Cook Islands Travel Guide

Language

Cook Island Maori is widely spoken by locals, but English is in common use.

Currency

The currency of the Cook Islands is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Foreign currency exchange is available at the airport and two banks in Avarua, ATMs are also available in Avarua and are slowly becoming more widespread. American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at restaurants and hotels in the main towns, and travelers checks in small denominations as well as major foreign currencies can be exchanged at larger shops and hotels. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Australian dollars are the preferred currency for travelers checks.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT -10.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The three-pin flat blade plug with two slanted pins are used.

Communications

The country code for the Cook Islands is +682, and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. International Direct Dialling is available, but operator assistance may be required. In the main town of Avarua there is a telecommunications office (Telecom Cook Islands) offering international telephone, fax, email, Internet connections and other services. GSM 900 cellular mobile services are only available on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Duty-Free

The following goods may accompany travelers over 18 years to the Cook Islands: 2 liters of spirits; 2 liters of wine or 4 and a half liters of beer, 200 cigarettes; 20 cigars or 250g of tobacco. Only travelers from New Zealand are permitted to import fruit, meat and livestock. No firearms, cartridges or cartridge cases, gunpowder, bullets, and other forms of ammunition are allowed without prior permission from the Minister of Police.

Tourist Office

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Rarotonga: +682 29 435 or www.cookislands.travel

Embassies in Cook Islands

• United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for Cook Islands): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
• New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga: +682 22 201.

Cook Islands Embassies Abroad

• Cook Islands Honorary Consul, Los Angeles, United States: +1 213 974 1307.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Cook Islands): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada (also responsible for Cook Islands): +1 613 238 5991.
• Cook Islands Consulate, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9907 6567.
• Cook Islands High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 5126.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 998 (Ambulance)

Language

Cook Island Maori is widely spoken by locals, but English is in common use.

Currency

The currency of the Cook Islands is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Foreign currency exchange is available at the airport and two banks in Avarua, ATMs are also available in Avarua and are slowly becoming more widespread. American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at restaurants and hotels in the main towns, and travelers checks in small denominations as well as major foreign currencies can be exchanged at larger shops and hotels. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Australian dollars are the preferred currency for travelers checks.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT -10.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The three-pin flat blade plug with two slanted pins are used.

Communications

The country code for the Cook Islands is +682, and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. International Direct Dialling is available, but operator assistance may be required. In the main town of Avarua there is a telecommunications office (Telecom Cook Islands) offering international telephone, fax, email, Internet connections and other services. GSM 900 cellular mobile services are only available on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Duty-Free

The following goods may accompany travelers over 18 years to the Cook Islands: 2 liters of spirits; 2 liters of wine or 4 and a half liters of beer, 200 cigarettes; 20 cigars or 250g of tobacco. Only travelers from New Zealand are permitted to import fruit, meat and livestock. No firearms, cartridges or cartridge cases, gunpowder, bullets, and other forms of ammunition are allowed without prior permission from the Minister of Police.

Tourist Office

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Rarotonga: +682 29 435 or www.cookislands.travel

Embassies in Cook Islands

• United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for Cook Islands): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
• New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga: +682 22 201.

Cook Islands Embassies Abroad

• Cook Islands Honorary Consul, Los Angeles, United States: +1 213 974 1307.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Cook Islands): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada (also responsible for Cook Islands): +1 613 238 5991.
• Cook Islands Consulate, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9907 6567.
• Cook Islands High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 5126.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 998 (Ambulance)

Language

Cook Island Maori is widely spoken by locals, but English is in common use.

Currency

The currency of the Cook Islands is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Foreign currency exchange is available at the airport and two banks in Avarua, ATMs are also available in Avarua and are slowly becoming more widespread. American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at restaurants and hotels in the main towns, and travelers checks in small denominations as well as major foreign currencies can be exchanged at larger shops and hotels. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Australian dollars are the preferred currency for travelers checks.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT -10.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The three-pin flat blade plug with two slanted pins are used.

Communications

The country code for the Cook Islands is +682, and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. International Direct Dialling is available, but operator assistance may be required. In the main town of Avarua there is a telecommunications office (Telecom Cook Islands) offering international telephone, fax, email, Internet connections and other services. GSM 900 cellular mobile services are only available on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Duty-Free

The following goods may accompany travelers over 18 years to the Cook Islands: 2 liters of spirits; 2 liters of wine or 4 and a half liters of beer, 200 cigarettes; 20 cigars or 250g of tobacco. Only travelers from New Zealand are permitted to import fruit, meat and livestock. No firearms, cartridges or cartridge cases, gunpowder, bullets, and other forms of ammunition are allowed without prior permission from the Minister of Police.

Tourist Office

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Rarotonga: +682 29 435 or www.cookislands.travel

Embassies in Cook Islands

• United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for Cook Islands): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
• New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga: +682 22 201.

Cook Islands Embassies Abroad

• Cook Islands Honorary Consul, Los Angeles, United States: +1 213 974 1307.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Cook Islands): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada (also responsible for Cook Islands): +1 613 238 5991.
• Cook Islands Consulate, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9907 6567.
• Cook Islands High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 5126.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 998 (Ambulance)

Language

Cook Island Maori is widely spoken by locals, but English is in common use.

Currency

The currency of the Cook Islands is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Foreign currency exchange is available at the airport and two banks in Avarua, ATMs are also available in Avarua and are slowly becoming more widespread. American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at restaurants and hotels in the main towns, and travelers checks in small denominations as well as major foreign currencies can be exchanged at larger shops and hotels. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Australian dollars are the preferred currency for travelers checks.

1.2094

Time

Local time is GMT -10.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The three-pin flat blade plug with two slanted pins are used.

Communications

The country code for the Cook Islands is +682, and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. International Direct Dialling is available, but operator assistance may be required. In the main town of Avarua there is a telecommunications office (Telecom Cook Islands) offering international telephone, fax, email, Internet connections and other services. GSM 900 cellular mobile services are only available on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Duty-Free

The following goods may accompany travelers over 18 years to the Cook Islands: 2 liters of spirits; 2 liters of wine or 4 and a half liters of beer, 200 cigarettes; 20 cigars or 250g of tobacco. Only travelers from New Zealand are permitted to import fruit, meat and livestock. No firearms, cartridges or cartridge cases, gunpowder, bullets, and other forms of ammunition are allowed without prior permission from the Minister of Police.

Tourist Office

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Rarotonga: +682 29 435 or www.cookislands.travel

Embassies in Cook Islands

• United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 462 6000.
• British High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 924 2888.
• Canadian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 9577.
• Australian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 6411.
• South African High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for Cook Islands): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
• New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga: +682 22 201.

Cook Islands Embassies Abroad

• Cook Islands Honorary Consul, Los Angeles, United States: +1 213 974 1307.
• New Zealand High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Cook Islands): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
• New Zealand High Commission, Ottawa, Canada (also responsible for Cook Islands): +1 613 238 5991.
• Cook Islands Consulate, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9907 6567.
• Cook Islands High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 5126.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 998 (Ambulance)