In great news for families wanting a holiday in paradise: the Cook Islands is reopening to Australians.
With New Zealand allowing quarantine and isolation free travel for Australian citizens and permanent residents from April 13, 2022, families seeking tropical holiday can now return to the Cook Islands. And Cook Islanders are waiting with open arms and big smiles to greet their first Australian visitors in just over two years, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation for Australasia general manager Graeme West said. “Because tourism is the mainstay of our economy, the last two years has caused significant financial hardship for many people,” he said. “We are looking forward with much anticipation to welcoming Aussies back to our beautiful islands.”
A journey to the Cook Islands is the ultimate South Pacific experience
Mr West said a journey to the Cook Islands is the ultimate South Pacific experience. “Our tourism infrastructure is well established and offers a wide range of fantastic choices for accommodation, restaurants, and outdoor activities,” he said. He added that the spectacular beauty of the lagoons surrounding both Rarotonga and renowned Aitutaki, had to be seen to be believed.
The Cook Islands has been dedicated to protecting its people and visitors and boasts a fantastic vaccination rate of 97 per cent of the eligible population.
Cook Islands travel requirements
There are some requirements that travellers must comply with. All visitors over five years and three months of age (changing to over 16 years of age from May 2, 2022) must be fully vaccinated and provide an official International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) issued by the Australian Government. A supervised RAT within 24 hours of departure from Auckland to Rarotonga is required and currently must be taken in New Zealand. However, from May 2, 2022, Australian visitors can take a supervised RAT or PCR test in Australia 48 hours prior to their scheduled flight time from Auckland to Rarotonga.
Visitors must complete a Cook Islands contact form no more than 96 hours prior to the scheduled departure time from Auckland to the Cook Islands.
From April 13, Australian travellers can travel to the Cook Islands via Auckland on Air New Zealand and on Jetstar from June 2. Air New Zealand’s direct service from Sydney to Rarotonga is expected to recommence later this year.
For more information and details on entry requirements are on The Cook Islands Travel Requirement checklist visit cookislands.travel
