Our favourite hike on Rarotonga!
⌚2-3hrs return
🚶🏽‍♀️ Hard

📍 Ikurangi Ascent.

➡️ The hike is a little hard to find, as always we suggest to download the offline maps on the Alltrails app, or go with a local who knows the way, or Bruce from Maunga Tours. Look for the chainsaw on a wooden post on your right hand side up the Tupapa water catchment road. Follow the overgrown track, over the stream and then head straight up into the pine forest. There's a new 100-150m long rope to help you up the slippery pine needles. The track is easy to follow once you're at the first rope, only a few rope climbs/steep ridges but overall a safe and epic hike. However, it can be tricky/overgrown at the start.

🌄 the 360 views are EPIC! you can see the needle, Te Manga, the airport all the over to the start of Muri.

🌧️ Check the weather & tell someone where you are going, never attempt hikes in Raro in the rain or with rain forecasted.

Reviews:

'Beautiful trek UP a hill through the jungle. Easy to get to the trailhead via scooter or car or walk from the main road. Fantastic south Pacific island hike BUT not for the inexperienced hiker. Once you get off the road and into the jungle it could be somewhat easy to get lost if you're used to a well marked trail. The trail LOOKS like the jungle. Not the most overgrown I've ever been on but absolutely the consistently steepest I've done to memory. As soon as it goes up it doesn't really stop. And it doesn't get any less steep as you go. In fact the last l half is steeper than the first. Also the elevation gain is about 700 feet short. It's missing about 250 feet from where the overview stops and then it's another 500 or more from the little turn off to the very top. If you're looking for an adventure with beautiful views, this is it! But be prepared for a strenuous climb (not a hike), narrow trails, drop offs, and slow going." Kashmere, Alltrails

'Unreal views. Steep but short (ish) climb to the top. Getting there: Once you’re on Tupapa Road, take your next left down an unmarked road. You should eventually go past a little shack on your left where Wayne lives, a lovely and helpful local. A little further up the road is the trail entrance. The first photo shows a sign where the trail entrance is. Very quickly you’ll come to a stream. The trail is just off to your left. We’ve tried to make it obvious, as we went to the right and had to back track. You should find a blue rope leading you up the trail. Once you’re at the rope it’s very easy to follow all the way to the top. There are a few hard parts to climb up but there are ropes to help. It was much easier going down these parts. There is a solar panel at the summit. Our trail map/time includes our wrong direction and turning back to find the trail. Wouldn’t do after heavy rain. Definitely recommend!!' - Tess, Alltrails