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GETTING AROUND
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Vehicles are driven on the left hand side of the road in the Cook Islands and the maximum speed is 30 Kmph in towns and villages and 50 Kmph in unpopulated areas. All drivers are required to obtain a Cook Island drivers licence from the Police Station in Avarua on presentation of your own countries drivers licence along with a fee of NZ$20. An additional charge is payable to sit a compulsory practical test for motor scooters if your licence does not cover this.
On Rarotonga there are a range of vehicles and motor scooters available to hire from rental companies around the island at daily or weekly rates. A number of the resorts also have on site hire cars and scooters available for hire. Bicycles are another option for exploring the island, and are widely available for hire. Taxis and a regular public bus service also operate on Rarotonga. The bus is a reliable economical means to travel, with buses departing on the hour and circumnavigating the island in approx. 50 minutes with frequent stops along the way. The bus will also stop anywhere on request.
Aitutaki has hire vehicles, motor scooters and bicycles for rent, but no public transport options. For many of the outer islands transport can be limited in the choice of scooters and bicycles for hire.
A number of companies also offer guided tours, ranging from circling the island in air-conditioned coaches, to 4wd vehicles, self-drive buggies, and quad-bikes that will take you to the out of the way places if you wish to really explore the Cook Islands while you are here. On the water, there are lagoon cruises that can ferry you out to secluded motu, the tiny islands at the edge of the reef, and those with glass-bottomed hulls show off incredible views of the colourful sea-life swimming underneath. Air Rarotonga has chartered scenic flights that will take you to those inaccessible places only the birds would usually get to see.
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