Cook Islands Transportation Tips by worldkiwi

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: A regular timetabled bus service operates around the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. All services start and finish at Cook's Corner, right in the heart of Avarua. There are two routes - clockwise and anti-clockwise round the island. Fares are simple to remember: $3 for a oneway ticket and $5 for a return trip. Tell the driver where you are going when you get on and he will drop you off there. The driver will sometimes call out the names of places that he is going to stop - which is very helpful... just make sure you yell back "yes".
If you are catching the bus from somewhere else on the island, make sure you grab a timetable while in town. You will see the times that the bus passes certain key places on each route. You can then work out where those are in relation to you and either walk to them or just flag the bus down where you are. The bus will pick up people whereever they are. Of course, if you can see a bus shelter then you should walk to it out of consideration for the driver and other passengers. It is a bit silly when the bus pulls over to pick up people waiting 300 metres from what is clearly a regular bus stop!
If you are carrying large backpacks or suitcases, you will be charged extra (usually a 'student' fare) for these. Be aware of that if you are using the public bus from the airport. Only the anitclockwise bus stops at the airport proper. If you want to catch a clockwise bus after arriving by plane, you'll have to go out of the airport car park and cross the road.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Hiring a car on Rarotonga for a few days is a great way to have more freedom to explore. The island is very small, so you will circumnavigate it in less than an hour! The speed limit in Avarua and villages is 40km/hour and on the "open road" it is 60kph. A rental means that you can go out for dinner to restaurants more easily (they're spread all round the island), or pack a picnic lunch and head off to some beach for the day. Because we were in a big group, it worked out to be quite a good deal for us, but the price is prohibitive if you're single or a couple. Motorbike rental would be a better bet.
Daily charges are about $70 a day for a car.
We hired from Island Car & Bike Hire over in Arorangi.

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Phone: (on Rarotonga) 22632
Website: www.islandcarhire.co.ck
Other Contact: vinsen@islandcarhire.co.ck

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: The only way to get to Aitutaki from Rarotonga (where the international airport is), is to fly Air Rarotonga. They operate a little Saab 340 between the two islands on a regular basis. Check their website for timetables and fares. The cheapest way to book a flight seems to be via the website. In late 2004 (when I organised this trip), the cheaoest fare was $127 one way, if booked on the web and if the last flight out of Rarotonga on the day of travel was taken and the first flight out of Aitutaki was taken on the return leg. The flight takes about 50 minutes, though, when we flew back to Rarotonga it took only 45 minutes.

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Website: www.airraro.com

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: I am pretty sure that the only international airline flying to the Cooks is Air New Zealand. Direct services from Auckland, Nadi, Papaete, and Christchurch are available. The cheapest fares are usually obtained online. See the website below. Flying time from AKL is about 4 hours. Flights do come and go at awful hours so plan carefully when booking accommodation. You may have to pay for a night's accommodation that you don't actually fully utilise in order to ensure you have somewhere wating for you upon an early morning arrival. Crossing the dateline from New Zealand, you gain a day, which is nice. Of course, you lose one coming back!

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Website: www.airnewzealand.co.nz