Social ConventionsDress code is informal, though modest attire should be worn when visiting towns or villages. Women are expected to wear dresses for church services and social functions.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe Cook Islands are served by
Air New Zealand (NZ) (website:
www.airnz.co.nz), which offers regular flights from New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji. There are also frequent connections from Australia, North America and Europe. For details, contact the
Cook Islands Tourist
Bureau (see
General Info).
Air PassesVisit the South Pacific Pass: is valid for many airlines operating in the South Pacific, including most of the larger ones, such as
Air Caledonie International (website:
www.aircalin.nc),
Air Marshall Islands,
Air Nauru,
Air Niugini,
Air Pacific,
Air Vanuatu,
Polynesian Airlines,
Qantas,
Royal Tongan Airlines and
Solomon Airlines. Offering reductions of up to 40% on normal airfares, this sector-based pass allows for flexible island-hopping between the destinations of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Vanuatu and the more remote Melanesian and Micronesian islands, together with major cities in Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) and New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington). It is only available for people resident outside of the South Pacific. The journey must be started outside the South Pacific and only one stopover in Australia is allowed. A minimum of two sectors must be bought before departure (extra sectors can be purchased en route up to a maximum of eight in total). There is a maximum of one pass per person, and passes must be used within six months of the first day of travel. Children pay 67% of the adult fare and infants under two years of age pay 10% of the adult fare. For details and conditions, contact the
South Pacific Tourist Organization (website:
www.spto.org).
Departure TaxNZ$30 for passengers over 12 years of age; NZ$15 for passengers aged 2 to 12 years.
Main AirportsRarotonga (RAR) is 3km (2 miles) west of Avarua.
To/from the airport: Hotel coaches meet each flight (journey time – 10 minutes). Taxis and buses are also available.
Facilities: Open according to flight arrivals and departures and include 24-hour luggage storage facilities, duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, bars, shops and car rental.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: It is possible to moor
yachts at
Avatiu Harbour; for maritime matters, contact the Harbour Master, Ports Authority, PO Box 84, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (tel: 28814).
Cargo lines operating to the Cook Islands are run by
Express Cook Islands Line Shipping Ltd and
Hawaii-Pacific Maritime Ltd.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into the Cook Islands by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 1kg of tobacco;
2l of spirits or wine or 4.5l of beer;
goods up to the value of NZ$250.
Fruit, plants, meat and livestock (unless arriving from New Zealand); firearms, gunpowder, ammunition, cartridges and cartridge cases, unless prior permission is obtained from the Minister of Police; and fireworks.
Frozen, canned or vacuum-packed foods are permitted but must be declared on arrival.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirAir Rarotonga (GZ) (website:
www.airraro.com) runs regular inter-island services to Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke, Manihiki, Mitiaro and Penrhyn. Services do not operate on Sundays.
Inter-island flight times: From Rarotonga to
Aitutaki is 50 minutes, to
Atiu is 45 minutes, and to
Mauke and
Mitiaro is 50 minutes. The
Discover Cook Islands Pass offers discount travel around the islands. For more information, contact the Cook Islands Tourist Bureau (see
Top Things To See & Do).
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. There are two main roads that circle the island; the Ara Tapu sealed road that runs through villages and past beaches, and the older inland road which winds through local farmlands.
Bus: The ‘Round the Island Bus’ operates regular services around Rarotonga from Monday to Saturday. The buses will pick up and drop off anywhere on request.
Taxi: Available on Rarotonga.
Car hire: Several companies offer cars for hire from a number of shops and hotels. Motor scooter and bicycle hire is also popular.
Documentation: Drivers of all vehicles are required to have a current Cook Islands driver’s license, which costs NZ$10 and is obtainable from the Police Station in Avarua on presentation of an international or Commonwealth license.
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