Getting to & Around the Northern Group

Getting to and around the Northern Group of the Cook Islands is not an easy task. In fact, the flights to this part of the Cooks are very expensive, the accommodations here are modest at best and food supplies are limited. And while getting to the Northern Group is often quite hard work, the rewards are well worth it, as you are treated to some of the most pristine and pretty islands in the South Pacific. Idyllic paradises in their own right, it is important you realize that traveling here is not easy or straightforward.

If you are seriously considering a trip to the Northern Group it is vital that you speak to someone who is knowledgeable about the area. You can find many people from the Northern Group now working on the islands of Rarotonga or Aitutaki; it is a good idea to get in touch with them. For accommodations, contact each atoll’s island council as well as a local travel agent. Cook Islands Tours and Travel, Jetsave Travel, Hugh Henry Travel and Tours and Tipani Tours are the travel agencies in Rarotonga you can contact to arrange for travel and accommodations. Mataroa Shipping and Taio Shipping can help you arrange boat trips to the Northern Group as well.

The best way to get to the Northern Group is by air via Air Rarotonga, which offers flights to Manihiki, Penrhyn and Pukapuka. Each flight is around 4 hours, with planes flying to Manihiki and Penrhyn once a week, while there are only occasional flights to Pukapuka. You will also have to contend with bad weather and limited fuel when traveling to this part of the Cook Islands, so expect delays or flight cancellations.