RarotongaPhoto: Archives New Zealand from New Zealand · CC BY-SA 2.0Cook Islands · Oceania
Best time to visit Rarotonga
Rarotonga, the main Cook Island, pairs a turquoise lagoon, palm beaches and green peaks with a relaxed South Pacific culture. Warm all year; wetter in the southern summer.
Climate decision
Best travel months for Rarotonga
Top recommendation
Next highest scores
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Latest 5-year values 2021–2025
Average of the five most recent complete years compared with the 1991–2025 climate average.
May · Wet days
20.8 days/month
1991–2025: 16.7 days/month
+4.1 days/month · higher
November · Monthly precipitation
48.3 mm/month
1991–2025: 113.6 mm/month
-65.3 mm/month · lower
May · Mean daily maximum
26.1 °C
1991–2025: 25.5 °C
+0.6 °C · higher
March · Sea temperature
28.3 °C
1991–2025: 27.7 °C
+0.6 °C · higher
March: 0/155 days at or above 30 °C; highest single value 29.3 °C.
Five-year historical sample, not a weather forecast or long-term climate trend. Individual hot days can be far above the monthly mean.
Annual profile · Rainfall rhythm
Rarotonga: rainfall separates the travel months
The driest and wettest months are 10.5 rainy days apart. Average daily highs vary by 3.7 °C, so both signals matter when choosing a month.
What matters
A warmer month is not automatically the most reliable. Read the drier windows alongside sunshine, sea temperature and the activity you have in mind.
Fewest rainy days
June · 10.6
Most rainy days
March · 21.1
Most sunshine
November · 8.1 h
Warmest sea
March · 27.7 °C
Month by month
Overall suitability per month. Tap a month for details.
All climate figures compared
The table is the complete accessible data view; the charts below highlight selected patterns.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Rain mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27 | 26 | 19 | 192 | 7.9 | 82 | 5.2 | 27 | 68 |
| February | 27 | 26 | 19 | 190 | 7.6 | 81 | 5.1 | 28 | 66 |
| March | 27 | 26 | 21 | 189 | 6.9 | 81 | 4.9 | 28 | 64 |
| April | 27 | 26 | 17 | 155 | 5.9 | 80 | 5.3 | 27 | 69 |
| May | 26 | 25 | 17 | 160 | 4.7 | 79 | 5.4 | 26 | 70 |
| June | 24 | 24 | 11 | 62 | 4.6 | 78 | 5.5 | 25 | 81 |
| July | 24 | 23 | 12 | 83 | 4.7 | 78 | 5.5 | 25 | 78 |
| August | 23 | 23 | 12 | 69 | 5.6 | 78 | 5.5 | 24 | 79 |
| September | 24 | 23 | 13 | 78 | 6.7 | 79 | 5.8 | 24 | 78 |
| October | 24 | 23 | 14 | 94 | 7.5 | 79 | 5.6 | 25 | 77 |
| November | 25 | 24 | 14 | 114 | 8.1 | 80 | 5.2 | 26 | 77 |
| December | 26 | 25 | 18 | 164 | 7.9 | 81 | 5.4 | 26 | 71 |
Climate through the year
Compare temperature, rainy days, sunshine and, for coastal destinations, sea temperature month by month.
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Where to stay in Rarotonga
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The number is the overall climate score, not a similarity score.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Rarotonga?
The strongest climate months are June, July, August, September. Values are historical averages, not a forecast.
Which month has the highest average daily maximum temperature in Rarotonga?
Average daily maximum temperatures in Rarotonga are practically tied in February and March at around 27 °C.
When is the sea warmest at Rarotonga?
In March, at around 28 °C.