Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands uses Pacific/Rarotonga, currently -10 (UTC-10:00). No clock changes are scheduled in the next 12 months.
Avarua is the capital of the Cook Islands, with a population of about 13,400. Unlike many places, it does not observe daylight saving time.
The band below is your local scale — accent shows when everyone's business hours overlap. Add or remove a city on the left and this updates too.
Written for people arriving, calling in, or planning a trip around the time difference.
Avarua's small town center holds shops, markets, and the main harbor within an easily walkable area on Rarotonga. Villages further around the island's coastal road offer a quieter alternative, generally reached by bus or scooter from town.
The waterfront and central market are worth an unhurried visit, while the island's lush interior and lagoon are best explored when the weather is calm and clear. Cooler, drier months suit hiking the island's central trails.
A coastal bus loop circles Rarotonga in both directions, making it easy to get around without a car, while scooters are also popular with visitors. Avarua's town center itself is comfortably walkable.
The Cook Islands' Southern Hemisphere dry season, roughly May through October, generally brings cooler, less humid conditions than the wetter, cyclone-prone months from November through April, which see heavier rain.
Cook Islands uses the NZD, calling code +682.
The Cook Islands uses the New Zealand dollar, and Cook Islands Māori and English are both official languages, so English generally serves visitors well throughout the island. A relaxed, friendly manner is typical.
