Rarotonga - Docking
Anchoring:
As an alternative to a mooring in Avatiu Harbour, yachts can anchor in the open ocean roadstead off the town. However, with the Trade Winds blowing it can be rougher at anchor here than at sea. The holding is very poor; flat hard coral with a couple of inches of sand.
Mooring in Avatiu Harbour:
The harbor redesign has meant that there is more draft (10m) and the harbor has port and starboard entry buoys.
There is now straight access to sea when moored, which means less shelter than previously, particularly with a northerly swell and northerly winds. Surge can be a problem here. You will need a long bow line to shore to hold the boat in position. In strong northerly winds, the harbor is untenable and will be closed if harbor officials deem it unsafe.
After clearance, officials may instruct you to med-moor off the harbour wall, keeping five metres off the wall. There are large black tires about every 2 meters along the wall.
Be prepared to use the dinghy for getting ashore. There is no ladder on the quay around the corner from where yachts berth so you will have to scramble from the dinghy up rubber tyres to the top. The top of the wall is approximately two metres above water at low tide.
A height restriction of 27m is in place at the north end of the wharf as yacht masts obstruct aircraft taking off from the nearby airport.
Harbor dues are charged on a daily rate by the foot (see costs reported by cruisers in the comments section in the clue Explore Port icon). Harbor facilities include a very basic washroom and shower for which a key deposit is required and a small charge.
Garbage is collected 3 days a week, there are no bins.
Whilst this report Tips for Mooring in Avatiu Harbour was written in 2010, much of the advice is still current.
Last updated: August 2023
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Related to following destinations: Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Southern Cook Islands
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Reported by Hugh Pilsworth:
Rarotonga:
There is only one harbor on the island, Avatui. It has no facilities for yachts. On approach, you call 16, harbourmaster. Don’t bother before 9 am as there’s no one in the office.
You are required to use your own anchor and moor Med style to the quay wall. There are large black tires about every 2 meters. To go ashore use your dinghy and go about 75 meters to a ladder around the corner, and it’s not that easy to get onto from a dinghy.
There is constant motion in the harbor from the prevailing SE trades, and you need a long bow line to shore to hold position when the bullets arrive. In northerly winds it is untenable.
There is a lot of dirt and dust blowing around and after 3 days the boat was filthy.
If you need any machine work done then Rarotonga Welding is excellent, and for the second-hand boat, parts ask for Keith, about 1 kilometer from the harbor. Garbage is collected 3 days a week, there are no bins.
The island is well worth a visit, and you will get clearance to visit the other islands without all the paperwork. Saturday morning market is well worth a visit. BlueSky is the phone and internet provider, both in town and the market.
The bureaucracy is maddening. In theory, all officials arrive close to each other. In fact, the health check was at 08.30, the Customs in the afternoon and Bio-Security never appeared. Harbor dues are $2.48 per foot per day, cash only in the harbor office, Customer worked out at $95 per person for a 3-day visit, they take cards in the office.
Immigration is at the end of town with the Customs. The health check was $40. All in all, almost $550 for the visit.
Would I go back? Probably not.
Departure tax is $66.30 p.p
Customs fees $ 57.20
Harbour dues $2.45 per meter (monohull) per day
Do not buoy your anchor in Avatiu harbor. It’s likely that the buoy will be in the way of shipping and you will probably be asked to remove it.
All their mooring information is correct; surge is a major problem if there is an N in the wind. All officials now come to the harbor, not Trader Jacks. Do not go ashore until you have permission! The harbormaster is a great guy, very helpful. Anthony sv Wild Fox
Andre Tuiravakai is the ports operation manager
Departure tax is now 65 dollars
27 meters is the air restriction