When to visit
Wellington?

Discover the best time of year, based on historical climate, temperature, and precipitation.

Wellington
Wellington Region · New Zealand

The best weather in Wellington is from January, February, March. — consistent weather climate

Climate score
October
59

Mixed climate

🌥Mild

Temperature
10–14°C
Cold nights — bring layers
Feels like
7–12°C
Dry
Precipitation
74mm
Light rain · 12 days
Sunshine
10.1h
Partly cloudy
Humidity (%)
79%
Dry
Annual Climate Analysis
Temperature, Rain & Feels Like
Rain
Actual Temp
Feels Like
0°10°20°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
International eSIM

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Flights to Wellington

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Monthly Overview
Score868281705846404145596778
ClimateMildMildMildMildMildColdColdColdColdMildMildMild
Temperature15–20°C15–20°C14–18°C13–17°C11–15°C10–13°C9–12°C9–12°C9–13°C10–14°C12–16°C14–18°C
Feels like13–19°C13–19°C12–17°C10–14°C8–12°C6–10°C4–9°C5–9°C5–9°C7–12°C8–14°C11–17°C
Precipitation40mm
7 days
81mm
7 days
73mm
9 days
96mm
10 days
97mm
12 days
103mm
13 days
107mm
14 days
102mm
15 days
91mm
13 days
74mm
12 days
86mm
12 days
79mm
11 days
Sunshine12.2h
☀︎ 83%
10.9h
☀︎ 79%
9.6h
☀︎ 78%
8.5h
☀︎ 78%
7.3h
☀︎ 74%
6.3h
☀︎ 68%
6.7h
☀︎ 70%
7.7h
☀︎ 73%
8.8h
☀︎ 74%
10.1h
☀︎ 76%
10.9h
☀︎ 75%
11.5h
☀︎ 76%
WindN · 32 km/hN · 32 km/hN · 31 km/hN · 31 km/hNW · 33 km/hN · 31 km/hNW · 33 km/hNW · 32 km/hNW · 35 km/hN · 34 km/hN · 34 km/hN · 33 km/h
Humidity (%)78%78%78%79%78%80%78%79%78%79%79%80%
Day length14.8h13.7h12.4h11.0h9.8h9.2h9.5h10.5h11.8h13.2h14.4h15.1h
Events & Festivals
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
World of WearableArt (WOW)
Beervana
Wellington On a Plate
New Zealand International Film Festival
Events & Festivals
  • World of WearableArt (WOW)culturalSignature event
    September, October· 50k+ visitors

    Wellington's signature spectacle blends fashion, theatre and art into a dazzling stage show that draws visitors from acr…

  • Beervanafood wine
    August· 5k+ visitors

    This craft beer festival fills a downtown venue with breweries from across New Zealand during Wellington's cold, wet win…

  • Wellington On a Platefood wine
    August· 5k+ visitors

    This month-long culinary showcase turns Wellington's cafe and restaurant scene into a citywide event with special menus…

  • New Zealand International Film Festivalcultural
    July, August· 5k+ visitors

    Wellington's leg of this touring festival brings a wide selection of international and local cinema to the city's theatr…

The story of the seasons in Wellington

The world's windiest capital is famously volatile, but its finest weather arrives in mid-summer—when January brings the warmest, driest, and clearest days of the year without the frantic holiday crowds of December.

Perched at the southern precipice of the North Island where steep hillslopes tumble directly into the churn of Cook Strait, Wellington is defined by its exposure to the elements. As the southernmost sovereign capital on earth, it channels Pacific gales through the narrow sea gap with legendary force. Yet the physical drama of the setting—a tight amphitheatre of Victorian timber houses clinging to ridges surveyed with blithe disregard for the terrain—creates an intensely compact urban energy. When the weather settles, there are few maritime cities on earth that can match its sparkling, salt-sprayed brilliance. The secret to catching that brilliance is knowing that while summer starts in December, the true golden hour belongs to January and February.

The golden lull: January and February

January is the undisputed peak of the Wellington year, and February follows closely behind. After the frantic pre-holiday surge of December clears out, a sudden calm falls over the capital. The roaring westerly winds drop to their gentlest cadence, daily sunshine stretches past twelve hours, and rainfall drops to barely a drizzle across the entire month. The temperature hovers around a comfortable twenty degrees, but sheltered in the harbor bays, the sun has a clean, southern-hemisphere bite that makes it feel much warmer.

This is the fleeting season when Wellington abandons its indoor shelters and lives entirely outside. The curved golden sand of Oriental Bay fills with swimmers and sunbathers taking to the harbor waters, while paddleboarders glide across the calm surface of Lambton Harbour. Walking trails up Mount Victoria and along the craggy shoreline of Miramar Peninsula are dry underfoot, offering staggering panoramic views across Cook Strait to the pale, snow-dusted ridges of the South Island on crystal-clear days.

February introduces a slight rise in afternoon humidity and occasional passing showers, but the harbor waters remain at their warmest and the evenings are balmy enough to linger outside along the waterfront boardwalks well past twilight. If you are coming to walk the ridge-lines, swim in the bays, and understand why locals swear by the adage that you cannot beat Wellington on a good day, this is the exact window to book.

