Penrhyn - Clearance
Penhryn is currently one of three authorised ports of entry for the Cook Islands – the others are – Avatiu Port, Rarotonga, or Arutanga port, Aitutaki.
Before arriving at Penhryn, the vessel’s master must complete Form 29 – Advanced Notice of Arrival (Small Craft) and submit it at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
See Cook Islands Clearance for the latest information. Any enquiries should be directed to:customs.craft@cookislands.gov.ck
General Process for Penhryn:
As well as providing the Advance Notification to Cook Islands Customs Authorities, it is advisable to also notify the local authorities at least three days prior to arrival by contacting the EO (Mr. Puna JOHN VANO) by email on puna.vano@cookislands.gov.ck.
VHF Channel 16 is the official frequency, however, there is no listening watch and officials will call you when you are seen.
Anchor off Omoka village on the south side of the Taruia Pass. There is also a wharf where it is possible to come alongside if there is no surge.
Note: Due to entanglement with coral bommies here, one cruising boat reported that they preferred to idle outside the reef while the skipper dinghied ashore to check in/out.
The Penrhyn Atoll Executive Officer (Mr Puna John Vano) coordinates the Border Control Team to attend for the clearance of your boat and crew. His office is located on the ground floor of the newly-built Cyclone Center and the Bank of the Cook Islands. He will arrange for Customs, immigration, bio-security, health and agriculture to visit you. All officials are reported to be very friendly, well organized and professional.
After clearance, you must get permission before moving elsewhere in the lagoon.
The EO requires a 24 hours notice of your departure. Anyone on the atoll can call him for you. Please make sure that your passports are collected and all fees paid to the border agencies at this time. All payments are to be made by cash (NZ Dollars is the preferred currenc)y, credit card on an eftpos machine, or online payment link provided upon arrival.
Tongareva Island Government Fees:
Port Entry Fee: $50.00
Anchorage Fee (Min Charge 7 days): $30.00 – followed by $3.00 per day
Immigration Fee: Free (after hours $60.00)
Bio Security Fee: $50.00 (after hours $60.00)
Customs Clearance Fee: $60.00
Immigration (Departure Tax) per person over 12 years old: $80.00 (after hours $60.00 extra)
Public Health Fees: $20.00 (after hours $60.00)
Last updated: October 2024
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Related to following destinations: Cook Islands, Northern Group (Cook Islands), Penrhyn
Port Navigation
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Penrhyn remains a wonderful place to visit. In 2024 they are definately still a standard entry port for the Cooks, so yes you are expected to do your Advance Notice of Arrival via the main customs Web site. It is a simple one page form. Dont expect local cudtomsnto actually have it though! Absolutely bring NZ dollars. Cash only. Bank does not allow exchange. Locals will only privately offer 1:1 USD or maybe Euro. You will need about $250NZD, customs fee $60, Public Health $20, Biosecurity $20, Harbour Fee $20 plus $2.50 per day. If departing from here Cook Islands immigration departure Tax $80 per person payable to customs on departure. And $20 to Vodafone for wireless if needed.
Nothing to buy here though, shop is tiny, diesel and gasoline is precious to them as they only get a supply ship every 3 months, and will be rationing it in the last few weeks. Best not to ask, as they will feel obliged to help.
Puna the local government executive officer remains helpful and friendly. If you arrive cashless the will accept a SWIFT code transfer for your harbour fees but not customs fees.
Best anchorage is TeTauTua on the west side of lagoon. Clear waters 4m sand. Rio will greet you.
The NW pass and Omoka area is exceptionally and recently well charted. There is a recommended route on the electronic charts to follow to Gudgeon Bay Omoka if the light is bad. But for the remainder of the lagoon, the chart bears little resemblance to reality, so good light navigation only. Omoka is quite windy and there is a lot of coral. Best anchorage is 200m north of the Wharf, in 12m, off the modern 2 story white building that is the Govt Office and Cyclone Shelter. The single story old blue building on the shoreline adjacent is customs and bank.
For those coming from French Polynesia Penrhyn will offer a lovely break from the yachtie crowds. For those arriving from the north its your last chance at solitude before merging with the Coconut Milk Run.
Dean
SV Run to Paradise
We arrived in Penrhyn (Tongreva) early May, 2023, came through the easy, short pass named Taruia, on the NW side and picked our way through the bommies in good sunlight and anchored in front of Omoka village. (Recommended spot 8.58,700S
158.3,100 W). The checkin people (customs, immigration, bio security, health and agriculture) came out to us within an hour and were super friendly organized and professional. For our 43’ monohull and two people the cost was $150NZ plus $2.50NZ per day. We did not have to check in beforehand with the central government in Rarotonga as Penrhyn has removed themselves from that process, nor did we need to inform Penrhyn of our planned arrival date, just show up. Sundays are for church so there is no checkin or work of any kind and Saturday atyou may or may not get checked in. Presently there is no ATM so you have to bring foreign currency in cash. We had $US which they would only trade 1:1 as it is difficult for them to get rid of the $US themselves.
There are WiFi hotspots and you can buy vouchers with a password to get you connected. The Vodaphone guy is a mile or two out of town but you should be able to catch a motorbike ride down to him pretty easily.
Presently there are 189 people living in Penrhyn with 28 of them living across the lagoon in Tetautua. We are the first cruising sailboat to stay awhile in 3 years (there was a guy, Tom Robinson, who is rowing his way across the Pacific, who stayed 4 months and had left before we arrived) and we have found this place to be very special. Maybe because there is so little tourism (15 sailboats visit in a “busy” year) we have found the people to be so open and enthusiastically welcoming. The lagoon is vibrant with life (great spearfishing) and the NW pass, the only one we have dove here so far, has some of the best marine life that we have seen in the Pacific although most of the coral in the pass was dead. And lots of sharks of course.
We sailed across to Tetautua and anchored in the very calm sandy waters in front (you are only allowed to anchor in front of the two villages but you may possibly ask permission to anchor somewhere else). They love it when kid boats show up and all the children can interact. Unfortunately they are not so enthusiastic about dogs as they are not allowed on the island anywhere.
There is no pearl farming or pearl diving happening here these days and we have not really done much trading with anybody.
There is a yacht book that sailors have been signing for 40 years that is interesting to read through.
This is my second time across the Pacific but first time to Penrhyn, and I have to say it is our favourite island (and we loved French Polynesia, especially the Marquesas). It is not on the straight line path towards Tonga if you are coming from French Polynesia but it is so well worth the few days north to get here, it really is.
Ian and Ann
SV Afrikii
Thank you for this wonderful feedback Ian and Ann – we are making this into a report for the site so that more of our users can find the information.