Avarua: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Avarua is the capital of Cook Islands (Rarotonga), 7 m (23 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), 3 km (2 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Daylight in Avarua runs from about 10 h 53 min a day in late June to 13 h 28 min in late December (computed for -21.21° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Avarua is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), 3 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,638 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Avarua: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Avarua · Driving and car hire
Common questions
Which airport serves Avarua?
Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), 3 km (2 mi) from the centre.
How big is Avarua?
About 13,373 people live in Avarua (GeoNames).
What time zone is Avarua in?
Pacific/Rarotonga, currently UTC-10.
What currency is used in Avarua?
The Dollar (NZD). Traffic drives on the left.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.