Golden light and the autumn slide: March and April

March retains much of summer's easy grace. The harbor remains warm, afternoon temperatures stay mild, and the city settles into a relaxed, productive groove. The light turns distinctly golden, casting long, dramatic shadows through the grid valleys of Te Aro and across the timber facades of Thorndon. It is an exceptional month for exploring on foot: cool enough to hike up to the Mount Victoria Lookout without breaking a sweat, yet still sunny enough to sit outdoors along Cuba Street with an afternoon coffee.

By April, however, the balance decisively shifts. The sun drops lower, daytime warmth thins out rapidly, and Cook Strait begins to flex its muscle again. The rainfall creeps upward, arriving in more persistent, blustery squalls that blow horizontally across the waterfront. While April still sees decent spells of crisp, clear skies, you will want an insulated windbreaker within arm's reach at all times.

The hills begin to take on autumn color, and the city's cafes and craft beer bars start firing up their hearths. April marks the transition from an outdoor coastal retreat to a sheltered, culture-heavy haven. If you enjoy brisk walking by day and ducking into subterranean wine bars by night, early autumn is quietly rewarding, but the window for sunbathing has closed.

The winter fortress: May to August

Winter in Wellington is not intensely cold in terms of absolute freezing temperatures, but the wind chill makes it feel substantially colder than the thermometer claims. From May through August, the Southern Ocean funnels cold, rain-heavy fronts straight into the harbor. July is the nadir: daylight shrinks, heavy rain dampens the hillsides for days on end, and the bitter southerly winds blast off Cook Strait, rattling the windows of hillside villas and making umbrellas entirely obsolete.

Yet Wellington has turned its foulest season into a deliberate art form. Instead of despairing, the city retreats indoors and puts on its best cultural programming of the year. In July and August, the New Zealand International Film Festival packs out the city's heritage picture houses, giving locals and travelers a stylish reason to spend wet afternoons submerged in world cinema.

August in particular turns into a month-long celebration of indoor comfort. Wellington On a Plate takes over the urban core, filling dining rooms across Te Aro and the waterfront with ambitious menus and spirited culinary competitions that reflect the city's obsession with food and coffee. Alongside it, Beervana draws beer enthusiasts from around the country to shelter from the driving rain and sample seasonal brews. If your priority is scenic hiking or beach walking, avoid winter completely; if you want to experience the capital's formidable culinary and cultural life at full throttle, it is surprisingly magnetic.

Spring gales and high theatre: September and October

Spring is an unruly, boisterous season in the capital. September and October bring dramatic clashes between warming northern air and lingering polar blasts from the south, resulting in Wellington's infamous equinoctial gales. The wind speeds can be ferocious, tearing down the valleys, churning the harbor into whitecaps, and keeping apparent temperatures brisk despite the lengthening daylight hours.

Outdoor plans during these months require immense flexibility. A brilliant morning with blue skies can turn into an afternoon of driving squalls before returning to calm sunshine by sunset. Coastal walks along the south coast require bracing yourself against the buffeting gusts, though the churning surf crashing against the rocks provides raw, cinematic drama.

What redeems this temperamental stretch is the arrival of the World of WearableArt (WOW). Spanning late September and October, this international theatrical spectacle electrifies the city, filling downtown venues with thousands of visitors. The city's creative heart beats loudest during this run, bringing an undeniable buzz to the streets even when the spring wind is at its wildest. Pack layers, prepare for gale-force gusts, and book cultural tickets early.

The holiday ramp-up: November and December

November brings a welcome surge in warmth and daylight, but it also brings the sharpest spike in visitors. Cruise ships dock at the port, business travelers wrap up the political year in the government quarter, and domestic holidaymakers begin to filter in. While the days stretch past ten hours of sunshine, spring winds can linger, keeping the air cooler than it looks through a window.

December pushes crowd levels to their annual ceiling. As schools break for the summer holidays and the domestic Christmas shutdown approaches, the central shopping districts along Lambton Quay and the restaurant precincts around Courtenay Place operate at maximum capacity. The weather improves considerably, with temperatures warming toward twenty degrees and rainfall tapering off.

However, December can feel chaotic and pressed for space. Accommodations command premium rates and the city's famous cafes fill to the brim. If you have the flexibility to wait, hold off just a few weeks. The high crowds vanish in early January, leaving behind the exact same radiant sunshine, warmer sea waters, and a blissfully relaxed city.

What to do

Things to do in Wellington

Top sights and attractions to build your days around once you know when to go.

Places from Wikidata and Wikipedia.

Tours & tickets in Wellington
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Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Wellington?

The best time to visit Wellington is January, April, February, March, December, with temperatures between 13 °C and 20 °C. The best month is January. January is low season.

What is the weather like in Wellington?

Wellington has a climate with an overall score of 6.3/10. Annual temperatures range from 9 °C to 20 °C.

What is the hottest month in Wellington?

The hottest month in Wellington is January, with average highs of 20 °C and lows of 15 °C.

What is the rainiest month in Wellington?

The rainiest month in Wellington is July, with an average of 107 mm of precipitation.