Wondering about moving to the Cook Islands? Contemplating the next step of making it real life? Packing? Moving? Or shipping to Rarotonga? We get it – and we’ve done it twice!
The dream of escaping to a tropical island is a common one, and for many, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands represents the epitome of that dream. With its beaches, lush volcanic peaks, and the warm, welcoming ‘Kia Orana’ spirit, it’s easy to see why.
But beyond the holiday fantasy lies the practical reality of making such a significant move.
Relocating to a remote island nation, especially one that prides itself on its untouched beauty and local charm, requires planning, patience, and a thorough understanding of the logistics involved. Particularly when it comes to shipping your life’s possessions.
But the good news? We have done it twice!
This is our second time living in Rarotonga and moving to the Cook Islands as a family.
So not only can we share with you all about moving to Rarotonga. But we also have all the deets about shipping, health checks, renting a house in Rarotonga – and buying a car!
Read all about:
- PART 1 – Moving to Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- PART 2 – Navigating Health Checks for Your Move to Rarotonga
- PART 3 – Shipping for Your Move to Rarotonga
- PART 4 – Finding and Renting a House in Rarotonga
- PART 5 – Buying a Car in Rarotonga
Now, let’s get into making that move and talk about packing for shipping before you get going.
Why Rarotonga? The Allure of Island Life
People are drawn to Rarotonga for a multitude of reasons. It offers a slower pace of life, a strong sense of community, and an unparalleled connection to nature.
The absence of traffic lights, high-rise buildings, and fast-food chains contributes to its unique, unspoiled character. For those seeking a simpler, more authentic existence away from the hustle and bustle of modern cities, Rarotonga can feel like a true haven.
Hey! We are Away With The Steiners. Wondering about Living in Rarotonga, Cook Islands?
Key Considerations Before You Pack
Before you even think about packing a single box, there are crucial aspects of island life to understand.
Visa and Residency:
The Cook Islands has specific requirements for non-Cook Islanders wishing to reside long-term. Visitors are initially granted a short stay (90 days for New Zealand passport holders, 31 days for others), which can be extended. For longer stays, such as a retiree visa or work permit, you’ll need to apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI). Otherwise, purchasing an existing business is a common pathway for non-Cook Islanders to gain residency and work rights.
Job Market:
The job market is relatively small and primarily revolves around tourism, government, and essential services. While unemployment rates are low. Opportunities for expatriates outside specific skilled roles or business ownership can be limited.
Cost of Living:
While local produce and some services can be affordable. Many goods are imported, primarily from New Zealand. This means that items like groceries, fuel, and certain consumer products can be comparable to, or even more expensive than, what you’re used to in larger countries.
Cost of Housing:
Housing can also be a significant expense. Long-term rental options can be scarce and land ownership for non-locals is restricted to long-term leases.
Healthcare:
Rarotonga has a hospital and medical clinics, but for serious medical conditions, evacuation to New Zealand is often necessary. Comprehensive health insurance with medical evacuation coverage is highly recommended.
Education:
Education facilities are available, from ECE to primary and secondary schools, and a tertiary institute. So it’s worth researching options if you’re moving with children.
Island Pace:
“Island time” is a real phenomenon. Things move slower, and patience is a virtue. This applies to everything from administrative processes to service delivery. Embrace it, or you’ll find yourself constantly frustrated!
Shipping to Rarotonga: The Essentials
Once you’ve decided Rarotonga is for you, the next big hurdle is getting your belongings there. This requires meticulous planning and understanding of the shipping process.
What to Ship, What to Sell, What to Buy Locally:
This is a critical first step. Consider the cost of shipping versus the cost of replacing items. You are moving to a tropical island where life is simple. You really don’t need all too much. Plus, be wary and conscious that everything you bring that is non-sustainable will be on the island forever…
This is our second time moving to Rarotonga. This time, through my contract at the Ministry of Education we had a total of 4m³ allowance for shipping.
Large, heavy, or fragile items that are sentimental or expensive to replace are good candidates for shipping. However, for many everyday items, it might be more economical to sell them and repurchase them on the island. Especially if they are readily available.
Remember that space is limited in island homes, and a minimalist approach can save you significant shipping costs.
What to Bring – Shipping to Rarotonga
These are some tips for packing and planning for moving to Rarotonga. Having now done it twice!
This is what I would recommend:
- First Aid Kit: Most items are available for purchase on Rarotonga. However things can sometimes be hard to source (aka. Figuring out where on the island specific items are in stock). It is safest to bring a first aid kid from home with contents that are specific to you and your family.
- Reusable Plastic Food Storage Containers (eg. Tupperware/Sistema): Ants are a big thing anywhere in the Pacific. Bringing containers also saves using plastic storage bags. Storage containers are available on the island (at Vonnias, CITC Supermarket or Raro Mart). Albeit at an imported price.
- Reusable Shopping Bags: Plastic bags are still offered at the markets. But it is great to be able to say no to more single-use plastic.
- Reusable Straws: Once again, anything that is reusable and stops plastic going to landfill or the ocean is a great thing to bring. These make an awesome gift for someone moving to Rarotonga!
What NOT to Bring –Shipping to Rarotonga
There are a few things we would also suggest NOT to bring:
- Blankets: Rarotonga experiences a comfortable tropical climate all year round! It does get cooler in winter. But you can find the right sort of blankets if you need them.
