Holidays in the Cook Islands 2022/2023

Gloriously hidden from the limelight which shines brightly over its South Pacific neighbours Fiji and Tahiti, the Cook Islands are picture-perfect specks of heaven. With no mass tourism, no high-rise buildings and not even a single traffic light to be seen, a luxury Cook Islands holiday offers the most laid-back taste of the South Seas.

Rarotonga is the Cooks’ largest island (but still small enough to circumnavigate by bus, scooter or car in less than an hour!), a volcanic dot on the map where lush emerald peaks are ringed by whiter-than-white beaches, orange-tinged coral and azure lagoons. A government law which doesn’t allow buildings to be higher than the tallest palm tree gives the landscape an authentically pristine feel, while the friendly and colourful Cooks culture means it’s impossible not to fall in love with its people.

The curving island of Aitutaki promises an even more leisurely lifestyle, an escape where you’ll instantly be chilled. Secret sandy cays, neon-like turquoise lagoons and not a soul to be seen make Aitutaki a place that you’ll feel you’re the first to discover. A visit to the rustic cabin on One Foot Island will reward you with a footprint-shaped stamp in your passport, so you can prove to your friends at home that you really did find paradise.

The Cook Islands offers local charm and blissful beaches in equal measure, with the island of Rarotonga promising emerald-wrapped authentic villages and Aitutaki guaranteeing sugar-white sands. Luxury accommodation and beach bungalows offer glorious places to stay on both islands, each like a slice of paradise on the South Pacific's best-kept secret.

The steady tropical climate the Cook Islands enjoy means it’s a destination you can visit at any time in the year. Generally, its dry season runs from April to November and its wet season from December to March.

The dry season sees slightly cooler temperatures, fluctuating between 20°C and 26°C throughout the day, so it’s the best time to visit the Cook Islands if you want to explore as well as relax. The evenings can sometimes be cooler, so it’s worth packing an extra layer just in case. While you’re less likely to see rain during these months, Rarotonga’s extremely lush appearance is a sign there is rain throughout the year. It generally comes in the form of the occasional shower, which often disappears quickly. In August and September, it’s possible to see humpback whales from the shores of Rarotonga as they come from the cold waters of Antarctica to mate.

The wetter season brings higher humidity and temperatures – which can reach 30°C – and a greater chance of rain, although these are usually in the form of short, sharp showers and are rarely all-day occurrences. January and February are when the heat and chance of rain are at their greatest.