the Cook Islands
The best time to visit
When to go to the Cook Islands
Go between June and October for the driest, breeziest weather, with September to November a warm, dry sweet spot before the rains. The damp season, December to March, is hotter and wetter and carries the cyclone risk.
A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Rarotonga. Higher is better. Some links on this page are affiliate links, at no cost to you.
The steadiest weather, peaking around Jun.
Either side of peak, with thinner crowds and better rates.
Cyclone season.
In short
The year at a glance
The Cook Islands pair Polynesian ease with New Zealand-simple logistics: no big resorts, a circle-island bus on Rarotonga, and Aitutaki's lagoon an hour north. The islands are warm year round and split into a dry season and a damp one. We rate on Rarotonga, where nearly everyone lands.
April to November is the drier half, with June the driest month and pleasantly cool nights mid-year. September to November is a local favourite: the air warms back up while the rain holds off. December to March brings humid heat and hard showers that usually pass within hours, plus the cyclone season.
Month by month
the Cook Islands month by month
Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Rarotonga.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rating | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 225 mm | Avoid 25 | Hot and very wet, storm season. |
| February | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 210 mm | Avoid 27 | Hot and wet, storm season. |
| March | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 200 mm | Fair 29 | Hot and wet, storm season. |
| April | 28°C / 82°F | 22°C / 72°F | 150 mm | Fair 36 | Warm and wet, storm season. |
| May | 27°C / 81°F | 21°C / 70°F | 120 mm | Great 70 | Warm and wet. |
| June | 26°C / 79°F | 20°C / 68°F | 75 mm | Ideal 88 | Warm with a little rain. Rarotonga hotels in June |
| July | 25°C / 77°F | 19°C / 66°F | 85 mm | Ideal 84 | Warm with a little rain. Rarotonga hotels in July |
| August | 25°C / 77°F | 19°C / 66°F | 95 mm | Ideal 80 | Warm with a little rain. Rarotonga hotels in August |
| September | 26°C / 79°F | 19°C / 66°F | 100 mm | Ideal 78 | Warm with a little rain. |
| October | 26°C / 79°F | 20°C / 68°F | 110 mm | Ideal 74 | Warm with a little rain. |
| November | 27°C / 81°F | 21°C / 70°F | 140 mm | Fair 40 | Warm and wet, storm season. |
| December | 28°C / 82°F | 22°C / 72°F | 190 mm | Fair 31 | Warm and wet, storm season. |
By region
Where you go changes when you go
Rarotonga
The green, peaked main island, ringed by one road and a lagoon. Best June to November.
Aitutaki
One of the Pacific's great lagoons, a short flight north and slightly warmer and drier than Rarotonga.
Atiu and the outer islands
Raised coral islands with caves, birdlife and almost no tourists. Go in the dry season for the flights' sake.
Go for
Best time to visit the Cook Islands for
Lagoon days and snorkelling
June to October for clarity and calm; Aitutaki day trips run year round.
Whale watching
July to October, when humpbacks pass close off Rarotonga's reef.
Hiking the Cross-Island Track
The dry months, when the red-earth trail over Rarotonga's spine is at its least slippery.
Best value
February to March, the quietest, wettest stretch, if you can live with humid heat and showers.
On the calendar
What is on, and when
Te Maeva Nui, late Jul to early Aug
The constitution celebrations: two weeks of drumming and dance that pack Rarotonga.
Whale season, Jul to Oct
Humpbacks cruise the reef edge, often visible from shore.
Cyclone season
Nov to Apr.
Rainy season
Nov to Apr.
Where to stay
Where to stay in the Cook Islands
Compare hotels and rentals around Rarotonga, then book the month you want.
Ready to book?
Rates climb in peak season, so the best-weather months pay to book early. Shoulder and low months are the value windows.
Prefer to sort flights first? Compare flights
Questions
Good to know
What is the best time to visit Rarotonga?
When is cyclone season in the Cook Islands?
Do the Cook Islands get cold?
Where else, and when
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