National park · Cook Islands
Suwarrow National ParkTe Pāka Motu o Suwarrow
If you have a yacht crossing the Pacific, anchor in Suwarrow Lagoon for 2–4 days between May and October; land at the ranger station, walk the short trails to Tom Neale's cabin and the seabird colonies, and leave nothing but your book in the library. No commercial flights, no scheduled ferries, no entry fee.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
16 km² (6 sq mi)6 sq mi (16 km²)
approximate
Established
1978
Best months
May–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Polynesia ↗In much of Polynesia Sunday is kept for church and family: expect shops, tours and some flights to stop, and dress and behave quietly in villages.
- Cook Islands ↗Entry rules are the Cook Islands' own: visitors get a 31-day visitor permit on arrival with an onward ticket and booked accommodation, but check Cook Islands immigration for your passport. If you connect through Auckland, check New Zealand's NZeTA and transit rules too.
- Cook Islands ↗Declare food, plant and animal products on arrival; biosecurity inspection is strict.
- Cook Islands ↗Drive on the left; the speed limit around Rarotonga is low, and helmets are required on scooters. Check the licence rules for visitors on arrival.
At a glance
- Country
- Cook Islands
- Area
- 16 km² (6 sq mi)6 sq mi (16 km²)
- Land area of the atoll's islets; the lagoon and reef extend the protected area to about 400 km² (check).
- Established
- 1978
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Suwarrow National Park covers the entire Suwarrow Atoll in the Northern Cook Islands, a ring of coral islets around a turquoise lagoon. It is one of the most isolated national parks in the world, visited by a few dozen yachts each year. The atoll is famous as the home of Tom Neale, a New Zealander who lived alone here for 16 years across three stays between 1952 and 1977, writing *An Island to Oneself*. Today the park protects immense seabird colonies, pristine coral reefs and the quiet relics of Neale's life. There are no entry fees, no hotels, no shops; visitors arrive on their own yacht and stay as guests of the resident rangers.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1978.
Size and age
16 km² (6 sq mi)6 sq mi (16 km²) · national park since 1978
Land area of the atoll's islets; the lagoon and reef extend the protected area to about 400 km² (check).
Why go
- One of the world's most remote national parks, with fewer than 100 visitors per year.
- Immense seabird colonies: red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, noddies and terns nest on the islets.
- Walk the same coral paths Tom Neale walked, see his cabin and the sunset shelter he built.
- Anchor in a near-perfect lagoon with no other boats, no resorts, no crowds.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanCyclone season; anchorages exposed
- FebCyclone risk; unsettled
- MarCyclone tail; possible swells
- AprSwells easing; clearing skies
- MayTrade winds stable; dry
- JunCool and dry; best visibility
- JulDry and calm; peak season for yachts
- AugDry; steady trades
- SepDry; still good
- OctTransition; building heat
- NovCyclone season starts; humid
- DecCyclone risk; heavy rain possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, brown noddies, sooty ternsApr–Oct · Nesting peaks May–August. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Green sea turtlesAll year · Seen in the lagoon and on beaches. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Reef fish and coralAll year · Snorkelling is good year-round. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Rarotonga
Private yacht: 5–7 days sailing northwest. No scheduled transport.
5–7 days
Open the page →
From Samoa or American Samoa
Private yacht: about 4–5 days southwest.
4–5 days
From Expedition cruises
A few expedition ships call each year; check with Cook Islands Tourism.
varies
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage and ranger station | The main landing beach, the ranger's house, Tom Neale's cabin and the library. | Open to all who clear in. |
| Seabird nesting islets | Small coral islets around the lagoon with dense colonies of boobies, frigatebirds and terns. | Guided or with ranger permission; some closed in breeding season. |
| Lagoon and reef | The lagoon for swimming, snorkelling and dinghy exploration; the outer reef for experienced divers. | Open; watch for currents. |
Sketch map
- 1Ranger station and landing beach · Headquarters≈-13.269, 163.111Map ↗
- 2Tom Neale's cabin · Village≈-13.268, 163.112Approximate; short walk from the landing beach.Map ↗
- 3Tom Neale memorial · Viewpoint≈-13.268, 163.111Concrete bust near the cabin.Map ↗
- 4Sunset shelter · Viewpoint≈-13.267, 163.113Open-sided beach shelter.Map ↗
- 5Main seabird islet · Beach≈-13.260, 163.120Approximate; ask the ranger for the current nesting islets.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate; the atoll is small and points are for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Yacht clearance permit or guide
Landing on seabird islets permit or guide
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without ranger permission; seabirds are easily disturbed.check
- Rubbish
- Carry out all waste; there is no disposal on the atoll.
- Camping
- Not allowed on the islets; sleep on your yacht.
- Seabird islets
- Do not land on nesting islets without the ranger's guidance.
- Fishing
- Recreational fishing from a yacht is allowed; spearfishing on the reef may be restricted (check).
Where to stay
In the park
Your yacht
Anchor in the lagoon; no marina, no moorings. The ranger station has basic facilities for yachts (check).
Near the park
Rarotonga
Hotels and guesthouses in Avarua and around the island, 5–7 days sailing away.
Safety
Coral cuts and scrapes medium
Strong currents in the lagoon pass medium
Cyclones (November–April) high
Limited medical facilities high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The landing beach and paths are coral sand and sharp rock; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- No paved surfaces, no ramps, no accessible facilities.
Visiting lightly
- Do not disturb seabird colonies; keep a distance from nests and do not enter closed islets.
- Carry out all rubbish and food waste; the atoll has no waste management.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid touching coral when snorkelling or diving.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Suwarrow National Park?
There is no entry fee (check). The park is free to visit, but you must arrive on your own yacht or an expedition vessel.
What are the best hikes in Suwarrow National Park?
There are no formal hiking trails. The main walk is a short coral path from the landing beach to Tom Neale's cabin, his memorial and the sunset shelter — about 30–60 minutes round trip. A longer walk around the main islet passes seabird colonies.
When is the best time to visit Suwarrow National Park?
May to October, the dry season with stable trade winds. Cyclone season runs November to April; anchorages are exposed and the atoll may be dangerous.
Can I fly to Suwarrow?
No. There is no airstrip. The only ways to reach the atoll are by private yacht or an occasional expedition cruise.
Do I need a permit to visit?
No prior permit is needed, but you must check in with the ranger on arrival. Landing on some seabird islets may be restricted during nesting season.
Is there accommodation on Suwarrow?
No hotels, no guesthouses, no camping. Visitors sleep on their yacht. The ranger station has basic facilities for yachts (check).
Can I see Tom Neale's cabin?
Yes. The cabin is maintained and open to visitors. It contains a lending library for yachts — you can borrow or leave a book.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Suwarrow National Park
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