20 Things to Do in the Cook Islands on a Rainy Day

The Discover Marine Wildlife & Eco Centre is a rainy-day must-do for nature lovers and families. This compact centre is packed with fascinating displays, from rehabilitated seabirds and coconut crabs to intriguing whaling and shipwreck artefacts.

Browse the aquarium with its devilish stonefish and learn about the formation of the Cook Islands. After exploring, treat yourself to a sweet treat at the new Lickity Splitz Ice Cream Parlour.

The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 10:30 am to 4 pm. See more experiences like this in the 40 Best Things to Do in the Cook Islands with Kids.

Location: West Side of Rarotonga. Main Road (Ara Tapu), Arorangi.

Discover the fascinating history of the Cook Islands at the Te Ara Museum, an affordable all-weather activity perfect for those rainy days. Immerse yourself in grand exhibitions tracing the journey of early Polynesian navigators to Rarotonga, explore European influences, and gain insights into the islands' present and future.

For an even more enriching experience, join a guided culture tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m., led by a fabulous local guide who will bring the exhibits to life. After your cultural journey, relax with light refreshments at the café and browse our selection of 100% locally made gifts in the shop.

The museum is open seven days a week from 9 am (10 am on weekends) until 4 pm. With free WiFi available, you can easily share your newfound knowledge with friends and family back home!

If you want to skip to more museums, check out the 5 Best Museums in the Cook Islands.

Location: East side of Rarotonga. Main Road (Ara Tapu), Muri.

You’ll forget all about the rain while you’re immersing in a therapeutic massage or another island spa treatment. A selection of resorts on Rarotonga and Aitutaki specialise in spa treatments, from the "Vichy Showers" of the Waterfall Spa at Rumours Luxury Villas to the traditional practices of Spa Polynesia at Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island and The Rarotongan.

There are far too many spas to list here, so take a look at the 10 Best Places to Get a Massage in the Cook Islands to find your perfect place to unwind.

Location: See spa locations in the link above.

The Cook Islands Māori culture and marine environment are the main inspiration for art across the Cook Islands. This makes for some breathtaking pieces to admire at the galleries of Rarotonga’s talented artists. Pop into the Bergman Gallery, Two Mamas Gallery, Ani's Art Gallery and more while exploring the island.

Alternatively, some local artists offer all-weather workshops.

The Coco Brush Paint & Sip experience offers a delightful two-hour painting session that's perfect for unleashing your creativity, rain or shine. Expert instructors provide guidance and all the materials you need, so you can focus on enjoying the artistic process. Just bring your creative spirit and get ready to paint!

Alternatively, hide from the rain at the Te 'Are Vananga shell-carving workshop, where you'll learn to make your own carved earrings for a unique souvenir.

One more for good measure, Circle Cook Islands teaches you how to make some seriously cool earrings and bags from everyday waste, teaching you sustainable skills you can replicate at home.

See what makes each gallery worth visiting in the 5 Best Art Galleries in the Cook Islands.

Location: See the above links for specific locations.

Drive yourself on an exciting off-roading adventure with Raro Buggy Tours or Raro Quad Tours, two self-drive tours that take you deep into Rarotonga's muddy trails, lush valleys and tropical forests.

Choose between one or two-seater 4x4 buggies (lasting 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hours) or single and double quad bikes (lasting 2 hours to 2 hrs 30 mins). Either way, your passionate local guide will get you acquainted with your vehicle before heading off the beaten track toward the Papua Waterfall (also known as Wigmore's Waterfall), while sharing the history and origins of Rarotonga along the way.

Buggy tours depart at 8:30 am, 11:30 am and 2:30 pm; quad tours depart at 8:30 am and 12:30 pm, Monday to Saturday. Note that drivers must be 18 or over with a valid overseas car licence, and passengers must be at least six years old. Arrive 30 mins before departure.

Many are surprised to find that the Cook Islands offers a wealth of shopping opportunities! That’s mainly because Cook Islanders specialise in many unique crafts, with a highlight being black pearls, which are only farmed in two countries in the South Pacific.

Woven rito fans, earrings and locally-crafted perfumes are also highlights on the shopping list. So pick out some stores from The Guide to Shopping in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands and use a rainy day in the Cook Islands to visit them all!

Location: See shop recommendations and locations in the link above.

