Ships and sailing vessels will not be able to visit Palmerston Island in the Southern Cook Islands, South Pacific, during August due to a pest eradication project being undertaken by the Island’s Government during July and August.

Published 11 months ago

Palmerston Island in the Southern Cook Islands is a popular stopover for yachts due to its remote location, history of welcoming seafarers for many years and unique “adopting” of visiting yachts by local families for a full immersion in traditional life on the atoll.

The island will, however, be off-limits in August this year as the Palmerston Island Government, with its multi-agency partners, will be implementing a rat eradication project in July and August 2023. Arthur Neale, Executive Officer in the Island Government explains;

“The bait laying phase of the project will take place during the month of August and the Palmerston Island Government has imposed a restriction on visitors during this time.

Ships and sailing vessels (small crafts) are restricted from calling into Palmerston during this period until the restriction is lifted. Palmerston Island Administration will update the public of any changes to the notice and when the restriction is lifted.”

Since Palmerston is is not a designated Customs port, prior approval must be obtained before venturing there. See Palmerston Clearance for details.

About Palmerston Atoll

Palmerston Atoll has six motu scattered throughout a seven-mile-wide lagoon. The little islets, Palmerston, North Island, Lee To Us, Leicester, Primrose, Tons and Cooks, cover a total land area of about one square mile, but the coral reef is about 3,600 acres.

Although Captain Cook may have finally landed in 1777 having bypassed it in 1774, it is the descendants of William Marsters – a ship’s carpenter and barrel maker who arrived in 1863 with two Polynesian wives – who still populate the island today.

Although Palmerston is administered by the Cook Islands government under the jurisdiction of New Zealand, all descendants regard the island as their ancestral home and in 1954 the family was granted full ownership of the island.

This remote atoll is one of the friendliest places cruising sailors will encounter during their Pacific voyage. The Islanders are extremely friendly and every yacht is hosted by a different family for the duration of their stay.

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Related Links:

• Cook Islands/Palmerston Atoll (Noonsite)
• Palmerston Atoll (Cook Islands Travel)

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