Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Seeking a drier South Pacific paradise in February Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
mpakalo 10:15 UTC 15 Dec 2007 | I have my heart set on vacationing in the South Pacific in February. However, most of the island groups seem to be calling for a lot of rain at that time or severe weather. Could anyone recommend a drier Pacific location without daily torrential downpours? I don't mind some rain, but would also like have at least a few days of sunshine. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions. Cheers. |
ozziegiraffe 11:10 UTC 15 Dec 2007 | Most Pacific Islands may have rain on most days in February, but rarely all day. However, there is a change in Pacific weather patterns this year, from El Nino, which brings less rain, to La Nina which brings more, so the Pacific may have a wetter Christmas and New Year than it has for some time. As for cyclones, they only occur in small areas at any time - it is a bit like a lottery whether you will come anywhere near one. In the larger island groups like Solomon Islands, there are a number of microclimates - there are parts that are very wet in February, and other sides of the same island that are quite dry. | 1
raro 01:28 UTC 16 Dec 2007 | West side of Fiji is a little drier than the east side. Other than that, you'll have to live with the occasional downpour in most islands that time of year. But it's not really that bad most yrs. | 2
islandboi321 15:33 UTC 16 Dec 2007 | Unfortunately, February is the wet time in the Pacific. You'll have a hard time avoiding it anywhere. That being said, the flatter islands tend to have less rain simply because their geography lends them to having the landscape that "catches" rain. I found Aitutaki to be less rainy (it only rained once or twice the week I was there in Feb. 2005) as oppossed to mountainous Rarotonga where it would rain several times a day. I also found Niue and Tonga to be similar... It was way less rainy than Samoa or Rarotonga. | 3
crossie 18:37 UTC 16 Dec 2007 | There has been a wet season in Niue for two years which is probably due to the affects that Ozzie speaks of. An unprecidented 3 metres of rainfall this year. In a mountainous Island this would be a disastor with floods and washouts but in Niue it just soaks through to the aquafer. In February we all pack up and go to New Zealand. That is the best Pacific Island to be in during February and March | 4
mpakalo 22:32 UTC 16 Dec 2007 | Thank you all for the replies. Much appreciated. | 5
harry_chorpita 00:21 UTC 18 Dec 2007 | Mexico! | 6