Cook Islands
Cook Islands in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonPleasant, humid and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 8.7What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.8
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (23.9°C highs / 23.1°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 21.1°C)
- !Wet: ~164 mm rain, ~4 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline—
| May | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.7 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 24° / 23° | 23° / 22° |
| Rain | 164 mm | 58 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 21° | 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 & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in Cook Islands this month.
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 May.
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
Partner links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects scores.