What is the Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Time Zone?

Last Updated: 15 June, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About the Rarotonga and Cook Islands Time Zone

What is the time zone in the Cook Islands and Rarotonga? Well, if you have somehow missed the top widget in your browser search, which tells you the current time in the Cook Islands, then this guide will at least give you a little more depth into the time zone in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands!

All 15 islands in the Cook Islands observe the same time zone, known as Cook Islands Standard Time (CKT), which is 10 hours behind UTC. There is no daylight saving time in the Cook Islands.

Before we get started, be sure to bookmark the 30 Tips for Travelling in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands and The Best Cook Islands Travel Guide for more essentials to know before travelling to the Cook Islands.

When it is 9 am in the Cook Islands, it is…

8 pm in London same day
9 pm in Frankfurt same day
3 pm in New York same day
12 pm in Los Angeles same day
4 am in Tokyo following day
7 am in Auckland following day
5 am in Sydney following day

And if you’re interested, check out the flight times between these destinations and the Cook Islands in What are the Flight Times to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

What is the Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Time Zone?

Time Zone in the Cook Islands

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.

Daylight Hours in the Cook Islands

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.

Countries in the Same Time Zone as the Cook Islands

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Rarotonga and the Cook Islands Time Zone

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.

More About the Time in the Cook Islands

That’s it for our complete guide on the Cook Islands and Rarotonga time zone. For more time-related advice, check out the following guides:

And if you’re planning a trip to the Cook Islands, don’t miss our 30 Tips for Travelling in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin works and consults regularly with Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, a local government body representing the tourism industry. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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