most populous island, and Avarua sits on its northern coast.
Avarua became the Cook Islands’ main religious, commercial, and administrative centre during the 19th century. London Missionary Society missionaries established their headquarters there in 1823, helping the settlement grow around its two harbours—Avatiu Harbour and Avarua Harbour.
A common mix-up is calling Rarotonga an atoll. Geographically, it is a high volcanic island surrounded by a fringing reef, whereas many islands in the northern Cook Islands are low-lying atolls. That distinction does not change the location: Avarua is on Rarotonga, not on a separate island.
Rarotonga is also home to the Cook Islands’ Parliament, main international airport, principal commercial port, and most of its population. The Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand in 1965, with Avarua remaining the national capital.