Editing Rarotonga (section)

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|Island of the Cook Islands}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox Islands
| name          = Rarotonga
| native_name   = 
| image_name    = Rarotonga Island.jpg
| image_size    = 300px
| image_caption = NASA satellite image of Rarotonga
| image_alt     =
| map= Cook Islands#Oceania#Pacific Ocean
| area_km2      = 67.39
| elevation_ft   = 2139
| highest_mount = [[Te Manga]]
| location      = [[Pacific Ocean|Central-Southern Pacific Ocean]]
| coordinates   = {{coord|21|14|6|S|159|46|41|W|region:CK_type:isle_dim:20km|display=ti}}
| archipelago   = [[Cook Islands]]
| total_islands = 
| major_islands = Motutapu, Oneroa, Koromiri, Taakoka
| country       = {{flag|Cook Islands|name}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = 
| country_admin_divisions       = 
| country_largest_city = [[Avarua]]
| country_largest_city_population = 4,906
| demonym       = Rarotongan
| population    = 13,007<ref name="Census2016"/>
| density_km2       = 
| ethnic_groups = 
}}
'''Rarotonga''' is the largest and most populous of the [[Cook Islands]]. The island is volcanic, with an area of {{convert|67.39|km2|abbr=on}}, and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Census of Population and Dwellings {{!}} Cook Islands Statistics Office |url=https://stats.gov.ck/2021-census-of-population-and-dwellings/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Parliament of the Cook Islands|Cook Islands' Parliament]] buildings and [[Rarotonga International Airport|international airport]] are on Rarotonga. Rarotonga is a popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels. The chief town, [[Avarua]], on the north coast, is the capital of the Cook Islands.

Captain [[John Dibbs]], master of the colonial brig ''Endeavour'', is credited as the European discoverer on 25 July 1823, while transporting the missionary Reverend [[John Williams (missionary)|John Williams]].