Ruth Haines
Rarotonga International Airport is the country's only gateway and is located 2km west of Avarua. The airport arrival process involves passing through Immigration and Customs with your passport, Passenger Arrival Card, and other relevant documents. The departure process is similar to the arrival process, with check-in for international departures in the same terminal as domestic flights. Visitors leaving via plane do not need to pay the departure tax as it is included in the ticket price. The airport provides various facilities and services, including shops, Wi-Fi, and banking services. Transport options to and from the airport include taxis, bus services, and airport shuttles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 2km (1 1/4 miles) west of Avarua |
| Transport to the airport | Taxis, hotel minibuses, airport shuttles, Raro Tours, Cook Island Tours, island bus, accommodation’s transfer service |
| Check-in | Same terminal for domestic and international flights; provide passport and booking reference/e-ticket; no need to declare personal items |
| Departure tax | NZ$30 for adults (NZ$71.77 if not by plane), half for children aged 2-12; included in plane ticket price |
| Immigration | Hand over passport and Passenger Arrival Card; provide evidence of outbound ticket and accommodation details; vaccination certificates may be required |
| Biosecurity | Declare any restricted or prohibited items; baggage may be inspected |
| Facilities | Duty-free store, car rental offices, phone network store, travel agents, cafe, airport transfer kiosks, money exchange, baggage storage, business facilities, Wi-fi |
| Smoking | Legally prohibited in many public buildings but allowed in hotels, businesses and restaurants |
| Radio & TV | One AM and one FM radio station; programming in English and Maori; one TV channel |
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What You'll Learn
Transport to and from the airport
Rarotonga International Airport is located 2km (1 1/4 miles) west of Avarua. The airport features a duty-free store that sells alcohol and tobacco products, and a Westpac Pacific Banking terminal office that is open 1 hour before and after all international flights.
Transport to the airport
There are several ways to get to Rarotonga International Airport from your accommodation. You can take a taxi, your hotel's transfer service, or the island bus. Cook Island Tours and Raro Tours both offer departure transfers that are cheaper than their arrival transfers.
Transport from the airport
Upon arrival at Rarotonga International Airport, representatives of accommodations will be waiting outside Customs to direct you to a bus operated by Raro Tours, which will transport you to your hotel. You can reserve a seat on this bus through your hotel or guest house.
The island bus
When people say "catch the bus" on Rarotonga, they are referring to the Cook's Island Bus, which consists of two big yellow "Cook's Passenger Transport" buses that depart from the Cook's Corner shopping center in Avarua. These buses travel in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions around the island, with each journey taking 50 minutes. Clockwise buses depart on the hour from Avarua Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 8 am to noon. Counterclockwise buses depart once an hour Monday to Friday beginning at 8:25 am.
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Arrival and departure processes
Arrival
When landing at Rarotonga International Airport, you will be welcomed by a ukulele musician as you enter the Arrivals Hall. You can purchase duty-free items, such as alcohol and tobacco, before proceeding to the Immigration Desk. Here, you will need to present your passport, Passenger Arrival Card, and any other relevant documents, such as vaccination certificates. You may also need to provide evidence of an outbound travel ticket and details of your accommodation.
Once you have cleared immigration, you will proceed to the baggage claim area to collect your luggage. After this, you will pass through Biosecurity, where you will need to declare any restricted or prohibited items. Your baggage may be inspected by staff.
Outside the Arrivals Hall, you will find offices and kiosks for car rentals, a phone network store, travel agents, and a cafe. You can also arrange airport transfers via taxi, shuttle, or resort service. Representatives of your accommodation will be waiting outside Customs to direct you to your transfer.
Departure
When departing from Rarotonga International Airport, it is recommended to arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled flight time. You can reach the airport from your accommodation by taxi, transfer service, or the island bus.
The check-in process for international and domestic flights is the same, and you will need to provide your passport and booking reference or e-ticket. You will check in any large luggage, then receive a boarding pass and a Departure Card. You will need to complete this card and proceed through airport security.
Before boarding your flight, you will need to pay a departure tax of NZ$30 for adults and half of that for children between 2 and 12 years old. This can be paid in New Zealand currency at Westpac Bank's airport booth or in advance at their Avarua office. This tax is included in the price of your plane ticket, so you do not need to pay it if you are departing by plane.
Remember to spend all your Cook Islands coins before leaving, as they cannot be exchanged overseas.
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Immigration and customs
When arriving at Rarotonga International Airport, you will need to pass through Immigration and Customs. You will be welcomed by a ukulele musician as you enter the Arrivals Hall. Here, you can make your way to the duty-free store, where you can purchase alcohol and tobacco products. When you are ready, queue up to see an Immigration Officer. This may take some time, so don't expect to get out of the airport quickly.
At the Immigration Desk, you must present your passport and Passenger Arrival Card. You will also need to provide evidence of an outbound travel ticket and details of your accommodation in the Cook Islands if you have not already provided this information on your Passenger Arrival Card. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be asked for documents concerning current entry requirements, such as vaccination certificates.
