What is the Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Time Zone?

The Cook Islands observe one time zone, which is the following…

Time zone name: Cook Islands Standard Time
Time zone abbreviation: CKT
Offset: UTC -10
Example city: Rarotonga

Notes About the Time Zone in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

All islands in the Cook Islands follow the same time zone, including Rarotonga. There is no daylight saving time in the Cook Islands; they follow Cook Islands Standard Time all year round.

The Cook Islands experience long days all year round, with only a couple of hours of daylight difference between summer and winter.

The average length of daylight in the Cook Islands is 12 hours, where the shortest days are in June with an average length of 10 hrs 53 mins and the longest days are in December at around 13 hrs 27 mins.

Sunrise and Sunset in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands

The sunrise in the Cook Islands is usually around 6:30 am. The earliest the sun rises is in November at around 5:48 am and the latest the sun rises is usually at 7:15 am during July. Check out where to catch the sunrise in the 10 Best Places to Watch the Sunrise in the Cook Islands.

The sunset in the Cook Islands is around 6:30 pm. The earliest sunsets happen in June at around 6:06 pm, and the latest sunsets occur in January at about 7:28 pm. Check out where to catch the sunrise in the 10 Best Places to Watch the Sunset in the Cook Islands.

Learn more about the weather and climate in the Cook Islands in our guide, Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Weather, Seasons & Climate.

Not many countries share the same time zone as the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands is one of the last countries to see the new day each day, making it also one of the last to celebrate New Year’s Day (so you can celebrate the New Year twice if travelling from New Zealand on New Year's Eve, for example).

Other Countries in UTC-10

• French Polynesia
• Hawaii (USA)
• United States Minor Outlying Islands

Finally, let's take a look at some of the most frequent questions travellers have about the time zone in the Cook Islands.

Is Rarotonga a Day Behind New Zealand?

Yes, Rarotonga and the Cook Islands are 22 or 23 hours behind New Zealand, depending on day saving time in New Zealand, making Rarotonga almost a day behind New Zealand.

What is the Time Difference Between New Zealand and the Cook Islands During Daylight Saving?

During daylight saving in New Zealand, the Cook Islands is 23 hours behind New Zealand. For example, when it is 9 am in the Cook Islands, it is 8 am in Auckland the following day.