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

Not far from our accommodation we found Maire Nui Gardens and Cafe - and what a find it was! We wish we'd visited here sooner in our stay so we could return again at least once more - it was that good. We had such a lovely lunch of paw paw and smoked chicken salad plus a cajun seared tuna taco washed down with Rarotonga Brewery's delicious ginger beer and then a walk around the spectacular gardens photographing and delighting in the gorgeous flora and foliage. This experience is highly recommended and a must-do when visiting Rarotonga.

Mare Nui Gardens is a great way to relax while visiting and enjoy a slice of cheesecake. We were surprised not to have gone sooner as we are avid photographers and enjoy a nice relaxing stroll. The gardens are certainly not for everyone, but certainly worthwhile for those seeking a bit of solace and calm, if the island is insufficient as it is. The gardens have a variety of exotic tropical flora, with good upkeep as a lifelong project of the owners. I suppose “enjoy your surroundings” is a common recurring theme, both with the gardens themselves and the cheesecake that is allegedly world-famous. For one, the gardens do not have marked pathways but certain plants are identified, thus enjoy the surroundings knowing that they present a metaphor for life (you can go anywhere, you may not know where you’re going, getting lost is not bad, etc.). The cheesecake itself is delicious being its own unique flair, but what really makes it stand out are the “surrounding” fruits that you can enjoy which accompany the main delight. Overall it was a nice pleasant visit, especially where there are areas of shade to avoid the hot blistering sun. Please indicate if you found this review to be helpful as it would be greatly appreciated!

This little garden cafe was amazing! We stopped in because Charlie’s was closed and we were hungry. We got the fish tacos and island poke and the ahi was seared to perfection and both dishes had amazing presentation. The staff was so nice too! We also had the cheesecake which was amazing! Highly recommend. I’m glad we stopped in

Popped in for lunch and a wander around the gardens. The Cafe setting is so serene, beautiful. We ordered seared tuna tacos and salad. I'm not a person who takes a lot of food pics. This time was a must and pic attached. After lunch and a couple of wines we meandered around the gardens. There was a wedding party arriving and the setting among the garden was perfect. The owners are so welcoming, food is divine and the setting is stunning. Definitely returning.

My teens and I wasn’t expecting much but we spent quite a lot of time here. It was cool in the shade of the trees and we enjoyed seeing how many similar plants we had at home but in much smaller unhealthy versions compared to here. Very beautifully cared for and maintained with a lovely cafe onsite also.

Beautiful gardens to have a wonder through and see some of the wonderful flora of the Cook Islands. Great wee cafe on site which serves local coffee, a must try. Owners are so friendly and welcoming.

The best food on the island! Came multiple times for beautiful fresh food. We are "foodies" from NZ and we were all stoked with everything we ordered each visit. Definitely come here for fabulous food and the gorgeous gardens!

Very pleasant afternoon visit for me and my 79 year old father. Food, coffee and service at the cafe were fabulous. Lots of variety of plants. It would have been great to see more names for some of the plants we didn't recognise and a general indication of the layout would also have helped. Saw lots of mina birds, a native pigeon and lots of little skinks.

Beautiful greenery, so tropical and relaxing! We had a wonderful time walking through the gardens and of course grabbing a slice of cheesecake is a must at the cafe! Went on a weekday around 11am which was just perfect to have most areas to ourselves! A definite tranquil area to visit while in Rarotonga!