A little-known thing to do in the Cook Islands, the islands of Atiu, Mangaia, Mitiaro and Mauke all have caves that will make you forget all about the rain. Find swimming pools at the base of semi-open caves on Mitiaro and Mauke, or go on a guided hike through the caves on Mangaia.

Of course, don't go exploring too deep into any caves on your own, as you don't know how the rain will affect the water level. However, the cave pools we list in the 10 Best Caves in the Cook Islands are all relatively shallow, so you should be okay there.

Location: Atiu, Mangaia, Mitiaro and Mauke. See the link above for cave locations.

For coffee lovers visiting Atiu, don't miss the unique experience offered by Atiu Island Coffee. Join Mata Arai for a hands-on tour that showcases traditional Atiuan coffee-making methods.

You'll learn about coffee cultivation, roasting, and preparation, with a highlight being Mata's demonstration of roasting and pasting coffee in coconut cream—a technique passed down from her grandmother.

The reasonably priced tour concludes with a delightful tasting of freshly roasted coffee served with coconut cream and pikelets. (Keep in mind that the coffee-picking season typically runs from February to May, so tour availability might be limited during this time).

Discover more experiences on Atiu in the 20 Best Things to Do on Atiu.

Location: Atiu. Mapumai, north of the Air Rarotonga office and south of Akai Bakery.

Brewed on Rarotonga, Cook Islands Lager is the signature brew of the Rarotonga Brewery.

Founded in 2016, this garden tasting room and retail outlet on the west side of Rarotonga has grown into a genuine local icon.

Located around 800 m (yards) past Black Rock, opposite Edgewater Resort, the brewery follows the German Purity Law for Beer (malt, hops and barley only) and takes sustainability seriously, running a biofuel generator on restaurant waste and saving millions of glass bottles through reusable flagons.

Beyond the signature lager, they craft ciders, artisan sodas, kombucha, limeade, moringa iced tea and garden-grown herbal teas. Free shot-glass tastings of the full range are available daily, while guided brewery tours run every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am.

Opening hours are from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday.

Rain or shine, you'll be far too absorbed crafting your own signature scent at Manongi Aromatics' intimate aromatic blending workshop to notice.

You'll start by exploring a wide array of scents, from resins and woody notes to florals and fruits, before Sylvie guides you through how to smell and pair them into something entirely your own. Using a worksheet to work out quantities and percentages, you'll measure your blend with a pipette, name it and hand-write your own label. Cookies and lemongrass tea are served throughout, which is a nice touch.

By the end of the two-hour session, every guest leaves with a diffuser blend and a roll-on personal fragrance. Scents are island-inspired, drawing on ingredients like guava seed oil, hibiscus seed oil, moringa and Rarotongan botanicals, with all essential oils sourced organically from small producers. Sylvie also offers science-based therapeutic blends for those with specific needs.

If there’s one time to visit the Papua Waterfall, also known as Wigmore’s Waterfall, it’s when it’s raining! The falls are at their best under heavy rain when the river level is high. Find the waterfall among the forest in a clearing with picnic tables just in case, you know, the weather clears up and you want to stick around for even longer.

While swimming is usually popular in the bottom pool, it’s not recommended to swim if the water level is too high. Plus, avoid climbing the sides where rocks are known to fall. What you can do, however, is take some insect repellent with you. See more natural attractions like this in The Top 10 Natural Wonders in the Cook Islands.

Location: End of Papua Road, Vaimaanga. Note that the dirt road all the way to the waterfall is in bad condition – suitable for 4WD or SUVs only. If you’re unsure, park at the SPCA car park and walk from there (6 mins walk). You may be asked for an entry fee (around NZ$2 for scooters and NZ$5 for cars/trucks).

Obviously, this is a rainy day activity in the Cook Islands that you can only enjoy on a Sunday. Nevertheless, if this applies to you, the powerful harmonies echoing across the churches on a Sunday are an experience not to be missed!

Don your most church-appropriate attire (cover knees and shoulders) and head to one of the churches across the Cook Islands! For recommendations, check out the 10 Best Churches in the Cook Islands to Experience as a Visitor.

Location: See the link above for locations.

Another museum you can rely on for a break from the rain on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands National Museum holds an interesting display of historical and cultural artefacts and replicas. Browse carvings, seafaring vaka replicas and traditional tivaevae linen and learn more about their significance through the information text on the walls.

The museum is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and has a small admission fee. There are more indoor attractions in the nation's capital, Avarua, so check them out in the 10 Best Things to Do in Avarua.

