General Information
Rakahanga sits at the top of the Northern Group of the Cook Islands with only Penrhyn Island sitting more northern. It is a small atoll of some 4km long and 2 km wide dominated by the large lagoon. The population of Rakahanga used to be quite substantial however barely over 120 now live on the island. The main town of Nivano sits at the southern end of the island where the majority of the population lives and works on the export copra, puraka and breadfruit plantations.
Getting There
There are no air flights operating to Rakahanga these days and the airstrip now lies unused under the jungle. From Manihiki, her nearby sister island lying 44kms south, you can take a boat to Rakahanga when the seas are calm. You have to plan carefully your trip as you can get stuck on Rakahanga for weeks!
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 |
