The Cook Islands
Flights land on Rarotonga, the main island, and many trips add Aitutaki for its lagoon and slow island pace.
The Cook Islands are 15 islands in the South Pacific, a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand. Rarotonga is the largest and most populated island. It has the main airport and the capital, Avarua, and a coast road of about 32 km circles the island. Aitutaki, a short flight away, is known for its wide lagoon, ringed by low sandy islets called motus. Atiu is quieter, with raised coral limestone and caves.
Visitors come for beaches, snorkeling, lagoon boat trips and a slow pace, and Cook Islands Māori culture shows up in music, dance and everyday life. The dry months, May to October, are cooler and less humid. November to April is warmer and wetter, and falls in cyclone season. Plan at least a week, and add Aitutaki for a lagoon day or a few nights.
Five things to know before The Cook Islands
- Carry an onward ticket and a room booking
Canada's advice says Canadians can stay up to 31 days without a visa. Carry a return or onward ticket, funds and a passport valid 6 months past departure. Check your own passport with the Cook Islands immigration service. Visas and entry
- Ride the round-the-island bus on Rarotonga
Two buses circle the island on the coast road, one clockwise and one anticlockwise. They are the easiest way around if you do not want to rent a scooter or car.
- Check your license covers a scooter
Scooters are the popular way around Rarotonga, but riders need a valid license for them and should wear a helmet. Ask your rental company which licenses they accept before you book.
- Book the Aitutaki flight early
Aitutaki is about 45 minutes by air from Rarotonga, on small planes with few seats. Book it when you book the international flight, especially in school holidays.
- Keep to lagoon safety rules
Swim inside the reef, never near the passages where currents run out to sea. Wear reef shoes and do not stand on or touch the coral.
The Cook Islands travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Stay length, extensions and what to show on arrival.
Read the guideTravel insuranceScooter, snorkeling and evacuation cover.
Read the guideGetting aroundThe island bus, scooters and flights to Aitutaki.
Read the guideMoneyNew Zealand dollars, Cook Islands coins and card use.
Read the guide
Destinations in The Cook Islands
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- NZ$50
- Food
- NZ$45
- Transport
- NZ$10
- Sights
- NZ$20
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- NZ$120
- Food
- NZ$105
- Transport
- NZ$30
- Sights
- NZ$80
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- NZ$200
- Food
- NZ$180
- Transport
- NZ$80
- Sights
- NZ$180
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain18 rainy daysHigh27°Low26°Hot, cyclone riskJanuaryRain
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 237 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, cyclone risk
- FebruaryRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low26°WettestFebruaryRain
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 286 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- MarchRain20 rainy daysHigh27°Low26°Wet, cyclone riskMarchRain
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 229 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cyclone risk
- AprilRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Showers easeAprilRain
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers ease
- MayRain18 rainy daysHigh25°Low24°DrierMayRain
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 208 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low23°Dry, mildJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mild
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low23°Dry, whalesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, whales
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low22°Dry, whalesAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, whales
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low23°Dry, whalesSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, whales
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh24°Low23°Dry, warmOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh24°Low23°Warm, showersNovemberRain
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, showers
- DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Wet, holidaysDecemberRain
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, holidays
Average daily high and low in Avarua, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Cook Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
21
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 47 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 80%
Rarotonga
10:36 AM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°21°80%Monday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Tue22°20°21%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Wed22°20°61%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Thu23°21°19%Thursday: Drizzle. High 23°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Fri23°22°27%Friday: Clear. High 23°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 27%.
- Sat24°22°44%Saturday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 44%.
- Sun24°22°56%Sunday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 56%.
Updated 07:11 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.778 NZD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
The Cook Islands FAQ
Do I need a visa for the Cook Islands?
Canadian passports can stay up to 31 days without a visa. Carry a return or onward ticket, funds and a passport valid 6 months past departure. Check other passports with the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
How do I get to the Cook Islands?
Most flights to Rarotonga come from Auckland, with some from Sydney, Tahiti and Los Angeles depending on the season.
Is Aitutaki worth the flight?
For most visitors, yes. The lagoon is the main sight, and a day lagoon cruise to the motu is the classic trip. A night or two is better than a day visit.
What money is used in the Cook Islands?
The New Zealand dollar. Canada's advice says most hotels, shops and restaurants take major credit cards, with ATMs on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
When can you see whales in the Cook Islands?
Humpback whales pass from about July to October and can sometimes be seen from shore on Rarotonga.