SeasonMapRarotonga (Cook Islands) weather in May
Cook Islands
May in Rarotonga: warm, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days.
#12 of 12 months in Rarotonga · #941 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 74/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Rarotonga in May
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 — May
| Daytime high | 26°C / 79°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 20°C / 68°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 27°C / 81°F | |
| Sea temperature | 27°C / 80°F | 😎 warm sea |
| Rainfall | 159 mm / 6.2 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 78% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 19°C / 67°F | |
| Sunshine | 8.3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 11.1 h | |
| Wind | 31 km/h / 19 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 41 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Rarotonga in May
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.
BusyDrier, cooler half of the year(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 May
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.
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 May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Rarotonga?
- May in Rarotonga: warm, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Rarotonga on SeasonMap's comfort score (74/100).
- What is the weather like in Rarotonga in May?
- In May, Rarotonga averages a daily high of 25.9°C and a low of 19.8°C, with about 158.7 mm of rain over roughly 16.5 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Rarotonga in May?
- Rarotonga has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 41 in May.
Other months in Rarotonga
Compare Rarotonga in May
Warmer or cooler than Rarotonga in May
Similar destinations in Pacific — May
Within 300 km: Aitutaki's Drier, cooler half of the year on 1 May – 31 Oct.