What's on in Rarotonga (Cook Islands), Cook Islands through the year

Busy — New Zealand summer holidays, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr), New Zealand summer holidays (19 Dec – 27 Jan (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Busy — Drier, cooler half of the year

• Season

  Drier, cooler half of the year

  1 May – 31 OctDry seasonCrowded

  May 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.

Busy — Drier, cooler half of the year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Drier, cooler half of the year (1 May – 31 Oct)

Peak crowds — Drier, cooler half of the year, Te Maeva Nui

• Nature

  Humpback whale season

  15 Jul – 15 Oct · usually

  Humpbacks 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 early

  Ten 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 ↗

Still on: Drier, cooler half of the year (1 May – 31 Oct)

Peak crowds — Drier, cooler half of the year, Te Maeva Nui

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Drier, cooler half of the year (1 May – 31 Oct), Humpback whale season (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)), Te Maeva Nui (25 Jul – 4 Aug)

Busy — Drier, cooler half of the year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Drier, cooler half of the year (1 May – 31 Oct), Humpback whale season (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Drier, cooler half of the year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Drier, cooler half of the year (1 May – 31 Oct), Humpback whale season (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, Vaka Eiva

• Hazard

  Cyclone season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr

  The South Pacific cyclone season runs from November to April, peaking between December and February. Most years pass without a hit, and the wet months are the cheapest to visit. Source ↗

• Festival

  Vaka Eiva

  20–27 NovMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  A week of outrigger racing around the island with crews from across the Pacific, run partly in the lagoon and partly out in open water. It is the island's biggest sporting week. Source ↗

Busy — New Zealand summer holidays, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  New Zealand summer holidays

  19 Dec – 27 Jan · usuallySchool holidaysCrowded

  The island is a four-hour flight from Auckland, so the Christmas break fills the beachfront rentals despite it being the wet half of the year. Rates peak either side of New Year. Source ↗

Still on: Cyclone season (1 Nov – 30 Apr)