Getting to Manihiki requires planning and patience. Air Rarotonga operates the only scheduled air service — a flight from Rarotonga that takes around three hours and uses small propeller aircraft. The service is infrequent; flights do not run daily and the schedule depends on demand. Contact Air Rarotonga directly before planning a visit, as published schedules can be unreliable. The airstrip is at Tukao, on the northern islet.
Cargo ships from Rarotonga call at Manihiki irregularly — every few weeks when the supply schedule permits. Passenger berths exist in theory but the voyage takes several days and is not designed for comfort. For most visitors the plane is the only realistic option.
There is no tourist information office on Manihiki. Accommodation is limited to a small number of family homestays, which must be arranged in advance — through the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation in Rarotonga, through Air Rarotonga who can sometimes help with contacts, or via the Manihiki Island Council. Arriving without accommodation arranged is a significant risk on an island with a population of a few hundred.