Cook Islands Arrival Airport: Which Airport to Fly into the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is accessible to the rest of the world through New Zealand, Australia, Hawai'i and French Polynesia (Tahiti) with a frequent international arrival schedule. Auckland (New Zealand) and Sydney (Australia) have the most flight connections with the rest of the world, so consider making your stopover at one of these two airports if you're travelling from further afield.

Otherwise, seasonal direct flights between Christchurch and Rarotonga operate from May to October, offering a convenient South Island gateway to the Cook Islands. Operating up to three times weekly.

Learn more about flying directly to the Cook Islands in our guide, Which Airlines Fly to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Rarotonga International Airport is also the main hub for travelling to the outer islands of the Cook Islands. It has a daily schedule between Rarotonga and the islands of Aitutaki and Atiu, with flights a few times a week to Mangaia, Mitiaro and Mauke. Flights to the Northern Group are less frequent, with scheduled flights only available to Manihiki, while charter flights are the only option for accessing the other islands.

Find out more about flying domestically with our guide, Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands: Your Guide to Interisland Flights.

Rarotonga Airport may be a small airport, but it offers all the basic facilities you would expect from an international airport. Please note that facilities are only available when flights are scheduled. Some of the facilities and amenities of Rarotonga Airport include:

Food and Beverage - Food is available for purchase from three spots at the airport. Ka Kite Café, next to the domestic check-in area, serves coffees, cakes and toasties. Are Kai Café, next to the international arrivals area, offers melts, hot paninis, vege quiche, fresh fruit plates, muffins and a range of hot and cold drinks. Reefside Rarotonga, in the international departure lounge, rounds out your dining options before you fly.

Shopping - Duty-free shopping is available in the international departure lounge after passing through security. There is also one liquor duty-free store in the arrivals hall before passing through customs - see The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping.

Car park - Parking is free for the first 15 minutes. Thereafter, rates are available on a half-hourly to two-week basis.

WiFi - WiFi vouchers can be purchased from the Air Rarotonga office at the check-in area. Otherwise, Vodafone Cook Islands offers free, limited WiFi if you have an access code - see How to Get WiFi in Rarotonga.

Lounges - Rarotonga Airport has a domestic departure lounge and an international departure lounge. Air New Zealand also operates a Koru Lounge for international departures.

Airport shuttle, taxi, and accommodation transfers - There are kiosks located outside the international arrivals area where you can arrange your airport transfer - see the 8 Best Airport Transfers in Rarotonga.

Baggage Storage - Air Rarotonga offers baggage storage for domestic flight passengers. Lockers are also available. The Islander Hotel, located across the road, offers baggage storage services even to non-guests.

ATM - A Bank of the South Pacific ATM is located just outside the international arrivals area.

Toilets - Toilets, including accessible toilets for people with disabilities, are also available at Rarotonga Airport.

Discover the location of these facilities and what to expect upon arrival via an international flight with our comprehensive guide, Arriving at Rarotonga Airport, Cook Islands: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Rarotonga International Airport undergoes an Immigration, Customs, and Biosecurity process for arrival flights, as well as an airport check-in and security process for departures.

Rarotonga Airport Arrival Process

When you arrive in the Cook Islands, you will be required to pass through Immigration with your completed Cook Islands Passenger Arrival Card. You will then pick up your baggage from the baggage carriages at Baggage Claim before seeing a Customs and Biosecurity Officer, where you will be asked to declare any risk items.

Learn about the arrivals process in detail at Arriving in Rarotonga: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & the Arrival Process.

Rarotonga Airport Departure Process

Check-in for international departures opens two hours prior to scheduled international flights, located at the same location as the domestic lounge. After checking in your luggage, it's a short walk to security, where your carry-on luggage will be x-rayed.

Once through security, you're in the large departures lounge with duty-free shopping, a cafe, charging stations, bathrooms, and charity bins to donate your remaining Cook Islands coins (they will not be accepted anywhere else in the world). For more tips for departure, check out Leaving Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Departure Tips.