Walks & Hikes
Wigmore’s Waterfall (Papua Falls)
📍 Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Where
Inland from the south coast road, Vaimaanga
Opening hours
Daylight
Typical cost
Small entry fee
Wigmore's Waterfall, also called Papua Falls, is the most accessible waterfall on Rarotonga: a flat ten-minute walk in from the road, ending at a cascade dropping into a cool freshwater pool.
Worth knowing before you go
The volume depends entirely on rainfall in the preceding days. After a wet spell it is a proper waterfall you can stand under. In a dry patch it is a modest trickle. Ask locally, or judge by whether it has rained that week.
Swimming
The pool is cold, fresh and a genuine relief after a hot day. Most of the people who describe the falls as underwhelming did not get in.
Practical
- There is a small entry fee that goes to the landowners.
- Mosquitoes are enthusiastic here. Repellent is worth having.
- This is the southern end of the Cross-Island Track, so you can combine the two.
💡 Local tip
Go after rain. In a dry spell it reduces to a trickle and people leave disappointed — which is a shame, because after a wet week it is genuinely lovely.
Listed as a local guide entry — not bookable through CI Booking. Details can change; it is worth confirming before you go.
Book something on Rarotonga
Booked direct with local operators — no booking fees.