The best islands in October
23 of our 26 island guides rate good or better in October, 18 of them excellent. The highest scores go to Viti Levu (95), Oʻahu (94) and the Mamanuca Islands (94).
No island is at its best in October; Viti Levu comes closest, 2 points below its peak. The tropical islands average 89, well ahead of New Zealand’s islands at 61.
October at a glance
- Sea temperature
- Warmest off Upolu and Savaiʻi, 28 °C. Coolest off the Chatham Islands and Rakiura, 11 °C.
- Rain
- Driest: Maui, 21 mm in the month. Wettest: Savaiʻi, 145 mm.
- Tropical storms
- October is in the central Pacific hurricane season around Hawaiʻi (June to November), and outside the South Pacific cyclone season (November to April). Most exposed: Oʻahu, 1 tropical storm within 200 km in 30 seasons. 17 of our 18 tropical islands have none on record.
- School holidays
- Term 3 holidays: 25 September to 10 October 2027. Public holiday: Labour Day (26 October 2026).
- Since September
- Biggest rise: Kawau, up 15 to 72. Biggest fall: Savaiʻi, down 10 to 82. 12 islands score higher than in September, 14 lower.
Every island in October, ranked
1. Score 95 out of 100
Viti Levu
Fiji
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 89 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
2. Score 94 out of 100
Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 38 mm
Tropical storms: Tropical storms: 1 tropical storm in 30 seasons
3. Score 94 out of 100
Mamanuca Islands
Fiji
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 89 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
4. Score 92 out of 100
Aitutaki
Cook Islands
Sea Sea 26 °C
Rain Rain 89 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
5. Score 92 out of 100
Moʻorea
French Polynesia
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 107 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
6. Score 92 out of 100
Tahiti
French Polynesia
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 107 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
7. Score 91 out of 100
Bali
Indonesia
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 74 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
8. Score 91 out of 100
Maui
Hawaiʻi
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 21 mm
Tropical storms: Tropical storms: none in 30 seasons
9. Score 90 out of 100
Yasawa Islands
Fiji
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 119 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
10. Score 89 out of 100
Niue
Niue
Sea Sea 26 °C
Rain Rain 103 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
11. Score 89 out of 100
Vavaʻu
Tonga
Sea Sea 26 °C
Rain Rain 114 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
12. Score 88 out of 100
Bora Bora
French Polynesia
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 115 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
13. Score 88 out of 100
Efate
Vanuatu
Sea Sea 26 °C
Rain Rain 126 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
14. Score 87 out of 100
Taveuni
Fiji
Sea Sea 27 °C
Rain Rain 135 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
15. Score 87 out of 100
Rarotonga
Cook Islands
Sea Sea 25 °C
Rain Rain 87 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
16. Score 85 out of 100
Tongatapu
Tonga
Sea Sea 24 °C
Rain Rain 90 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
17. Score 82 out of 100
Upolu
Samoa
Sea Sea 28 °C
Rain Rain 140 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
18. Score 82 out of 100
Savaiʻi
Samoa
Sea Sea 28 °C
Rain Rain 145 mm
Cyclones: Cyclones: none in 30 seasons
19. Score 72 out of 100
Kawau Island
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 15 °C
Rain Rain 77 mm
Outside the tropics
20. Score 71 out of 100
Aotea Great Barrier Island
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 16 °C
Rain Rain 75 mm
Outside the tropics
21. Score 70 out of 100
Tiritiri Matangi
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 15 °C
Rain Rain 77 mm
Outside the tropics
22. Score 69 out of 100
Waiheke Island
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 15 °C
Rain Rain 88 mm
Outside the tropics
23. Score 68 out of 100
Rangitoto Island
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 15 °C
Rain Rain 88 mm
Outside the tropics
24. Score 51 out of 100
Kāpiti Island
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 14 °C
Rain Rain 122 mm
Outside the tropics
25. Score 46 out of 100
Chatham Islands
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 11 °C
Rain Rain 64 mm
Outside the tropics
26. Score 44 out of 100
Rakiura Stewart Island
New Zealand’s islands
Sea Sea 11 °C
Rain Rain 92 mm
Outside the tropics
Scores: Island’s conditions score, from warmth, sea temperature, rain, sunshine and storm records. Sea: NOAA OISST,1991–2020 monthly means, measured offshore. Rain: weather-station normals (Meteostat) or NASA POWER. Storms: IBTrACS tracks within 200 km, 1991–2020. School holidays: Ministry of Education.