SeasonMapRarotonga (Cook Islands) weather in August
Cook Islands
August in Rarotonga: warm, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
#6 of 12 months in Rarotonga · #631 of 1383 destinations to visit in August · comfort 81/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Rarotonga in August
Other months in Rarotonga
Rarotonga's forum calls October-November a favorite window, technically within cyclone season but with genuinely low odds of a storm actually hitting during a visit. Regulars note November runs noticeably more humid than October, though still comfortable enough to sleep without air conditioning, and flag it as low season for tourism, meaning better accommodation rates.
Add your own note from Rarotonga's card on the map.
Rarotonga climate normals — August
| Daytime high | 24°C / 75°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 18°C / 64°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 24°C / 75°F | |
| Sea temperature | 25°C / 77°F | 😎 warm sea |
| Rainfall | 104 mm / 4.1 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 10 days | |
| Humidity | 74% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 16°C / 62°F | |
| Sunshine | 9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 11.4 h | |
| Wind | 31 km/h / 19 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 42 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Rarotonga in August
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsDrier, cooler half of the year, Te Maeva Nui, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Rarotonga's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherRarotonga's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Rarotonga in August
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Drier, cooler half of the year
1 May – 31 OctDry seasonCrowdedMay to October is the drier, cooler half and the island's high season. The cross-island track is at its least slippery and the lagoon on the south side is calmest early.
- Nature
Humpback whale season
15 Jul – 15 Oct · usuallyHumpbacks arrive from July and stay into October, often just beyond the reef where the drop-off is close to shore. Plenty of sightings happen from the coast road.
- Festival
Te Maeva Nui
25 Jul – 4 AugMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyTen days of constitution celebrations, with island teams competing in dance and song every night. Flights from Auckland and beds on the island are the first things to go. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Rarotonga — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Rarotonga?
Rarotonga in August — FAQ
- Is August a good time to visit Rarotonga?
- August in Rarotonga: warm, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Rarotonga on SeasonMap's comfort score (81/100).
- What is the weather like in Rarotonga in August?
- In August, Rarotonga averages a daily high of 23.9°C and a low of 17.7°C, with about 104.1 mm of rain over roughly 10.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Rarotonga in August?
- Rarotonga has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 42 in August.
Other months in Rarotonga
Compare Rarotonga in August
Warmer or cooler than Rarotonga in August
Similar destinations in Pacific — August
Within 300 km: Avarua's Humpback whale season around 15 Jul – 15 Oct, and Aitutaki's Humpback whale season around 15 Jul – 15 Oct.