After passing through Immigration, you will need to collect your baggage from the Baggage Claim area and pass through Biosecurity. Here, you must vocally declare any items that need to be inspected. Once your baggage has been inspected, you will officially enter the Cook Islands and move into the Arrivals area, where you can organise your transfer or connecting flight.
When departing from Rarotonga International Airport, you will need to arrive at the airport around two hours before your scheduled departure time. The check-in process for international departures is the same as the arrival process. You will need to provide check-in staff with your passport and booking reference or e-ticket for your departure flight. You will then be given a boarding pass and a Departure Card, and you will need to go through airport security.
There is a departure tax of NZ$30 for adults and half of that for children between the ages of 2 and 12. This must be paid before clearing Immigration. However, if you are departing by plane, you do not need to pay this tax as it is included in the price of your plane ticket.
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Airport facilities and services
Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) is the country's main airport, located 2km west of Avarua. The airport offers a range of facilities and services for passengers travelling through.
Check-in and Ticketing
Check-in counters are located near the terminal entrance, and Air Rarotonga counters are situated in the check-in pavilion, a short walk from the international arrivals area.
Transport
There are several transport options available at the airport. Taxis, hotel shuttle services, and the island's public bus service, known as the Cook's Island Bus, all serve the airport. Car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Rarotonga Rentals, and Fun Rentals have desks inside the arrivals terminal and opposite the terminal building.
Baggage Services
Short and long-term baggage storage is available at the Air Rarotonga check-in counters. The Islander Hotel, located across the road from the airport, also provides short-term baggage storage for NZ $5 per item.
Airport Lounges
The Air New Zealand Koru lounge offers exclusive services for eligible passengers, including light refreshments, bar facilities, reading material, TV, gaming consoles, business facilities, and shower facilities.
Dining and Shopping
The departure lounge at Rarotonga International Airport features a cafe, as well as a row of duty-free stores selling items such as handicrafts, liquor, cigarettes, and stamps. There are also charging stations for phones and laptops available in the departure lounge.
Banking and Currency Exchange
Westpac Pacific Banking has a terminal office that is open one hour before and after all international flights, with an ATM outside the arrivals door. Money exchange facilities are available within the terminal, and pre-purchased New Zealand Dollars can be obtained from Travel Money.
Wi-Fi and Telecommunication
Wi-fi access cards can be purchased from airline counters or various outlets across the island, providing internet access throughout the terminal. Telekom offers prepaid wireless access cards starting at NZ$15 for 50MB of data.
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Rules and restrictions
When landing at Rarotonga International Airport, you will be welcomed by a ukulele musician as you enter the Arrivals Hall. You will need to pass through Immigration and Customs with your passport, Passenger Arrival Card, and other relevant documents. You may also be asked for any documents concerning current entry requirements, such as vaccination certificates.
Upon arrival, you can purchase duty-free items, including alcohol and tobacco products, before clearing Immigration. You must then queue up to see an Immigration Officer, which can take a long time. At the Immigration Desk, you must hand over your passport and Passenger Arrival Card. You usually need to provide evidence of an outbound travel ticket leaving the Cook Islands and details of your accommodation.
Depending on whether you have anything to declare, a Biosecurity Officer will direct you to a partitioned area for baggage inspection or towards the door leading to the outdoor Arrivals Area. Here, you will find offices and kiosks for car rentals, a phone network store, travel agents, and a cafe.
When checking in for international departures, you will go through the same terminal as for domestic flights. The check-in process involves providing check-in staff with your passport and booking reference/e-ticket for your departure flight. You do not need to declare any personal items you are leaving the country with, but you should research the biosecurity measures for your destination. You will check in any large luggage, receive a boarding pass and Departure Card, and proceed through airport security.
For those departing via plane, the departure tax is included in the price of your plane ticket. However, if you are departing via sailing yacht, you must inform Customs at least 72 hours before your intended departure.
It is recommended to arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure time. You can use taxis, transfer services, or the island bus to get to the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
When leaving Rarotonga International Airport, you will need to check in for your departure flight, providing your passport and booking reference/e-ticket. You will then be given a boarding pass and a Departure Card, and asked to go through airport security.
It is recommended that you arrive at Rarotonga International Airport two hours before your scheduled departure time.
There are several ways to travel from your accommodation to Rarotonga Airport, including taxis, your accommodation's transfer service, and the island bus. Cook Island Tours and Raro Tours also offer departure transfers.
If you are departing by plane, the departure tax is included in the price of your plane ticket, so you do not need to pay it separately. However, if you are departing by sailing yacht, you must pay the departure tax of NZ$71.77.
If your baggage is lost or damaged, you must report it to Air Rarotonga staff before leaving the airport. You will need to provide proof of loss and value of any contents, and claims must be lodged within 30 days.
