Flying a Drone in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: What You Need to Know

Last Updated: 15 June, 2025

A Complete Guide to Drones in the Cook Islands

With glorious beaches, sandy islands and crystal clear lagoons, there are many landscapes in the Cook Islands that simply beg for an aerial shot! While you may have seen some amazing drone footage from the Cook Islands and may be allowed to bring drones to the country, flying drones in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands is extremely restricted. Find out why in this guide to flying a drone in the Cook Islands…

Can You Take Your Drone to the Cook Islands?

There are no restrictions on bringing drones into Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. You do not need to declare a drone on your Passenger Arrival Card. Learn more in What to Declare When Arriving in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Note that you may want to pack your drone in your carry-on luggage, rather than checking it in, as airlines are usually only liable for up to a certain amount of goods per person; i.e. less than what a drone usually costs. Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries are not permitted in checked luggage, as they are classified as “dangerous goods”.

You should, therefore, at least pack your drone batteries in your carry-on. For more packing tips, head to What to Pack for Rarotonga: Full Cook Islands Packing List.

Flying a Drone in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: What You Need to Know

Do You Need a Permit to Fly Your Drone in the Cook Islands?

You do not need a permit to fly a drone in the Cook Islands for recreational use. However, drone manufacturers like DJI will block your drone from flying in the majority of Rarotonga and Aitutaki unless you have an unlock code, which incidentally, needs a drone permit… In short, you can only really fly your DJI drone at Muri Beach and Titikaveka without a permit.

You do, however, need to apply for a drone permit if you are flying a drone for commercial use, such as professional photography or filming. Permits are obtained from the Cook Islands Ministry of Transport.

Note that most of Rarotonga, Aitutaki and all of the outer islands are within airport control zones and therefore permission must be obtained from the Air Traffic Services before all drone flights within these zones, whether you are flying recreationally or commercially.

Cook Islands Drone Rules

Although it is legal to fly a drone in the Cook Islands and Rarotonga, there are some drone rules that you must adhere to:

Do not fly within 4 km (2.5 mi) of airports or aerodromes (otherwise, get permission from Air Traffic Services).
Do not fly your drone at a height above 122 m (133.4 yards) above the ground/water.
Do not fly your drone over people or property unless consent has been obtained.
Respect people’s privacy when flying your drone.
You must fly your drone during daylight hours and only when the weather is suitable.
Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas, such as government or military facilities.

The Problem with Flying Drones in the Cook Islands…

Now, onto the question: Should you take your drone to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands? We believe the answer is no, and here’s why…

The islands of the Cook Islands, including Rarotonga, are extremely small. With drone laws in the Cook Islands stating that drones are “Not to be operated within 4 km (4.5 mi) of an uncontrolled aerodrome”, this doesn’t leave much space to fly a drone on many of the islands.

In fact, you can only really fly a drone without getting Air Services‘ permission at Muri Beach and Titikaveka.

Even if you were to attempt to “break the rules”, drone manufacturers like DJI have No Fly Zones (NFZ) around the Cook Islands’ airports. These display in red on your DJI app and lock your drone from flying unless you have an unlock code. This code can only be obtained if you have a written permit obtained from the Cook Islands Ministry of Transport…

Therefore, taking a drone for the recreational purpose of getting some fun holiday snaps in the Cook Islands is not worth it, as the No-Fly Zone (NFZ) around Rarotonga and the Cook Islands will render your expensive drone useless.

More About Drones in the Cook Islands

That’s it for our complete (but likely disappointing) guide to flying drones in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. For more about drones and specifically ground photography, however, take a look at the following guides:

Finally, for more tips on bossing it in the Cook Islands, see the 30 Tips for Travelling in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, a local government body representing the tourism industry. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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