Leaving Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Departure Tips

You need to arrive at Rarotonga International Airport for your departure flight around two hours before your scheduled departure time.

Departure Airport Transfers

There are a number of ways to travel back to Rarotonga Airport from your accommodation. Taxis, your accommodation's own transfer service and even the island bus are all valid options. Cook Island Tours and Raro Tours both offer departure transfers that are a little cheaper than their arrival transfers.

For more options, check out the 10 Best Airport Transfers in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, which also work for departures.

For getting to Rarotonga Airport from the outer islands, check out Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands: Your Guide to Interisland Flights.

Check-In for International Departures

The check-in for international departures is in the same terminal as for domestic flights at Rarotonga International Airport. It will be the same process as your arrival check-in to the Cook Islands, providing the check-in staff with your passport and booking reference/e-ticket for your departure flight. You do not need to declare any personal items that you are leaving the Cook Islands with.

There may be certain items, like food, that you can't take past the borders in the country you are arriving in (such as New Zealand), so be sure to research the biosecurity measures for arriving in your destination/home country. These items, however, you don't need to declare in the Cook Islands.

You will check in any larger luggage you may have, and then you will be given a boarding pass and asked to go through airport security.

If you have time before heading through security, there are a couple of places to grab a bite or drink around the terminal. Are Kai Café, next to the international arrivals area, serves toasted melts, paninis, quiche, sweet snacks, smoothies and hot drinks. Ka Kite Café, next to the domestic/check-in area, offers coffee, cakes, toasties, sandwiches and paninis.

Biosecurity and Phytosanitary Certificates

Taking food, plant products or souvenirs home with you? If you're unsure whether an item needs biosecurity clearance, you can have it checked at the Ministry of Agriculture Biosecurity Office at Rarotonga International Airport. The office is next to Are Kai Café on the international terminal side and is a plain white office, usually with public notice signs outside.

Phytosanitary certificates are required for taro, root crops and similar items. There's a fee per article, including items carried by passengers travelling by air or sea, such as chilly bins, eskies and bags containing food.

Cooked food does not require a phytosanitary certificate, nor do carvings and necklaces, although you can still take these items to the Biosecurity Office to have them checked. Shells must be clean.

There are also restrictions to keep in mind depending on where you're travelling. Pork and chicken from New Zealand or Australia are allowed with extra precautions, while chilli and chestnuts cannot be taken into Australia. Home kill and game meats are not allowed.

Most importantly, check the biosecurity requirements of your destination country before you travel, as being cleared to leave the Cook Islands doesn't necessarily mean an item can be brought into your next destination.

Airport Security

Airport security is located opposite the check-in area, down a long undercover courtyard. There are bathrooms in this area and rubbish bins should you need to dispose of anything before heading through airport security.

You will need to put your bags and items like laptops into separate trays to go through the X-ray machines. There are certain items you can't take through airport security, such as sharp objects, sporting goods, matches or lighters, and liquids, aerosols, gels or pastes that are not in 100 ml (3.4 oz) containers.

You will also walk through a metal detector to check for any restricted items on your person. Then, collect your bags and you're in the departure lounge.

Do You Need to Pay a Departure Tax for the Cook Islands?

You do not need to pay the departure tax of NZ$71.77 for leaving the Cook Islands if you are leaving via plane, as the tax is included in the price of your plane ticket. Learn more about the departure tax in The Cook Islands Tipping & Tax Guide for Travellers.

The large departure lounge at Rarotonga International Airport has a large seating area, charging stations for phones and laptops, a cafe, bathrooms, as well as a row of duty-free stores, which you can read up on in The Guide to Duty-Free Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands. You'll also likely get to kick back to the ukulele sounds of a musician while you wait for your flight.

If you have any Cook Islands coins or notes (not New Zealand Dollars) that you have left, note that you won't be able to exchange them overseas. So the departure lounge is your last chance to spend them. Otherwise, there is a small charity donation coin-drop by the duty-free stores, should you want to donate to a worthy Cook Islands cause.

After your plane has landed, the staff will take the time to disembark the arriving passengers. When the plane is ready to be boarded, there will be an announcement of seat numbers to board the plane.

You will need to show your passport and boarding pass to the staff before crossing the tarmac and taking the stairs to board the plane.

For the process for disabled passengers, see Accessibility in the Cook Islands: Disabled & Wheelchair Access Guide.

For those visiting the Cook Islands via sailing yacht, you must inform Customs of clearance at least 72 hours before intended departure.

The Cook Islands Customs Service (CICS) website goes through the entire departure process for yachts.

For more information about leaving the Cook Islands via sailing yacht, see our Sailing Guide to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Tips for Yachting.