There are flights from Rarotonga to Auckland, Honolulu, Nadi, and Papeete.
Several cars, scooter and bicycle rental companies on the island.
Vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road.
The maximum road speed limit is 40kph in the town and villages and 60kph outside of populated areas.
Drivers of all vehicles are required to have a current Cook Islands Drivers Licence, which can be obtained from the Police Station in Avarua at a cost of NZ$20 on presentation of your own license.
If you hire a motor scooter, there is an additional charge of NZ$6 for the compulsory practical test.
Helmets are legally required when traveling over 40kph
The island bus is a cheap way to get around the island. It will pick you up and set you down anywhere on request.
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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