The Cook Islands are served by Air New Zealand (NZ) (www.airnewzealand.com), which offers regular flights from New Zealand and Los Angeles. Pacific Blue (www.flypacificblue.com) has flights from Auckland twice a week, and both airlines offer frequent connections from Australia. For details, contact the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (see Contact Addresses).

From London to Rarotonga to is 24 hours (with stopover in Los Angeles).

Rarotonga (RAR) is 3km (2 miles) west of Avarua. To/from the airport: Hotel coaches meet each flight (journey time – 10 minutes). Taxis and buses are also available. Facilities: Open according to flight arrivals and departures and include 24-hour luggage storage facilities, duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, bars, shops and car rental.

Air New Zealand offers a South Pacific Airpass valid on flights from New Zealand to Rarotonga and six other South Pacific countries. The cost of the pass depends on the class of service and the number of sectors flown.

NZ$55 for passengers over 12 years of age; NZ$25 for passengers aged 2 to 12 years. From September 2009, this tax is included in all international tickets from Rarotonga.

Main ports: It is possible to moor yachts at Avatiu Harbour although space is very limited. For maritime matters, contact the Harbour Master, Ports Authority, PO Box 84, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (tel: 28814).

Cargo lines operating to the Cook Islands are run by Express Cook Islands Line Shipping Ltd and Hawaii-Pacific Maritime Ltd but passengers are not accepted on their ships.