Rarotonga - Clearance
See Cook Islands Formalities for detailed clearance information. Significant pre-arrival notification paperwork is a requirement.
On Arrival
It is important to call PORT CONTROL on VHF Channel 16 upon arrival. The Working channel is 12. It’s unlikely you will get an answer before 9 am.
The Port Operations manager will direct yachts where to moor.
Officials will visit the yacht, however, they may come at different times. It is important nobody goes ashore before clearance is complete, so it can be frustrating waiting for officials to turn up. Clearance procedures may follow this process:
- Immigration – straight forward and easy.
- Biosecurity – want to know food products on board.
- Port Health – will search the boat for pests and may spray the entire interior of the boat and keep it locked up for 10 minutes.
- Police –may bring a drug-detection dog through the boat.
- Customs – be prepared for a detailed and thorough inspection; Any medications not on the advanced notification form may be seized.
Harbor dues must be paid in cash at the Harbour Office (Mon-Fri).
Immigration is at the other end of town by the Post Office, 3rd floor of the 3 story building.
Customs is above the book shop just before immigration. They accept credit cards.
It is possible to get clearance here to visit all the other Cook Islands.
Clearing Out
The departure fees are also paid to the Harbour Master’s Office. These fees must be paid by 2:00 pm on a Friday if you plan to leave on the weekend. Then you must walk into town to the Immigration Office. Each person on board must fill out their own departure card. These cards, along with a crew list form, are submitted to Immigration and they will then stamp your passports. The Customs office is close by and is the final stop. A flat fee for officers’ time is paid to Customs.
See Harbour Master information sheet below with fees, provided by SV Knot Safety.
Last updated: August 2023
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Related to following destinations: Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands
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Reported by Hugh Pilsworth:
Rarotonga:
There is only one harbor on the island, Avatui. It has no facilities for yachts. On approach, you call 16, harbourmaster. Don’t bother before 9 am as there’s no one in the office.
You are required to use your own anchor and moor Med style to the quay wall. There are large black tires about every 2 meters. To go ashore use your dinghy and go about 75 meters to a ladder around the corner, and it’s not that easy to get onto from a dinghy.
There is constant motion in the harbor from the prevailing SE trades, and you need a long bow line to shore to hold position when the bullets arrive. In northerly winds it is untenable.
There is a lot of dirt and dust blowing around and after 3 days the boat was filthy.
If you need any machine work done then Rarotonga Welding is excellent, and for the second-hand boat, parts ask for Keith, about 1 kilometer from the harbor. Garbage is collected 3 days a week, there are no bins.
The island is well worth a visit, and you will get clearance to visit the other islands without all the paperwork. Saturday morning market is well worth a visit. BlueSky is the phone and internet provider, both in town and the market.
The bureaucracy is maddening. In theory, all officials arrive close to each other. In fact, the health check was at 08.30, the Customs in the afternoon and Bio-Security never appeared. Harbor dues are $2.48 per foot per day, cash only in the harbor office, Customer worked out at $95 per person for a 3-day visit, they take cards in the office.
Immigration is at the end of town with the Customs. The health check was $40. All in all, almost $550 for the visit.
Would I go back? Probably not.
Departure tax is $66.30 p.p
Customs fees $ 57.20
Harbour dues $2.45 per meter (monohull) per day
Do not buoy your anchor in Avatiu harbor. It’s likely that the buoy will be in the way of shipping and you will probably be asked to remove it.
All their mooring information is correct; surge is a major problem if there is an N in the wind. All officials now come to the harbor, not Trader Jacks. Do not go ashore until you have permission! The harbormaster is a great guy, very helpful. Anthony sv Wild Fox
Andre Tuiravakai is the ports operation manager
Departure tax is now 65 dollars
27 meters is the air restriction