Mauke Airport – MUK Mauke, Cook Islands

The unspoilt and far-flung Mauke is one of the 15 islands scattered over Cook Islands in the South Pacific. It is situated in the most easterly part of the country and its air facility, Mauke Airport is a small public airport for small aircrafts. The airport serves domestic scheduled flights and the occasional charter flights. In operation since the 1970s, the airport runs a sparse aviation operation catering to a limited number of passengers traveling to the island for vacation.

Best Time to Visit

MUK-Mauke Airport’s airstrip has a small hut that serves as a make-shift terminal. Air Rarotonga, the airline of the Cook Islands flies to Mauke from Rarotonga about 45 minutes awayalmost daily. The Mauke Airport had an original short grass runway built in 1977 but nowits new airstrip is made of compacted coral after it was updated in the early 1980s. The runway is situated opposite the ocean. Aside from Mauke, the picturesque communities of Mitiaro and Nukatere are accessible from the airport.

What to Do & Area Attractions

Since Mauke is a destination that’s meant to be a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, the accommodations in the island gear towards rustic and homey cottages as well as accredited homestead. The most popular lodgings close to Mauke Airport is the Tiare Cottages. If you are looking for posh accommodations, there is the Pacific Resort Rarotonga. You can also book at the Te Vakaroa Villas or The Black Pearl At Puaikura.

The neighboring island of Atiu, 70 kilometers off Mauke, also has a domestic airport, the Enua Airport (AIU) while the adjacent Mitiaro is the seat of the Mitiaro Airport (MOI), which is 40 kilometers away.