General Information
If you have ever wished to be a 'Robinson Crusoe' then Pukapuka Atoll is the ideal place for you! Probably the most remote and least accessible island of the Cook Islands', Pukapuka lies far out to west and is closer to Samoa than to Rarotonga. The atoll itself is only about 5km long and is made up of three inhabitable islands, Wale in the north, Motu Ko in the south, which has the landing strip, and Motu Kotawa in the south west. The population of all the islands is around 550.
Getting There
Infrequent flights with Air Rarotonga have recently started and the frequency is based mostly on freight demand. It is not unusual for 2 months to go by before a flight is scheduled. The flight time is 4-5 hours and costs about NZ$1400 return.
If time is on your side and you prefer to travel by sea, the inter-island shipping companies of Taio Shipping & Mataroa Shipping offer transport to Pukapuka which takes about 4-5 days to reach there. Some ships provide limited cabins whilst other ships have none. It is sometimes possible to travel there by sea from Western Samoa.
Contact us for bookings
Accommodation
There is no accommodation for outsiders on the island. If you wish to stay on Rakahanga it must be with one of the resident families which are difficult to arrange. Check first with the Cook Island Tourist Authority in Rarotonga or Auckland |
