Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

The 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 Top Things To Do).

Air Passes

The Visit 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 per cent 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 per cent of the adult fare and infants under two years of age pay 10 per cent of the adult fare. For details and conditions, contact the South Pacific Tourist Organisation (website: www.spto.org).

International airports

Rarotonga (RAR) is 3km (2 miles) west of Avarua. To/from the airport: (Travel time – 10 minutes.)Hotel coaches meet each flight. 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.

SEA

The Main 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.

Travel - Internal

AIR

Air 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 Do).

ROAD

Traffic 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 licence, which costs NZ$10 and is obtainable from the Police Station in Avarua on presentation of an international or Commonwealth licence.