Cook Islands: Holidays, Events, Climate
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date, but are based on the location of Easter. Easter takes place on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, is 46 days before Holy Saturday. The date for Pentecost is then 50 days after Easter. The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
14th of February | Valentine’s day |
February March | Polynesian Culture Festival, in Papeete, Place Vaite |
5. March | Arrival of the first missionaries |
March April | Easter |
April 25 | Anzac Day |
May | Ascension |
23-25 May | The arrival of the bounty is celebrated every two years. |
Beginning. June | Queens Birthday |
beginning of August | National Independence Day |
beginning of September | Fathers day |
November 1 | All Saints Day, Turama |
November | Armistice Day, Armistice Day |
beginning of December | National Flower Day |
25 December | Christmas |
Source: Countryaah – Cook Islands Holidays
Cook Islands: Events
Date | Events |
January February | |
February March | Polynesian Culture Festival, in Papeete, Place Vaite |
March | Te Mire Atu – competition |
April | Te Mira Kapa dance festival |
May | Te Mire Ura – Dancer of the Year |
end of May | Palmerston Gospel Day, public holiday in Palmerston |
end of July | Atiu Gospel Day, public holiday only on Atiu |
end of July | Mitiaro Gospel Day, public holiday only on Mitiaro |
end of July | Rarotonga Gospel Day, public holiday only on MRarotonga |
July | Te Maeva Nui celebration |
Beginning of August | National Independence Day |
August | Manihiki Gospel Day, public holiday only in Manihiki |
End of October | Aitutaki Gospel Day, public holiday only on Aitutaki |
end of November | Vaka Eiva, canoe festival |
end of November | International food festival |
November | Armistice Day, Armistice Day |
beginning of December | Pukapuka Gospel Day, public holiday only on Pukapuka |
Cook Islands: Climate and Weather
The archipelago is located in the tropics and is surrounded by the Pacific. There is also a trade wind blowing there. This fact is largely responsible for the climate there. The rainy season lasts from November to April. The mean annual rainfall is z. B. on the island of Rarotonga around 2,000 mm. The highest precipitation falls in March with around 260 mm. Typhoons can be expected in the period from November to March.
By the way, climate is understood to mean long-term developments, whereas weather only means that over several days.
Climate table
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 14-15 | 28-29 | 22-23 |
February | 14-15 | 28-29 | 22-23 |
March | 15-16 | 28-29 | 22-23 |
April | 11-12 | 27-28 | 22-23 |
May | 12-13 | 25-26 | 22-23 |
June | 10-11 | 24-25 | 19-20 |
July | 8-9 | 24-25 | 17-18 |
August | 9-10 | 24-25 | 17-18 |
September | 7-8 | 25-26 | 18-19 |
October | 9-10 | 26-27 | 20-21 |
November | 10-11 | 26-27 | 20-21 |
December | 11-12 | 28-29 | 20-21 |
Cook Islands: Sightseeing
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
There are currently no UNESO world cultural or natural heritage sites on the Cook Islands. In addition, there are currently no proposals for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the Cook Islands.
Avarua
Avarua is the capital and largest city of the Cook Islands. However, Avarua only has about 5,500 residents. Almost every visitor comes to Avarua, because the city serves as a starting point for trips to all other islands. In the vicinity of the city is the Rarotonga International Airport, which brings visitors to the Cook Islands. There are supermarkets and two banks in town.
Museums and galleries
Cook Islands National Museum/ Rarotonga
A guided tour offers insights into traditional life in the fields of fishing, medicine, etc. on the islands.
Ministry of Marine Resources/Aitutaki
In the Ministry of Marine Resources the visitor can learn a lot about the underwater life in the lagoon. Baby turtles and clams can also be observed.
Beachcomber Contemporary Art/Rarotonga
The Art Gallery/Rarotonga
Church and cemetery
Cook Islands Christian Church
Avarua has a beautiful Protestant church from 1835. It was built from white coral blocks and looks like a small fortress in the middle of the surrounding cemetery.
Cemetery
The cemetery is opposite the church. Here you can also find the grave of the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Sir Albert Henry.
Marae Arai-Te-Tonga
Only stone ruins remain of what was once the island’s most important temple. This site is still considered sacred, so entering it is not encouraged.
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific was founded in 1968. Due to the geography of the South Pacific states, the university is spread over many locations. The University of the South Pacific is funded by 12 states, these are:
- Cook Islands
- Fiji Islands
- Kiribati
- Marshal Islands
- Nauru
- Niue
- Solomon Islands
- Samoa
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
The main campus of the university is located in Suva, Fiji Islands. A total of around 16,000 students are currently studying at all branches. The University of the South Pacific offers the following degree programs:
- Agricultural Sciences
- Computer science
- journalism
- tourism
- Social sciences
- environmental Protection
- Economics
Maire Nui Gardens
The Maire Nui Gardens on Rarotonga are the islands’ botanical gardens. The local flora can be observed here. The café in the park is also very nice and relaxing.
Natural beauties
Suwarrow
In principle, each of the 15 islands forms its own natural beauty. But the island of Suwarrow should be mentioned in particular. It was discovered on September 17, 1814 by the crew of the Russian sailor “Suvorov”, after which it was named. It was called the most romantic island in the world by the wife of Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), author of the novel “Treasure Island”. The island is a pure atoll. An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef that surrounds a lagoon.
Black Rocks/Rarotonga
The cliffs got the name Black Rocks because they are made of basalt. They are located on the main road near the airport.
One-Foot Island/Aitutaki
The ” one-foot ” island with its beaches and the wonderful blue lagoon offers the perfect South Sea experience.