- Heavy Jackets: Just don’t. Bring a light rain jacket and a fleece.
- Flippers: Reef Shoes are a great and safe idea for snorkelling. Flippers can be damaging to the coral and disturb the fish life within the lagoon.
- Temporary Swimming Pool: There is occasionally a water shortage on the island following a dry spell without rain. You are surrounded by a beautiful and giant swimming pool anyway!
- Single-Use Plastics: Basically, anything that’s not going to last. Be wary that anything you leave on the island is here forever…
2. Customs Regulations and Duties: Declare, Declare, Declare!
The Cook Islands Customs Service is thorough. All imported goods, whether by sea freight, airfreight, or even passenger-carried, must be cleared.
The golden rule is: If you are unsure whether you need to declare something, declare it anyway. You won’t face penalties for declaring something unnecessarily. But you will for failing to declare restricted or dutiable goods.
- Prohibited Items: Weapons, ammunition, fireworks, indecent publications, endangered flora/fauna, illicit drugs, and drug paraphernalia are strictly prohibited.
- Restricted Items: Many food items (cooked, uncooked, fresh, preserved), animals, animal products, plants, and plant materials are restricted and require permits or may be subject to inspection and destruction. Outdoor sports or hiking footwear and equipment used with animals, plants, or water should also be declared due to biosecurity concerns.
- Dutiable Goods: Personal items for your own use are generally duty-free. However, goods exceeding certain duty-free allowances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, and other dutiable goods like electronics or gifts over NZ$750) will incur duty tax. It’s crucial to be transparent on your Passenger Arrival Card and with customs brokers.
3. Documentation – Shipping to Rarotonga
There is some paperwork (of course) to go with finalising your shipping to Rarotonga. This will assist with the clearance of your goods upon arrival in the Cook Islands.
There are two declaration letters and Customs Service form that you need to provide:
- Form 85.01E: Sign this form yourself.
- Form 85.01D: This form needs to be verified by a lawyer, Justice of the Peace (JP), or another authorized professional in New Zealand. It must be on official letterhead. This verification can be done by a lawyer, pastor, or previous employer.
- CICS 015: This is for Customs Service and declaration.
Once you have both letters and the CICS 015 ready they can be forwarded to Raro Freight ahead of the shipment arrival.
4. Choosing a Shipping Company
Companies like Raro Freight and Atlas International Freight offer services to the Cook Islands. Though it is likely that your employer will select the freight service for you.
We were connected with Atlas International Freight. Our shipping boxes were picked up in New Zealand by Move Freight.
5. Shipping Methods: Sea vs. Air Freight
The chances are that your contract with an employer in the Cook Islands will include a shipping allowance.
Otherwise, you can add extra baggage – at a cost – to your flight ticket.
As above, we had a shipping allowance of 4m³. While our flight tickets included one checked baggage per person. Each piece may weigh up to 23kgs (50lb).
Albeit it costs an additional $95 NZD per piece of additional baggage. Though moving to Rarotonga this time round, we each added one more checked bag to our flight.
6. Packing – Shipping to Rarotonga
Proper packing is vital to protect your belongings during transit. Use sturdy boxes, ample padding, and clearly label everything.
Yes; I had to Google an image of how much 4m³ was in packing boxes! But it was helpful to plan how many boxes we had allowance to ship.
It is likewise really important to create a detailed inventory list for customs. This is including descriptions and estimated values of all items. The documentation is crucial for smooth customs clearance. But it was also required as part of my contract document for immigration as well.
7. Timeline (General Estimates)
The entire process, from initial planning to your goods arriving at your new home in Rarotonga, can take several months. Be prepared for potential delays due to shipping schedules, customs processing – or unforeseen circumstances.
Timeline:
Sea freight from New Zealand typically takes around 10 days in transit. But the overall process (packing, customs, loading, unloading) can mean your goods arrive anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 months or more, depending on the origin and shipping schedule. From Australia, transit times can be 30-60+ days.
In practice, our shipping to Rarotonga was picked up in Waikato, New Zealand in early March. Which I might add I only had a few hours’ notice it was being picked up that day!
We received it, around 10 days after our arrival on the island. It was delivered to our new home in Rarotonga, two months to the day later.
Always factor in that you might arrive on the island before your shipping to Rarotonga.
Adjusting to Island Life
Once your belongings arrive and you settle in, the real adventure of island life begins. Embrace the slower pace. Connect with the friendly locals, and be prepared for occasional inconveniences that are simply part of living in paradise.
Moving to Rarotonga is a significant undertaking. But with careful preparation, a good understanding of the logistics, and a flexible mindset, it can be the start of an incredibly rewarding chapter in your life.
Kia Manuia! 🙂
Read More About Travel to Rarotonga
- All About The Rarotonga Bus.
- 10 Unforgettable Walks In Rarotonga.
- 10 Historical Sites You Must See In Rarotonga.
- Hiking The Needle Cross Island Walk.
- Hiring A Bike In Rarotonga.
- How To Get Your Scooter License In Rarotonga.
- 15 Essential Tips On Visiting Rarotonga.
- Rarotonga Reef Explorer Tour With Ariimoana.
Travel Planning for Cook Islands and Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads including those who have already left home. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE BEFORE TRAVELING TO COOK ISLANDS!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.