Location: North end of Rarotonga. Sir Geoffrey Henry National Culture Centre, Corner of Constitution Avenue and Victoria Road, Avarua.

Yes, this is a different museum in Avarua, but it’s not too far away from the one previously mentioned. Set on park grounds surrounded by some of Avarua’s oldest buildings, the Cook Islands Library & Museum displays interesting ceremonial artefacts, cooking utensils, shells and weapons.

Outside are the museum’s maritime displays, such as a vaka and an anchor. Their library also holds a collection of rare books. The museum is open from 9 am to 1 pm, Monday to Friday.

Location: Makea Tinirau Road, the eastern end of Avarua (north side of Rarotonga).

We know you’re probably looking at this list of things to do in the Cook Islands on a rainy day because you don’t want to do a lagoon cruise in the rain, but don’t give up on the idea just yet! Most lagoon cruises are on vessels that are weather-proofed with a roof and tarps that roll down the sides.

Knowing the weather patterns, especially on the Aitutaki Lagoon, the sun will come out at some point throughout the day. The best cruises to choose for a rainy day include The Vaka Cruise and Bishop’s Cruises, as they have the largest and most comfortable weather-proofed boats, but you can compare all of your options using the 10 Best Lagoon Cruises on Aitutaki.

Location: Aitutaki. Lagoon cruises include accommodation transfers.

No one is above a rainy day snorkel! Since you’re going to get wet anyway, why not head out with your snorkelling gear and meet the fish?

Free snorkelling sites include the “Fruits of Rarotonga” site at the Tikioki Marine Reserve and the Aroa Marine Reserve at Aroa Beach on Rarotonga, while "Base One" at the end of the old runway on Aitutaki is also a great little snorkelling spot.

Note that if you're rainy day is accompanied by stormy seas, needless to say, it's probably not a good idea to snorkel.

Check out all of the snorkelling spots in the Top 10 Places to Snorkel or join one of the guided tours listed in the 10 Best Snorkelling Tours in the Cook Islands.

Location: See the links above for locations.

Although only partially undercover, the rain shouldn’t ruin your visit to the Marine Research Centre in Aitutaki. See a giant clam nursery under the sail shades and learn about the conservation work done here from the site manager, Richard (usually available from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday).

Entry is by donation; drop some cash into the donation urn.

Location: Aitutaki. Follow the road to the northern tip of Aitutaki, around the left-hand side of the old airstrip and toward the golf course. The Marine Research Centre is signposted on the left-hand side before reaching the golf course.

A true cultural experience that unofficially welcomes you into the Atiu club, tumunu are rustic beer huts located on the outskirts of Atiu’s villages, usually on the edge of a forest or plantation. You’ll be sat on a tree stump under a shelter and passed around home-brewed orange beer (or “bush beer”).

Some sessions are even accompanied by music played by a local string band. Either visit a tumunu independently (locations and opening hours are listed in The Food Guide to Atiu: Places to Eat & Food Tours) or join Atiu Safari & Fishing Tours, Atiu Villas, Anatakitaki Cave Tours, or Atiu Kia Orana Bungalows for a fully guided experience with transfers and history storytelling included. Oh, and be warned, the tumunu bush beer is strong stuff!

Location: All over Atiu! Ask your accommodation or tour guides about the nearby tumunu or transfers are included on guided tours. Tumunu locations are also listed in the link above.

The big blue store of Tuki’s Pareu in Avarua is a good go-to for island-style attire. A rainy day, however, is the perfect time to get that island shirt made finally! That’s right, Tuki’s offers tailoring services where their experienced designers and seamstresses can whip up a perfectly fitted flamboyant shirt that will make you look the part for all of your South Pacific holidays.

They are open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, and until 12 pm on Saturday.

Location: North end of Rarotonga. Main Road (Ara Tapu), Avarua, the blue buildings at the eastern end just past Trader Jacks.

While a pretty obvious thing to do on a rainy day, it can’t be denied that huddling under the shelter of a cafe or restaurant while gorging on island cuisine isn’t a bad way to spend an unfavourable weather day. Whatever your vibe and whatever your budget, Rarotonga and Aitutaki have the cafes and restaurants to suit.

The list is too extensive to go through here, but you can check out recommendations in The Food Guide to the Cook Islands.

Location: Rarotonga and Aitutaki. See the link above for locations.