Cook Islands: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations, and Warnings
Infectious diseases
- Nationwide dengue fever infection risk
- Nationwide filariasis infection risk
- Various intestinal infections such as worm infestation, salmonella, shigella, amoeba and lamblia
- The HIV risk is considered to be rather low
There is no risk of malaria infection.
There is no compulsory vaccination to enter the Cook Islands. However, the following vaccinations are recommended:
- Hepatitis A and B
- tetanus
- typhus
- diphtheria
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most children in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.
There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.
As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens Service
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
Current warning notices:
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Cook Islands: Getting There and Transport
Air traffic
As with most of the island states widespread in the South Pacific, an airplane is the fastest and most important means of transport. In addition to a number of regional airports, there is an international airport in Rarotonga with connections to Auckland/New Zealand, Los Angeles/USA, Papeete on Tahiti but also to Europe and the USA.
buses
On the main island of Rarotonga in particular, there is a local bus that travels the approximately 35 km long roads around the island in both directions every hour.
Rental cars, motorcycles
Rental cars can be used on a number of islands. Motorcycles and mopeds are also available. Scooters play an important role on the main island of Rarotonga.
On the island we drove left. The maximum speed within the built-up areas is 40 km/h and outside of built-up areas it is 50 km/h.
Anyone wishing to drive a car in the islands must obtain a Cook Islands driving license from the Avarua Police Station. the cost is NZ $ 10. Moped riders must take a skill test for NZ $ 5.
Ferry connections
There are ports in Avarua on the island of Rarotonga and a second port basin in Avativ near Avarua.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the Cook Islands license plate is:
| NZ |
Cook Islands: entry and exit requirements
Formalities, visas
A valid passport is required for entry. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended stay in the Cook Islands. Furthermore, a return or connecting flight ticket must be presented and sufficient financial means for the duration of the stay must be proven.
For stays of up to 31 days, visas are issued free of charge for tourist purposes at the airport. For longer stays, a visa must be applied for at the immigration authorities:
Principal Immigration Officer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
PO Box 105
Rarotonga
Tel: 00 682 – 29 347
Fax: 00 682 – 21 247
Email: [email protected]
Import and export of goods
There are no particular restrictions. The import of drugs, weapons or explosives is of course strictly prohibited. For weapons e.g. B. on sailboats a special permit is required. Duty-free imports of 200 cigarettes or 1 kg of tobacco or 50 cigars, 2 liters of high-proof alcohol or wine or 4.5 liters of beer are permitted.
Departure tax
There is an exit tax of NZ $ 30 per adult and NZ $ 15 per child (2-11 years). Children up to 2 years of age can leave the country tax-free.
Cook Islands: currency, exchange rate
The local currency of the Cook Islands is the
New Zealand dollar = 100 cents.
But there are also some of the country’s own coins and banknotes, such as the 3 dollar notes from the Cook Islands, which are particularly beautifully illustrated.
Exchange rate
You can find a currency converter here:
www3.forium.de
Embassies, consulates and tourist office
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Cook Islands embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations in Germany
There is no representation of the Cook Islands in Germany. The interests of the island nation are represented by the New Zealand embassy or its consulate general.
The New Zealand embassy is located on the fourth floor of the office and commercial building “Atrium Friedrichstrasse, Berlin” at Friedrichstrasse 60 – corner of Leipzigerstrasse in the Berlin-Mitte district. Not far away is the underground station “Stadtmitte” for lines U2 and U6. With a little luck, you can find a parking space in the nearby Kronenstrasse.
New Zealand Embassy in Berlin
Friedrichstr. 60 (Atrium)
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 2062 10
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 2062 1114
Email: [email protected]
www.nzembassy.com/germany
New Zealand Consulate General in Hamburg
Domstrasse 19 (Zurich House)
20095 Hamburg
Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 4425550
Fax: 0049 – (0) 40 – 4425549
Email: [email protected]
German representations in the Cook Islands
Embassy
The Federal Republic of Germany does not have its own embassy on the Cook Islands, but is only represented by an honorary consuk. The embassy in Wellington, New Zealand is responsible.
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Wellington Hobson Street 90-92 Thorndon 6011, Wellington: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany PO Box 1687 Wellington 6140 New Zealand Tel: 0064 – (0) 4 473 60 63 Fax: 0064 – (0) 4 473 60 69 Email: [email protected] www.wellington.diplo.de
The German embassy in Wellington is still responsible for:
- American Samoa
- Fiji Islands
- Kiribati
- Niue
- Pitcairn
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Tokelau
- Tuvalu
Honorary Consul in Avarua
:
Browne Gibson Harvey PC
Parekura Place
PO Box 144
Avarua, Rarotonga
Tel: 00679 – 24 567
00679 – 24 577
Fax: 00679 – 211 567
Email: [email protected]
Austrian representations in the Cook Islands
Embassy
Austria does not have its own embassy in the Cook Islands. The Austrian embassy in Canberra, Australia is responsible.
Embassy in Canberra
12 Talbot Street
Forrest, ACT 2603
:
PO Box 3375
Manuka, ACT 2603
Tel: 0061 – 2 – 6295 1533
Fax: 0061 – 2 – 6239 6751
Email: [email protected]
www.aussenministerium.at/canberra
www.austria.org.au
The Austrian embassy in Canberra is still responsible for:
- Fiji Islands
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Swiss representations in the Cook Islands
Embassy
Switzerland does not have its own embassy in the Cook Islands. The Swiss embassy in New Zealand is responsible.
Embassy, Embassy of Switzerland in Wellington
10 Customhouse Quay, Level 12
6140 Wellington
:
PO Box 25004
6146 Wellington
Tel: 0064 – (0) 4 – 472 1593
Fax: 0064 – (0) 4 – 499 6302
Email: [email protected]
http://www.eda.admin.ch/wellington
The Swiss Embassy Embassy in Wellingtion is still responsible for:
- Fiji Islands
- Niue
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Tokelau
Tourist office
Cook Islands Tourism Marketing Corporation
Fischerstrasse 28
82266 Inning am Ammersee
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 172 – 72 62 394
www.cookislands.travel
