Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Rarotonga Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Quick Links
A great place to sleep. The beauty of Rarotonga Airport is that it has very few flights which makes for easy sleeping. – a traveller
RAR Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Rarotonga International Airport.
What to Expect
Rarotonga Airport (code: RAR) has a small, rustic, open-air terminal. Facilities include three cafes inside the terminal and a few small shops, all operating according to the day’s flight schedule. A hotel on-site also has an eatery. WiFi is available for a fee.
Sleeping in Rarotonga Airport
Travellers who’ve slept here report that airport staff take no issue with overnight campers, but you’ll want to come prepared for the elements: the terminal is open-air but covered with a roof. Consider using a sleeping bag or even a hammock. For uninterrupted sleep, one hotel is just opposite the terminal entrance. Nearby hotels offer shuttle service for a fee. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations, or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Rarotonga Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
A reader tells us, “Airport is open whenever the flights come and go, pretty much 24 hours. For domestic flights this is 6:00am to 22:00pm and for international flights, it varies by day and airline. but most flights are between 2pm and 2am, with air nz and air Rarotonga open regular work hours 8-4 Monday to Friday.” (Pashraro / March 2023)
Rest & Relaxation Zones
No dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones exist. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Rarotonga Airport:
- The Islander Hotel – A 2-minute walk from the terminal. No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Rarotonga Backpackers / Airport Lodge – 100m from the terminal. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Rarotonga Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter through a lounge membership program (i.e. Koru Club). Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
Air New Zealand Lounge – Location: Airside, International Departures. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Related Pages: Rarotonga Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does Rarotonga Airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Food & Drinks
Options are available both landside and airside, with three cafes inside the airport and three options on airport grounds, including at the airport hotel. Hours are unknown, but it seems that none offer 24-hour service. Vending machines are also available.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Short-term baggage storage is available at The Islander Hotel for NZD$ 5 per bag. Location: Opposite the airport. Air Rarotonga offers short and long-term luggage storage for passengers travelling to the outer islands for a fee of NZD$ 5 per bag or NZ$ 10 per item (surfboard, etc.). Report to the Air Rarotonga check-in desk during service hours for assistance.
Mobile Charging
At the time of this update, we had no information about mobile charging availability. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Showers
Showers are available in the Air New Zealand Lounge. See Airport Lounges above.
WiFi/Internet
WiFi is available at Rarotonga Airport. A reader tells us free WiFi is available on the airside for 1 hour. Connect to the Vodaphone Hotspot. On the landside, paid WiFi is available through Vodafone and Air Rarotonga. The price is approximately $10 per gigabyte. (November 2023)
More Airport Information
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Location: International Arrivals.
Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available. Rates: unknown.
Duty-Free and Shopping – Duty-free shopping and a small selection of souvenir-type shops are available at the airport.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Airport Transfers
Raro Tours, Tiare Transport and Natura Holidays offer meet-and-greet airport transfer services. Contact your service provider of choice for details.
Bus
Cook Buses city bus service links the airport to the rest of the island, with departures available every 30 minutes. Buses running clockwise stop at the RSA Club across the road from the airport parking lot, just 70m from Arrivals. Buses running counterclockwise stop by a small tree near the Air New Zealand office.
Car and Scooter Rental
Avis and Polynesian Rentals are available onsite in the Arrivals area. Island Car and Bike Hire is located near the airport parking exit.
Hotel Shuttles
At the time of this update, we could not find any hotels offering an airport shuttle. See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxi
Taxis are available at the taxi rank located near the Arrivals area.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.