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Cheap flights to Rarotonga

CMH — RAR
23 Apr — 30 Apr1
1 adult
Tue 23/4
Tue 30/4

Flights to Rarotonga in 2024

Find the latest flights to Rarotonga in 2024, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 119,480 searches and data was last updated on 18 April 2024.

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$891

Return from

$507

One-way from

$186
High demand for flights, 5% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop
Average for return flights in April 2024
From Auckland Intl to Rarotonga
One-way flight from Auckland Intl (AKL) to Rarotonga (RAR)

Average price of flights to Rarotonga by month

Plan your trip to Rarotonga by taking into account the cheapest months to travel. The average price of a one-way flight to Rarotonga is currently $0 while a return flight costs $0. Price data was last updated on 14 April 2024.

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to Rarotonga (average of $421). Flying to Rarotonga in August will prove the most costly (average of $547). There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.

January

$740

February

$712

March

$767

April

$788

May

$777

June

$860

July

$853

August

$924

September

$864

October

$764

November

$742

December

$840

Peak season

The largest of the Cook Islands, travellers book flights to Rarotonga for swimming, snorkeling, shopping, nightlife, island cuisine and a relaxed laid back vibe. The island’s interior is characterised by volcanic outcrops and rainforest, while many of the beaches are rimmed with coral reefs and marine life. The friendliness of Rarotonga’s locals make it a popular place to visit again and again. Most New Zealanders arrive on cheap flights to Rarotonga between June and August to escape the winter back home. This high season period can make finding flights to Rarotonga and hotels more difficult, so make reservations as early as possible. Christmas is also another busy period when many Cook Island natives come home for the holiday, be sure to book flight tickets well in advance.

Off Season

Rarotonga’s wet season and the threat of cyclones puts most people off from visiting during December to April. But in general the rainy season is characterised by short and heavy bursts of rain followed by sun. If you visit during this time you can find the cheapest flights to Rarotonga, plus plenty of accommodation, rental cars and dining options.

Temperature and rainfall in Rarotonga by month

Plan your trip to Rarotonga by taking into account the average temperature and rainfall totals by month.

RAR

Temperature

22 - 26 °C

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Rarotonga, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 26.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of July, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 22.0 C).

When is the best time to book a flight to Rarotonga?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight to Rarotonga. Price data was last updated on 28 January 2024.

The best time to to take cheap flights to Rarotonga is during the months on the edge of winter, summer and the rainy season; April, May, September and October. The weather is likely to be good and there are fewer tourists on the island.

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When is the cheapest time to fly to Rarotonga?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return to Rarotonga. Price data was last updated on 14 April 2024.
Morning
Midday
Afternoon
Evening
All times are departure.
Users looking for the lowest fares to Rarotonga should consider flying on Friday at midday, when prices are typically cheapest. Budget-minded travellers will want to avoid Saturday mornings, when prices are usually at their highest.
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Reviews of airlines servicing Rarotonga

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Rarotonga. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Rarotonga. Reviews last updated 18 April 2024.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown Jetstar and Air New Zealand to Rarotonga to help guide your decision. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

8.3

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

8.3
Very Good
668 reviews
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

8.3

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

6.9
Okay
681 reviews
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Comfort

8.1

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

8.3

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

What is good to know if travelling to Rarotonga?

  • Visitors are not expected to tip while on the Cook Islands. It’s not part of the Islanders’ culture. Also, Rarotonga is a conservative place. Even Rarotongan women will cover up for the beach. Dress conservatively. 
  • There are four coral islets off Muri Beach: Mo tutapu, Oneroa, Koromiri and Taakoka. 
  • The Takitumu Conservation Area protects native birds and plants, particularly the Kakerori, the Rarotonga Flycatcher. 
  • Rarotanga’s cuisine is modern Pacific Rim – a fusion of Asian, Indian and French. Ika mata is a specialty on Rarotonga, it’s fish marinated in coconut and lime. Ika mata, with taro (the leaves of the taro are island spinach) appear on “island nights” menus. 
  • The Saturday market at Punanga Nui runs from 6am until noon. This is the place to pick up black pearls, hand-woven baskets and wooden souvenirs.
  • How long is the flight to Rarotonga?

    Flights from Auckland to Rarotonga – 3 hrs 50 mins Flights from Wellington to Rarotonga – 23 hrs 5 mins Flights from Christchurch to Rarotonga – 23 hrs Flights from Dunedin to Rarotonga – 20 hrs Which airlines operate flights to Rarotonga? Air New Zealand operates a flight to Rarotonga most days of the week. Less frequent flights are operated by Virgin Australia and Jetstar. Domestic carrier Air Rarotonga is always busy and operates up to flights a day between Rarotonga and Aitutaki and other sister islands of the Cooks group. How to get from the airport to the city centre? Rarotonga Airport (RAR) is located in the town of Avarua, 3km west of the downtown area. To get there you can catch public transport options of a bus or a taxi. The bus goes anti-clockwise round the island and passes by the RSA club across the road from the airport every 30 minutes. Taxis are located next to arrivals area. Many hotels have courtesy buses so check with your hotel when booking if they offer an airport pick-up service.

  • What does RAR mean?

    RAR stands for Rarotonga Airport. Codes like this one are often called IATA codes, a set of identifiers established by IATA (International Air Transport Association) that is widely used by airlines and the aviation industry.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Rarotonga?

    Travellers will need to book flights to Rarotonga (RAR) if they wish to fly to Rarotonga. The Rarotonga airport is 0.8 km from the city centre. On average, Rarotonga has 4 flights from Auckland per day from 3 airlines.

  • Can I find cheaper flights to Rarotonga if I am willing to have stopovers?

    Yes, flights with stopovers are often cheaper than direct flights. Keep an eye out for flight deals to Rarotonga on Cheapflights that require 1 or 2 stops for potential cost savings.

  • What is the best airline to fly to Rarotonga?

    Based on reviews from Cheapflights users, Jetstar is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to Rarotonga.

  • What is the cheapest airport to fly to in Rarotonga?

    Rarotonga Airport is currently the cheapest airport to fly to in Rarotonga. One-way flights to Rarotonga Airport typically cost $198, while return flights cost around $494.

  • How much is a return flight to Rarotonga?

    A return flight to Rarotonga will typically cost around $814, however they can be found for as little as $292.

  • Where does the fastest flight to Rarotonga depart from?

    For those looking to save time traveling to Rarotonga, Auckland offers the quickest one-way flight (3 hours 45 minutes).

  • Does Rarotonga Airport have rental cars?

    Yes. Those touching down at Rarotonga Airport can take advantage of the car hire services offered upon their arrival.

  • Are there hotels close to Rarotonga Airport?

    Yes. Rarotonga Airport has hotels nearby for those requiring accommodations. Nikao Beach Bungalows is the closest property to Rarotonga Airport (0.0 km away from Rarotonga Airport).

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