Travel Essentials › Cook Islands
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Type I, 240 V. Emergency: One number for everything 999, Police 999, Ambulance 998, Fire 996. Tipping: Not expected; a smile and a thank you (meitaki) is enough, though a small tip for outstanding service is welcome. Tap water: Many visitors drink bottled or filtered water; tap water on Rarotonga is treated but ask your accommodation, and other islands rely on rain or wells.
Open The Cook Islands Trip Kit
Type I, 240 V
| One number for everything | 999 |
| Police | 999 |
| Ambulance | 998 |
| Fire | 996 |
Not expected; a smile and a thank you (meitaki) is enough, though a small tip for outstanding service is welcome.
Greetings. Say "Kia orana" with a smile and a handshake. Friends and family often add a cheek kiss, and visitors are commonly welcomed with a flower garland (ei) around the neck.
Sunday church. Sunday is for church and family. Most shops are closed, and visitors are welcome at church services, where the singing is a highlight.
Dress and behavior. Cover up away from the beach, and do not wear bikinis or go topless in towns or villages. Wearing a flower behind the ear, on the left if you are taken and on the right if you are free, is a local tradition.
Land and traditional rights. Land is owned by families and cannot be sold. Ask before walking onto private land or into lagoons that belong to a village, and respect the rahui (a temporary ban) on fishing or picking in an area.
The Cook Islands are very safe for visitors, with low crime. The biggest risks are scooter accidents, reef cuts and lagoon currents.
Scooter damage claims. Take photos of a hired scooter or car before you ride, and check what insurance is included.
Pushy tour and rental offers. Compare prices and book with a known operator; unofficial offers on the street may not be insured.
Women travelers. Generally safe for women, including at night in busy areas. Dress modestly in villages and keep an eye on drinks at bars.
Legal · Mostly Safe
Sex between men was decriminalized in 2023, and the islands are fairly relaxed, but there is no same-sex marriage and the society is church-going and conservative, so public affection is best kept low-key.
| Coffee (café) | NZD 6 | $3.50 |
| Local bus or metro ride | NZD 5 | $2.95 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | NZD 35 | $20 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | NZD 45 | $26 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | NZD 280 | $165 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | NZD 220 | $130 |
2026-09
May to October is the drier, cooler season and the best time; November to April is hotter, more humid and wetter, with some cyclone risk.