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Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is an island country and associated state of New Zealand in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. 7 square kilometres (91 sq mi).

Type Country

Why go

  • Country in the South Pacific Ocean.
  • 1 hand-picked place to stay.
  • Served by Mauke Airport (MUK).

History

The Cook Islands is an island country and associated state of New Zealand in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. The country consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately 236.7 square kilometres (91 sq mi). The Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,960,027 square kilometres (756,771 sq mi) of ocean. The capital is Avarua, located on the island of Rarotonga.

Where to stay

Pacific Resort Aitutaki
Pacific Resort Aitutaki Main Road Amuri, Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Indoor

Airports

Mitiaro Island Airport (MOI) 19 km to the centre
Mitiaro Island, U, CK — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Air Rarotonga) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Avarua (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Air Rarotonga GZ (EMB) · 1 route: Avarua

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Enua Airport (AIU) 35 km to the centre
Atiu Island, U, CK — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Air Rarotonga) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Avarua (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Air Rarotonga GZ (EMB) · 1 route: Avarua

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Mauke Airport (MUK) 49 km to the centre
Mauke Island, U, CK — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Air Rarotonga) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Avarua (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Air Rarotonga GZ (EMB) · 1 route: Avarua

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Te Ao O Mutu Harbour
Ferry terminal · 17 km from the centre
Outdoor

Where things are

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Photographs

Cook Islands
Cook Islands
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Mauke Airport (MUK); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: MUK has direct flights to 1 destination on 1 airline (incl. Avarua). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Te Ao O Mutu Harbour, 17 km).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Cook Islands. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.