Best time to visit Cook Islands

April and September to November. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

April and September to November

Shoulder months lead: April, September, October and November. June to August has the driest, sunniest weather but the biggest crowds.

“The shoulder months of April, May, September, and October are considered the best times to visit.” nine.com.au
“The shoulder seasons of April and May, and September and October are usually known for their combination of warm, dry weather.” cookislands.travel
“September, October and November are the best months to visit the Cook Islands” cookislandspocketguide.com

6 of the 9 travel guides we read name these months.

Cook Islands month by month

Average high and low in Avarua

January84°F / 74°FChecking fares…Warmest stretch of the year, with highs near 29°C.Wet season: humid with frequent showers and lush greenery.Tourism is at its quietest after the Christmas holidays.
February84°F / 74°FChecking fares…One guide calls February the worst month, with the heaviest rain.Wet season: more humidity and rain, usually in short heavy bursts.Low season, with the fewest tourists.
March84°F / 74°FChecking fares…Part of the wet season and the low season.The wet season, December to March, is hotter, stickier and wetter.Tropical cyclones occur in the wet season, though the islands are not usually badly hit.
Best timeApril83°F / 73°FChecking fares…Shoulder season, named among the best months for warm, dry weather.One guide says April stands out for lower rainfall and is the start of the dry season.The Dancer of the Year Contest is held in April or May in Rarotonga.
May80°F / 70°FChecking fares…Shoulder season, listed among the best times to visit.Kitesurfing season begins in May and runs to October.
June78°F / 68°FChecking fares…Start of the peak of the dry season, when humidity and rainfall are lowest.Humpback whales arrive between mid-June and October.June to August is one of the busiest periods, with visitors from Australia and New Zealand.
July76°F / 67°FChecking fares…A particularly busy month during Australian and New Zealand winter school holidays.Te Maeva Nui cultural festival runs from the end of July into August.July and August are the coolest and driest months.Te Maeva Nui
August77°F / 68°FChecking fares…Among the coolest and driest months, with the best weather of the year.Te Maeva Nui celebrates self-rule from 1965 with music and dance.High season, matching the Australian and New Zealand school holidays.
Best timeSeptember78°F / 68°FChecking fares…Shoulder season, named among the best months to visit.Humpback whales are in Cook Islands waters from September to October.Whale watching and kitesurfing are on in September and October.
Best timeOctober79°F / 69°FChecking fares…Shoulder season, with warm, dry weather.One source places the Te Mire Ura dance competition in October at Rarotonga's National Auditorium.Whales are still around through October.
Best timeNovember81°F / 71°FChecking fares…Named among the best months, with warm temperatures and less rain than April and May.The Te Mire Tiare flower festival is held in November in Rarotonga.Late shoulder season, November and early December, tends to be the best value of the year.Vaka Eiva
December82°F / 72°FChecking fares…High season because of Christmas travel.The wet season starts, with hotter, stickier weather.Late December is one of the busier times, with expats returning home for Christmas.

Weather: Avarua averages (long-term averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Rarotonga from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

What's on in Cook Islands

Festivals and seasons through the year

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

June to August and DecemberAustralian and New Zealand winter school holidays, plus Christmas travel.
June to AugustPeak of the dry season and the peak tourist season.

Quietest

January to MarchWet season, quietest for tourist numbers.
December to MarchOff-season matches the wet season, with emptier beaches.

Watch for

December to MarchWet season: occasional severe tropical storms and even cyclones, though severe weather is rare.
December to MarchTropical cyclones are possible, though the Cook Islands are not usually badly affected.
FebruaryOne guide says heavy rain and frequent storms make February the month to avoid.
June to AugustFlights should be booked in good time for the busiest periods.

Questions people ask

Is March a good time to travel to Cook Islands?: March is in the wet season: hotter, stickier and wetter, with short heavy showers. It also falls in the quiet low season.
What are the best islands to visit in the Cook Islands?: Rarotonga is the main island and the natural base. Aitutaki's lagoon is one of the most photographed stretches of water in the South Pacific.

Best time to visit Cook Islands

April and September to November

Cook Islands month by month

Every date to Rarotonga from your city

What's on in Cook Islands

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

Best time to visit other places

Best time to visit Cook Islands

April and September to November

Cook Islands month by month

Every date to Rarotonga from your city

What's on in Cook Islands

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

Best time to visit other places