The Westpac and ANZ Banks in Avarua are open Monday to Friday 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Westpac also opens Saturdays 9 am until 12.
ATM service available at the main branches in Avarua, with ANZ ATM's located at Cooks Corner and Wigmores Superstore at Vaimanga, Westpac ATM is located at Oasis Energy in Nikao.
In addition visitors can exchange travellers cheques and principal currencies at larger stores and hotels.
Banking facilities are also provided at the airport for currency exchange and cashing of traveler's cheques. They are open for the arrival and departure of all International flights.
Major credit cards are accepted throughout the island at most shops, and restaurants.
EFTPOS facilities are becoming more widespread throughout local businesses and cash advances on major credit cards are accepted.
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Reported by Hugh Pilsworth:
Rarotonga:
There is only one harbor on the island, Avatui. It has no facilities for yachts. On approach, you call 16, harbourmaster. Don’t bother before 9 am as there’s no one in the office.
You are required to use your own anchor and moor Med style to the quay wall. There are large black tires about every 2 meters. To go ashore use your dinghy and go about 75 meters to a ladder around the corner, and it’s not that easy to get onto from a dinghy.
There is constant motion in the harbor from the prevailing SE trades, and you need a long bow line to shore to hold position when the bullets arrive. In northerly winds it is untenable.
There is a lot of dirt and dust blowing around and after 3 days the boat was filthy.
If you need any machine work done then Rarotonga Welding is excellent, and for the second-hand boat, parts ask for Keith, about 1 kilometer from the harbor. Garbage is collected 3 days a week, there are no bins.
The island is well worth a visit, and you will get clearance to visit the other islands without all the paperwork. Saturday morning market is well worth a visit. BlueSky is the phone and internet provider, both in town and the market.
The bureaucracy is maddening. In theory, all officials arrive close to each other. In fact, the health check was at 08.30, the Customs in the afternoon and Bio-Security never appeared. Harbor dues are $2.48 per foot per day, cash only in the harbor office, Customer worked out at $95 per person for a 3-day visit, they take cards in the office.
Immigration is at the end of town with the Customs. The health check was $40. All in all, almost $550 for the visit.
Would I go back? Probably not.
Departure tax is $66.30 p.p
Customs fees $ 57.20
Harbour dues $2.45 per meter (monohull) per day
Do not buoy your anchor in Avatiu harbor. It’s likely that the buoy will be in the way of shipping and you will probably be asked to remove it.
All their mooring information is correct; surge is a major problem if there is an N in the wind. All officials now come to the harbor, not Trader Jacks. Do not go ashore until you have permission! The harbormaster is a great guy, very helpful. Anthony sv Wild Fox
Andre Tuiravakai is the ports operation manager
Departure tax is now 65 dollars
27 meters is the air restriction