AI-generatedOamaru at a glance
- Best time
- Oct – Apr
- Warmest month
- Feb · 19°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 15.4°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,020 h
- Rain a year
- 733 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+13 / UTC+12
- Elevation
- 12 m
Climate in Oamaru
Oamaru has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while July is the coolest at 11 °C. With around 2,020 hours of sunshine a year, Oamaru is moderately sunny; November is the sunniest month with 6.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Oamaru
The best time to visit Oamaru is from October to April. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in February it only reaches 15.4 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from February to April. The wettest month is December with 83 mm of precipitation.
Oamaru through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Oamaru in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 14–16 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Oamaru in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 18–19 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Oamaru in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 14–18 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Oamaru in winter
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 11–12 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Feb – Apr
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Oamaru for you.
Your best months: January – March
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: October – April
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 8°
- Midday, 13:00: about 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 9°
06:4420:00
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:25–07:23 · evening 19:21–20:18
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:13–06:25 · evening 20:18–20:30
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Oamaru compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs rise from about 14° at the start of the month to 15° at the end. The sea warms from 11° to 12°. The days get 1.5 h longer.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 14° | 15° |
| Night-time low | 6° | 7° |
| Sea | 11° | 12° |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 14.0 h |
What is the weather like in Oamaru in October?
In October, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 11.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 16 min06:44 – 20:00
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 24 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 62 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+13offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %76 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %57 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %49 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Oamaru
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
February has the better holiday weather in Oamaru: score 78 against 64. In February, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in February. February has one rainy day fewer.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 64 | 78better |
| Daytime high | 15° | 19° |
| Night-time low | 7° | 12° |
| Sea | 11.3° | 15.4° |
| Sunshine | 6.4 h | 6.5 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 10better |
| Rainfall | 67 mm | 71 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Oamaru month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
73January19° · Sea 15° · 6.5 h
In January, Oamaru is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.5 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in January78February19° · Sea 15° · 6.5 h
In February, Oamaru is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.5 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 71 mm in total. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in February76March18° · Sea 15° · 5.7 h
In March, Oamaru is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.7 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in March69April16° · Sea 13° · 5.1 h
In April, Oamaru is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 62 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in April56May14° · Sea 12° · 4.4 h
In May, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 51 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in May40June11° · Sea 11° · 3.8 h
In June, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 45 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in June41July11° · Sea 10° · 4.2 h
In July, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 10.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 53 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in July47August12° · Sea 10° · 5.1 h
In August, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 9.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 47 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in August61September14° · Sea 10° · 5.6 h
In September, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 10.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 43 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in September64October15° · Sea 11° · 6.4 h
In October, Oamaru is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 11.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in October69November16° · Sea 13° · 6.9 h
In November, Oamaru is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in November69December18° · Sea 14° · 6.3 h
In December, Oamaru is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 13.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 83 mm. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Oamaru.
Oamaru in DecemberClimate in detail
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Oamaru
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in July (3°), the warmest in January (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from May to October, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 73 | 19° | 12° | 14.9° | 6.5 h | 13 | 82 |
| FebruaryFeb | 78 | 19° | 12° | 15.4° | 6.5 h | 10 | 71 |
| MarchMar | 76 | 18° | 11° | 14.6° | 5.7 h | 10 | 58 |
| AprilApr | 69 | 16° | 9° | 13.4° | 5.1 h | 10 | 62 |
| MayMay | 56 | 14° | 6° | 12.1° | 4.4 h | 9 | 51 |
| JuneJun | 40 | 11° | 4° | 10.8° | 3.8 h | 8 | 45 |
| JulyJul | 41 | 11° | 3° | 10.1° | 4.2 h | 8 | 53 |
| AugustAug | 47 | 12° | 3° | 9.8° | 5.1 h | 9 | 47 |
| SeptemberSep | 61 | 14° | 5° | 10.4° | 5.6 h | 8 | 43 |
| OctoberOct | 64 | 15° | 7° | 11.3° | 6.4 h | 11 | 67 |
| NovemberNov | 69 | 16° | 8° | 12.6° | 6.9 h | 13 | 72 |
| DecemberDec | 69 | 18° | 10° | 13.9° | 6.3 h | 14 | 83 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
45.10° S, 170.97° E · 12 m · Pacific/Auckland
Sea temperature in Oamaru
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 10.8 – 11.8 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Oamaru ranges from 9.8 °C in August to 15.4 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 14.4 and 16.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 14.9° | 13.9° | 16.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 15.4° | 14.4° | 16.3° | cold |
| MarchMar | 14.6° | 13.6° | 15.9° | cold |
| AprilApr | 13.4° | 12.8° | 14.2° | cold |
| MayMay | 12.1° | 11.3° | 13.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 10.8° | 10.3° | 11.5° | cold |
| JulyJul | 10.1° | 9.3° | 10.6° | cold |
| AugustAug | 9.8° | 9.2° | 10.4° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 10.4° | 9.7° | 11.1° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 11.3° | 10.8° | 11.8° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 12.6° | 11.8° | 13.7° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 13.9° | 12.7° | 15.1° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Oamaru
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.4 of 13.3 hours of daylight in Oamaru, 48 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Oamaru: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Oamaru has about 11 rainy days with 67 mm of rain in total.
UV index in Oamaru
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 6 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 20 min
- Fair skin
- about 25 min
- Light brown skin
- about 40 min
- Olive skin
- about 50 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind and clouds in Oamaru
How breezy and how cloudy Oamaru is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Oamaru typically peaks at 24 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: all year except Jul.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 62 % of the sky over Oamaru: variable cloud, with about 6.4 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to Oamaru
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Oamaru in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Oamaru has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 71) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 45).
- 71
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
GoodBest holidays
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 53
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
- 45
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
- 64
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 71
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 23 h 30 min
- Distance
- 19,070 km
- Time zone
- UTC+13
- Jet lag
- About 12 days (12 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Compare & alternatives
Oamaru compared
Put Oamaru side by side with another destination.
Oamaru vs Timaru
In October Timaru has the better holiday weather (score 71 vs 64). During the day Timaru is 1 °C warmer than Oamaru. The sea in Timaru is 1 °C warmer. Timaru gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Oamaru | Timaru |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 64 | 71 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 16° |
| Sea | 11° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 12 |
| Best time | Oct – Apr | Jan – Feb |
Through the year
New Zealand in October: the best places
In October, Oamaru ranks 9 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Hastings19°83
- 2Blenheim18°74
- 3Christchurch17°73
- 4Tauranga18°16°73
- 5Auckland18°16°72
- 6Matamata18°69
- 7Hamilton18°67
- 8Rotorua17°65
- 9OamaruThis page15°11°64
Near Oamaru
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Oamaru
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Oamaru's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Oamaru
When is the best time to visit Oamaru?
The best time to visit Oamaru is from October to April. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Oamaru?
The sea temperature in Oamaru ranges from 9.8 °C in August to 15.4 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Oamaru in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 11.3 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Oamaru?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 12 °C. July is the coolest month at 11 °C.
When does it rain most in Oamaru?
The wettest month is December with 83 mm of precipitation. The driest month is September with 43 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Oamaru get?
Oamaru gets around 2,020 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is November with 6.9 hours a day; in June there are 3.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Oamaru in?
Oamaru is on UTC+13 in January and UTC+12 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Oamaru?
A nonstop flight from London to Oamaru takes about 23 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 19,070 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Oamaru?
Oamaru has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 71) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 45). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 71, May half-term 53, summer holidays 45, October half-term 64, Christmas holidays 71.