How Long Does it Take to Fly to the Cook Islands?
For most of us, getting to a country as remote and as unspoiled as the Cook Islands takes time. Only those coming from Oceania countries like New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia or the Polynesian islands of Hawaii are lucky enough to get to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands within a few hours. For the rest of us, it’s long flights with multiple connections. So whether you’re planning to add the Cook Islands to your round-the-world trip or simply pop over from New Zealand or Australia, these are the approximate flight times to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands!
Flights to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands
Direct flights to the Cook Islands are available from New Zealand, Australia, French Polynesia, Hawaii and Los Angeles (TBA). If coming from elsewhere in the world, there are many connecting flights from the countries stated.
All flights arrive in the Cook Islands at Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) in the country’s main hub, Rarotonga. Learn more about the airport in Airports in the Cook Islands: Where Can You Fly to in the Cook Islands? There are many connecting flights from Rarotonga to the outer islands of the Cook Islands, as outlined in Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands: Your Guide to Interisland Flights.
Learn more about flying to the Cook Islands in Getting Here: How to Get to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands? Plus, for budgeting tips, see How to Book a Cheap Flight to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comFlight Times from Oceania to the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is located in the continent of Oceania making for the shortest flights to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands from other Oceania countries like New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia. These are the cities with direct flights to the Cook Islands along with their flight time:
- Auckland to the Cook Islands: 4 hours
- Sydney to the Cook Islands: 6 hours
- Papeete to the Cook Islands: 2h25mins
Charter flights are also available to these countries from Rarotonga with the following flight times:
- Alofi to the Cook Islands: 1h55mins
- Apia to the Cook Islands: 2h20mins
- Christmas Islands to the Cook Islands: 5 hours
Learn more about direct flights in Which Airlines Fly Directly to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands? as well as charter flights in How to Hire a Plane in the Cook Islands: A Guide to Plane Charters.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comFlight Times from the Americas to the Cook Islands
Those flying from the Americas will find themselves making one or two stopovers on their way to the Cook Islands, with the exception of those coming from Honolulu and Los Angeles. Some of the best airports to fly from for faster travel times are Honolulu, Los Angeles, Chicago and Buenos Aires. Make connections in Honolulu, Los Angeles (TBA), Auckland or Papeete. Note that the travel times listed don’t include layover times.
- Honolulu to the Cook Islands: 6 hours direct or 8h25mins via Papeete
- Los Angeles to the Cook Islands: 9h30mins (direct flights TBA)
- San Fransisco to the Cook Islands: 11 hours via Los Angeles, 17 hours via Auckland
- Vancouver to the Cook Islands: 12 hours via Los Angeles, 18 hours via Auckland
- Houston to the Cook Islands: 13h30mins via Los Angeles, 19 hours via Auckland
- Chicago to the Cook Islands: 13h45mins via Los Angeles, 19 hours via Auckland
- Santiago to the Cook Islands: 14 hours via Auckland.
© PixabayFlight Times from Asia to the Cook Islands
There are no direct flights to the Cook Islands from Asia, so at least one or two stopovers will need to be made including in Auckland, Sydney or Papeete. The below flight times are from some of Asia’s most popular airports to the Cook Islands not including layover times.
- Singapore to the Cook Islands: 14h35mins via Auckland, 14h45mins via Sydney
- Hong Kong to the Cook Islands: 15h15mins via Auckland, 16 hours via Sydney
- Bangkok to the Cook Islands: 16h20mins via Sydney
- Tokyo to the Cook Islands: 13h45mins via Papeete
- Manila to the Cook Islands: 15h30mins via Sydney
- Mumbai to the Cook Islands: 20 hours via Singapore then Auckland.
© CookIslandsPocketGuide.comFlight Times from Europe to the Cook Islands
For flights between major European airports and the Cook Islands, at least two or three connections will need to be made on your way to the Southern Hemisphere. Flight times from popular European locations (not including layover times) include:
- London to the Cook Islands: 30 hours
- Frankfurt to the Cook Islands: 28 hours
- Amsterdam to the Cook Islands: 27h45mins
- Dublin to the Cook Islands: 31h25mins
- Zurich to the Cook Islands: 27h45mins
- Copenhagen to the Cook Islands: 27 hours
- Oslo to the Cook Islands: 28h10mins.
More About Flights to the Cook Islands
That’s it for our list of flight times to Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. For more advice on flying to the Cook Islands, take a look at the following guides:
- Arriving at Rarotonga Airport, Cook Islands: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Which Airlines Fly Directly to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?
- 8 Best Airport Transfers in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands
Finally, get more tips for travelling around the Cook Islands in our Cook Islands Transport Guide: 15 Best Ways to Get Around the Cook Islands.
