Cook Islands
Cook Islands in January
🌧️ Rainy seasonPleasant, humid and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why January scores 8.3What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.3
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (24.8°C highs / 24°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 22.6°C)
- !Wet: ~178 mm rain, ~6 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Flood: ~6 heavy-rain days in an average January
- Safety baseline—
| Jan | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.3 Very good | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 25° / 24° | 23° / 22° |
| Rain | 178 mm | 58 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 23° | dew pt 20° |
| PM2.5 | 6 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsJanuary 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Day after New Year's Day 1–4 Jan · 4 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Cook IslandsEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA group of South Pacific islands in free association with New Zealand, known for Rarotonga's lagoon, Aitutaki's turquoise waters and Polynesian culture.
No major events on our calendar for January.
Coming up later
Te Maeva NuiDate variesUsually late July to early August
A festival marking self-government, with dance and drumming competitions.
Why go: A good time to see traditional performance.
Where: Rarotonga
Humpback whale seasonDate variesUsually July to October
Humpbacks visit to breed and calve.
Why go: Whales can often be seen from shore.
Where: Around Rarotonga and Aitutaki
Vaka EivaDate variesUsually November
An outrigger canoe racing festival.
Why go: Accommodation fills during the event.
Where: Rarotonga
Aitutaki Lagoon
A huge turquoise lagoon visited on cruises with stops at motu islets such as One Foot Island.
Muri Lagoon
A shallow lagoon on Rarotonga for kayaking and snorkelling.
Cross-Island Track
A hike over the centre of Rarotonga past the Needle rock.
💡 Can be slippery after rain.
Punanga Nui Market
A Saturday morning market in Avarua with food, crafts and music.
Island night shows
Dance and drumming performances with dinner, held at resorts and cultural venues.
Whale watching
Humpback whales pass close to the islands.
Ika mata
Raw fish marinated in citrus and coconut cream.
Rukau
Taro leaves cooked in coconut cream.
Umu
Food cooked in an earth oven.
Poke
A pudding of banana or pumpkin with coconut sauce, not the Hawaiian dish.
Black pearls
Pearls from the northern atolls such as Manihiki.
💡 Pearl shops in Avarua
Tivaevae
Hand-sewn appliqué quilts.
💡 Craft shops and markets
Pareu
Printed wraps.
💡 Punanga Nui Market
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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