Avarua, Cook Islands: vitamin D, best months and travel guide
Tiny capital with a market and shops. Best for: culture travellers.
The best months for vitamin D in Avarua are April to November, when a full dose takes about 6 minutes at midday. Rainy or stormy from December to March.
Avarua month by month
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Bad weather | 7.8 h | 8.5 | 6 min | 27°C | 18/30 |
| February | Bad weather | 8.1 h | 8.8 | 6 min | 28°C | 11/30 |
| March | Bad weather | 7.5 h | 7.9 | 7 min | 28°C | 15/30 |
| April | Excellent | 6.9 h | 6.7 | 8 min | 28°C | 11/30 |
| May | Good | 5.8 h | 5.4 | 10 min | 27°C | 11/30 |
| June | Good | 5.3 h | 4.8 | 11 min | 25°C | 9/30 |
| July | Good | 5.6 h | 5.2 | 10 min | 25°C | 7/30 |
| August | Good | 6.4 h | 6.2 | 9 min | 24°C | 6/30 |
| September | Excellent | 7.0 h | 7.2 | 7 min | 25°C | 11/30 |
| October | Excellent | 8.0 h | 8.2 | 7 min | 24°C | 9/30 |
| November | Excellent | 8.5 h | 8.8 | 6 min | 25°C | 11/30 |
| December | Bad weather | 8.3 h | 8.5 | 6 min | 26°C | 22/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
What to expect in Avarua
Tiny capital with a market and shops. A dry season from May to October, warm and humid summers, and a small, walkable scale. Rarotonga can be circled by bus in under an hour.
In Avarua afternoon highs average from 24°C in August to 28°C in March. The wettest month is December (about 22 rainy days out of 30) and the driest is August (6). Midday UV peaks at 8.8 in February, which is very strong, so protect your skin.
More about Cook Islands · Cook Islands in November · Best places in November
Questions about Avarua
When is the best time to visit Avarua for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Avarua are April to November, when a full dose takes about 6 minutes at midday.
What is the weather like in Avarua?
Afternoon highs average from 24°C in August to 28°C in March. The wettest month is December, with about 22 rainy days out of 30.
Which months should I avoid in Avarua?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is rainy or stormy from December to March.