RARlarge airport

Rarotonga International Airport

Avarua, Cook Islands

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Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

NCRG

Elevation

19 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Rarotonga International Airport

RAR

Location

Avarua · U-A · Cook Islands

Connectivity

14 routes · 9 destinations

Position

-21.203°, -159.806° · 19 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

Official visa, passport and entry information for Cook Islands is published by its governm

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A closer look

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TravelerPulse profile

Gateway to the Cook Islands in the South Pacific.

Opened

1974

Location

Avarua, Cook Islands

Rarotonga International Airport (IATA: RAR, ICAO: NCRG) is the main international airport of the Cook Islands, located on the island of Rarotonga near the capital Avarua. It serves as the primary entry point for tourists and residents arriving from New Zealand, Australia, and other Pacific destinations. The airport handles a modest but steady volume of international and domestic traffic, with its runway capable of accommodating widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 787. It also serves as a hub for inter-island flights to other atolls within the Cook Islands group. Due to Rarotonga's small size, the airport is situated close to the coast and to the main ring road that circles the island, making it easily accessible from most parts of the island within a short drive.

Terminals

The airport has a single terminal building handling both international and domestic arrivals and departures.

Getting to & from

Ground transport options include taxis, rental cars, and shuttle services connecting the airport to Avarua and hotels around the island.

Airlines here

Major airlines serving Rarotonga include Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, with Air Rarotonga operating domestic and regional inter-island services.

Notable facts

›The airport's runway (04/22) is approximately 2,328 metres long, capable of handling widebody jets.
›Air Rarotonga uses Rarotonga as its main hub for connecting outer Cook Islands atolls.
›The airport is located on the northwestern coast of Rarotonga, very close to the lagoon.
›It is one of the few international airports in the South Pacific outside of New Zealand and Australia with regular widebody service.
›The Cook Islands use New Zealand dollars as their currency, reflecting strong ties with New Zealand which also handles their defence and foreign affairs.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (9 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Routes

RAR → AITGZ · SF3 EMB

RAR → AIUGZ · EMB

RAR → MGSGZ · EMB

RAR → MOIGZ · EMB

RAR → MUKGZ · EMB

RAR → PPTGZ · AT5

RAR → AITNZ · SF3 EMB

RAR → AKLNZ · 763 320 772

RAR → LAXNZ · 763

RAR → SYDNZ · 763

RAR → AKLUS · 763 320 772

RAR → LAXUS · 763

RAR → AKLVA · 73H

RAR → PPTVT · ATR

Aircraft operating here

Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante6 routes Boeing 767-3005 routes Saab SF340A/B2 routes Airbus A3202 routes Boeing 777-2002 routes Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 42-5001 routes 73H1 routes Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 42-6001 routes

Hotels near RAR

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Where

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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via RAR? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Cook Islands from official government sources.

Cook Islands visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →

Encyclopaedia

Rarotonga International Airport is the Cook Islands' main international gateway, located in the Avarua district on the northern coast of Rarotonga, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the Avarua downtown area. The airport was built in 1944, then expanded in the early 1970s, and officially opened for jets in January 1974. International flights come direct from Australia, French Polynesia, New Zealand and the United States (Hawaii). Air Rarotonga has its headquarters at the airport.

Read full article on Wikipedia