We stumbled upon this place and thought the gardens were well worth a look and the $10 entrance donation. Had an iced coffee which was nice and cheesecake at the cafe. Thought the cheesecake was a bit expensive so ordered 1 to share but when it came it was very good , a large slice of proper homemade cheese cake and a good selection of tropical fruit and it was an ample morning tea for 2 of us. Staff friendly and helpful.

While there are numerous beach bars and waterfront restaurants in Rarotonga - Maire Nui Gardens offers something different. We visited twice during our trip, once with our whole extended family (8 adults and 6 kids ranging from 3 - 13 years old) and the second time a smaller group of four - both times a wonderful experience. You can tuck yourself away at a table amongst the beautiful gardens, and there's heaps to explore either during or after the amazing kai and drinks on offer. You'll find warm and welcoming hosts, and everything on the menu is made with fresh fruits and produce from the gardens themselves. The food is thoughtfully made, and you can taste the difference. A hit for our group were the seared tuna tacos, tropical fruit smoothes, and gorgeous iced coffees. An absolute bonus was the kids platter, full of healthy island treats and beautifully presented including slices of pawpaw, fresh bread, hummus and veggie sticks. If you're passing by this tropical oasis while travelling around the island be sure to stop in. Thanks Tirito and team!!

The most amazing lunch we've eaten on the Island! We ate the seared Tuna tacos and they were bursting with flavour and freshness. Highly, highly recommend for lunch, with lovely, friendly staff aswell. Only open Monday to Friday.

Amazing all round. Went with my family for a long brunch and the main takeaway for my wife and I was that we wish we were a bit younger so that we could have had our wedding here! The food was beautifully presented, tasted great, local beer on tap, and the service was awesome - friendly, unpretentious and professional...and you can feel the 30 years of love that have been poured into the gardens. A very special place.

We visited on a Sunday when the cafe is closed. That was ok though as we wanted to see the gardens, but we were very disappointed. Apart from at the entrance there was no signage. There was no map and we did get a bit lost. Also the paths were very muddy. Would be much better if all the paths were stones like at the entrance. It would have been great also to have some signs with descriptions of the planting so we knew what we were looking at. Overall a very underwhelming experience which was not worth the $10 donation that we honestly paid into the donation box.

I went to the Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe the day before I flew back home to London. These gardens are beautiful green and have the lush plant life all over the place and the most gorgeous flowers growing all throughout them. Which isn’t exactly shocking because all of the Cook Islands looks like that! It’s so serene and tranquil walking through those gardens also and for most of the time that day I was the only person walking around through those gardens. The cafe in the gardens was closed at the time and they had a sign up on the cafe’s door that said that the cafe was closed for three weeks because the person who runs it had to go out of the country for a bit so of course I have nothing to say about the cafe. I did leave a donation in the little wooden box in the Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe even though nobody else was around including the people who usually work in the cafe in there. It was very easy for me to get into the Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe because I was staying in the Little Polynesian Resort at the time which is right across the street from those gardens. I do highly recommend going to the Maire Nui Gardens & Cafe if you love to walk around in solitude in a very quiet place with all of your thoughts while you’re surrounded by the most lush and green flora all around you.

We visited the gardens three times it was so good. The gardens are gorgeous , a labor of love by a visionary. The cafe serves the freshest foods & salads on the island. The daily special s real treat.

This is a really lovely experience, visiting these incredible gardens which have been grown wish love and devotion over many years, by one woman and her family and friends. The Cafe is lovely, the food is fresh and delicious! Such a wonderful, informal setting amongst the gardens, it is a beautiful little "escape", and well worth a visit. The family operate the Cafe, and are so welcoming and friendky, taking time to chat with everyone and talk about the history of these gardens. Enjoy a lovely wander through the gardens and explore the mighty traveller palms, the beautiful flora, its all just so gorgeous. Highly recommend this for something different to do. Make a donation towards the ongoing care of this amazing garden paradise, while you visit.

Most attractions in Rarotonga include eating drinking and the beautiful sea. But we went to the serene and beautiful Maire Nui Gardens and Cafe and found such a delightful wonderland of plants. So many magnificent palms of all varieties, water gardens, fruiting and flowering plants in abundance as well as a developing edible garden. We had the delightful experience of spending 20 minutes chatting with Hinano, the woman with a mission. Over 20 years ago she envisioned a tropical wonderland on what was a swamp land. Today she has realised part of her dream, but always looks to the future with ongoing plans to develop more of her 7 acres. The cafe is divine. Try the butterfly tea! The cheesecake. Everything! There are plenty of photo albums and videos detailing the development of the gardens. This was our last adventure before our flight, and what a magical way to end our unforgettable 11 days. If I'd gone earlier in our holiday I'd have gone back! Great for couples, singles, families and groups. Kids have an absolute ball running around, hiding and enjoying nature. Also a lovely cool way to spend a hot day.

As a plant lover, I was in heaven here! $20 donation to walk the gardens, but it was so worth it. So many paths and benches to relax on. So many butterflies, geckos and incredible plants to see. Also got in early for an INCREDIBLE lemon meringue cheesecake. It really is worth the hype. Highly recommend