Leaving Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Departure Tips

Last Updated: 13 September, 2025

What Happens When You Leave the Cook Islands from Rarotonga International Airport

The saddest part of your holiday is when it comes to an end. You’ve experienced the warm hospitality of Cook Islanders, seen stunning pieces of paradise, and perhaps even planned a few adventures with us here on Cook Islands Pocket Guide.

Now, as you prepare to bid farewell to Rarotonga, we’re here to guide you through the final steps. Here’s everything you need to know about departing from Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

Note: The Cook Islands Passenger Departure Card has been discontinued as of 20 September 2025.

5 Tips and Things to Do Before Leaving the Cook Islands

Before we dive into the guide for leaving the Cook Islands, here are a few departure tips:

Remember to spend all of your Cook Islands coins before leaving the Cook Islands; they cannot be exchanged overseas.
When packing your bags to leave the Cook Islands, make sure that you put anything that won’t pass through airport security into your checked luggage.
Note that some items from the Cook Islands, such as souvenirs made from wood, shells or coconut fronds, may need a phytosanitary certification to pass through biosecurity at your next destination. Check with your destination before departing or request a phytosanitary certification from Cook Islands Biosecurity.
Arrive at Rarotonga International Airport two hours before your flight is scheduled for departure.
Have a black or blue pen handy so you can complete the Departure Declaration Card.

Now, let’s continue with more advice for leaving the Cook Islands and what to do on departure.

Leaving Rarotonga & the Cook Islands: Departure Tips

Rarotonga Airport Check-In Departure Process

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.

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.

Rarotonga Airport Departure Lounge

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.

Leaving the Cook Islands By Sailing Yacht

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.

More About Leaving the Cook Islands and the Departure Process

That’s it for our guide to leaving Rarotonga and the Cook Islands and the departure process. For more information about Rarotonga International Airport and a few more tips for departure, check out the following guides:

Finally, if there’s anything else you need to plan for your Cook Islands getaway, you’re likely to find it in The Best Cook Islands Travel Guide: Plan a Trip the EASY Way.

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

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as the Cook Islands. She knows the islands inside out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Raro’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also the editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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