Fees · Destination Guide
Rarotonga
Lagoon snorkeling and small-boat reef diving on one volcanic Pacific island.
Key fee: General Rarotonga snorkeling/scuba public park fee
Not independently established
Fees · Destination Guide
Lagoon snorkeling and small-boat reef diving on one volcanic Pacific island.
Key fee: General Rarotonga snorkeling/scuba public park fee
Not independently established
Confirm these fees before you book so your operator plan and day budget match what you will pay onsite.
There is no verified universal Rarotonga recreational scuba permit, tourist marine-park tag price or separate destination-wide dive levy in the consulted official sources. Marae Moana is a multiple-use marine park, and specific customary ra'ui may impose access or no-take restrictions rather than paid tourist tags. Verify current local rules with the guide, National Environment Service and community authority. International air departure tax is stated by the Cook Islands Airports Authority to be included in ticket prices. Operators charge their own tour fees; use the current direct price list rather than the historical 2025 PDF. No unspecified Cook Islands tourism levy is fabricated here. Sources: marine management; airport tax guidance.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to | Where to pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Rarotonga snorkeling/scuba public park fee | Not independently established As-of 28 October 2026 source review; local restrictions may change | scuba; freedive; snorkel | Ask local operator and site/ra'ui authority before travel; no verified common park-tag purchase point | Do not confuse the Marae Moana national marine-park designation with a universal paid tag. Customary ra'ui controls may be site specific and may restrict harvesting or entry. No unsupported charge or exemption is asserted. |
| Go Local guided over-reef freediving excursion | NZD $250 per person, operator advertised Price displayed on operator website during 2026 source review; reconfirm booking and post-cyclone operation | freedive | Directly with Go Local Cook Islands | Advertised 3-hour single-breath ocean experience with standard snorkel equipment; this is not the price of an independently verified accredited freedive course. |
| Adventure Cook Islands two-tank boat scuba outing | NZD 185 excluding gear or NZD 210 including gear, currently advertised Current operator web price list linked as2026; prices subject to change | scuba | Ask Adventure Cook Islands for a current written quote and operating confirmation | The current direct price list specifies New Zealand dollars. It also lists NZD 10 per nitrox cylinder for appropriately qualified divers and a NZD 150 outer-reef snorkeling/freediving trip with at least two people. Confirm the final quote, inclusions and departure. |
| International air departure tax | Included in international air ticket according to airport authority Published airport guidance; recheck with airline | general | No separate airport payment on ordinary international air tickets described by the authority | This is not a Rarotonga reef or diving levy. The separate tax treatment of yacht departures is outside the local day-boat scope. |
| Visitor stay extension | Fee applies; current amount not verified When extending the visitor permit beyond the on-arrival allowance | general | Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration application process | Tourism's 26 October 2026 entry page describes a fee and 20-working-day standard processing. Apply sufficiently in advance; do not assume approval. |
| Cook Islands scooter visitor license, when required | NZD $20 in published tourism guidance for eligible motorcycle-class visitors Tourism guidance; licensing route differs if overseas license lacks motorbike class | topside | Police licensing office in Rarotonga, subject to eligibility and updated rules | This is a conditional road-transport charge, not a marine permit. Confirm the correct process before renting a scooter. |
| Papua/Wigmore Waterfall vehicle entry contribution | Published guide: $5 per car/truck or $2 per bike; currency not labelled Tourism hiking-page guidance only; confirm locally | topside | Local collection on drive-up access to the waterfall, if applicable | The tourism page states hikers finishing the Cross Island Trek do not pay this drive-up donation. Do not assume the waterfall road is open after storm impacts. |
Fee
As-of 28 October 2026 source review; local restrictions may change
Do not confuse the Marae Moana national marine-park designation with a universal paid tag. Customary ra'ui controls may be site specific and may restrict harvesting or entry. No unsupported charge or exemption is asserted.
Price displayed on operator website during 2026 source review; reconfirm booking and post-cyclone operation
Advertised 3-hour single-breath ocean experience with standard snorkel equipment; this is not the price of an independently verified accredited freedive course.
Current operator web price list linked as2026; prices subject to change
The current direct price list specifies New Zealand dollars. It also lists NZD 10 per nitrox cylinder for appropriately qualified divers and a NZD 150 outer-reef snorkeling/freediving trip with at least two people. Confirm the final quote, inclusions and departure.
Published airport guidance; recheck with airline
This is not a Rarotonga reef or diving levy. The separate tax treatment of yacht departures is outside the local day-boat scope.
When extending the visitor permit beyond the on-arrival allowance
Tourism's 26 October 2026 entry page describes a fee and 20-working-day standard processing. Apply sufficiently in advance; do not assume approval.
Tourism guidance; licensing route differs if overseas license lacks motorbike class
This is a conditional road-transport charge, not a marine permit. Confirm the correct process before renting a scooter.
Tourism hiking-page guidance only; confirm locally
The tourism page states hikers finishing the Cross Island Trek do not pay this drive-up donation. Do not assume the waterfall road is open after storm impacts.