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Travel to Aitutaki Cook Islands

Nearly all tourist travel to Aitutaki is by air, via Rarotonga. Here’s how to get there from New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii — or by yacht.

Travel to Aitutaki by air

Getting there

Nearly all tourist travel to Aitutaki is by air. Unfortunately, many overseas travel agents book tourists in for just 2 days at Aitutaki and 5 in Rarotonga. No activity except going to church is permitted on Sunday, so half a holiday on Aitutaki can mean missing out on the best activities.

Air New Zealand flies to Rarotonga, and Air Rarotonga flies on to Aitutaki. At Christmas, islanders often book charter flights direct from New Zealand. International airlines to the Cook Islands come and go, so keep an eye out for new air services to Rarotonga from international departure cities.

Flights from Hawaii

Hawaiian Airlines flies to Rarotonga weekly, typically departing Honolulu on Saturdays and Rarotonga on Sundays. Nonstop service between Honolulu (HNL) and Rarotonga (RAR) began in May 2023.

Honolulu → Rarotonga: flight HA495 departs Honolulu Saturdays, arriving in Rarotonga the same day.

Rarotonga → Honolulu: flight HA496 departs Rarotonga Sundays. As of June 2025 its departure moved from late night to early afternoon, now departing 1:05pm and arriving Honolulu 7:05pm — best to check Flight Radar for current times.

Flights from Australia

Jetstar flies Sydney–Rarotonga on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. From May 2026 it also launches a new Brisbane–Rarotonga route.

Sydney → Rarotonga: four times a week (Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun).

Brisbane → Rarotonga: three times a week.

By sea

A small percentage of travellers arrive at Aitutaki by yacht. Yachts enter the Aitutaki passage and drop anchor near the sandbar, close to the Arutanga wharf, and wait for Cook Islands Customs and Immigration officers to clear their entry.

A small percentage also arrive at Aitutaki’s Arutanga harbour by inter-island cargo trading boat. More information about travel to Aitutaki coming soon.

Air Rarotonga and occasional charter flights are the main way in by air. Click the History link below to see how seaplanes once landed on the Aitutaki lagoon.