AI-generatedWānaka at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- Jan · 20°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,870 h
- Rain a year
- 825 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+13 / UTC+12
- Elevation
- 325 m
Climate in Wānaka
Wānaka has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. January is the warmest month with average highs of 20 °C, while July is the coolest at 6 °C. With around 1,870 hours of sunshine a year, Wānaka is moderately sunny; January is the sunniest month with 7.4 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Wānaka
The best time to visit Wānaka is from November to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from January to March and in November. The wettest month is October with 87 mm of precipitation.
Wānaka through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Wānaka in spring
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 11–16 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Wānaka in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 19–20 °C by day
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Wānaka in autumn
Mar – May
Fair
- 11–18 °C by day
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Wānaka in winter
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 6–8 °C by day
- 2.8 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jan – Mar, Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Snow
Jun – Jul
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Wānaka for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: November – March
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 6°
- Midday, 13:00: about 12°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
- Evening, 20:00: about 10°
- Night, 23:00: about 7°
06:5120:07
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:33–07:30 · evening 19:28–20:25
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:21–06:33 · evening 20:25–20:37
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 Wānaka compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs rise from about 12° at the start of the month to 15° at the end. The days get 1.5 h longer.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 12° | 15° |
| Night-time low | 3° | 5° |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 14.0 h |
What is the weather like in Wānaka in October?
In October, Wānaka is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Wānaka.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 15 min06:51 – 20:07
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 14 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 64 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 1 day1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+13offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %58 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %53 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %39 %
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 Wānaka
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 Wānaka: score 85 against 51. In February, days are 7 °C warmer than in October. February has 5 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 51 | 85better |
| Daytime high | 13° | 20° |
| Night-time low | 4° | 11° |
| Sunshine | 6.2 h | 7.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 8better |
| Rainfall | 87 mm | 63 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Wānaka month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
81January20° · 7.4 h
In January, Wānaka is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7.4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in January85February20° · 7.0 h
In February, Wānaka is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 63 mm. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in February79March18° · 5.8 h
In March, Wānaka is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 5.8 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 63 mm. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in March64April15° · 4.8 h
In April, Wānaka is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 63 mm. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in April32May11° · 3.0 h
In May, Wānaka is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.0 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in May18June7° · 2.2 h
In June, Wānaka is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in June21July6° · 2.5 h
In July, Wānaka is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 2.5 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 56 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in July21August8° · 3.7 h
In August, Wānaka is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in August37September11° · 5.1 h
In September, Wānaka is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in September51October13° · 6.2 h
In October, Wānaka is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. Expect around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in October73November16° · 6.9 h
In November, Wānaka is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 6.9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 78 mm in total. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in November76December19° · 7.1 h
In December, Wānaka is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7.1 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Wānaka.
Wānaka in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Wānaka
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 4°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in July (−1°), the warmest in February (11°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from April to November, 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 | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 81 | 20° | 11° | 7.4 h | 10 | 82 |
| FebruaryFeb | 85 | 20° | 11° | 7.0 h | 8 | 63 |
| MarchMar | 79 | 18° | 9° | 5.8 h | 9 | 63 |
| AprilApr | 64 | 15° | 6° | 4.8 h | 9 | 63 |
| MayMay | 32 | 11° | 4° | 3.0 h | 11 | 69 |
| JuneJun | 18 | 7° | 1° | 2.2 h | 10 | 58 |
| JulyJul | 21 | 6° | −1° | 2.5 h | 8 | 56 |
| AugustAug | 21 | 8° | 0° | 3.7 h | 9 | 50 |
| SeptemberSep | 37 | 11° | 2° | 5.1 h | 11 | 72 |
| OctoberOct | 51 | 13° | 4° | 6.2 h | 13 | 87 |
| NovemberNov | 73 | 16° | 6° | 6.9 h | 11 | 78 |
| DecemberDec | 76 | 19° | 9° | 7.1 h | 12 | 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
44.70° S, 169.15° E · 325 m · Pacific/Auckland
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Wānaka
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 6.2 of 13.3 hours of daylight in Wānaka, 47 % 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
Rain in Wānaka: 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, Wānaka has about 13 rainy days with 87 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Wānaka
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 35 min
- Olive skin
- about 45 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 & clouds
Wind and clouds in Wānaka
How breezy and how cloudy Wānaka 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 Wānaka typically peaks at 14 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 64 % of the sky over Wānaka: variable cloud, with about 6.2 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.
Snow
Snow in Wānaka
Snow is possible in Wānaka, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, Wānaka has about 1 day with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 4 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 13 out of 100: hardly any.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Planning a trip to Wānaka
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Wānaka 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.
Wānaka has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 21).
- 69
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 16 °C by day
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
- 29
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- 2.8 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 21
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- 3.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 51
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 13 °C by day
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 79
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 20 °C by day
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 23 h 20 min
- Distance
- 18,940 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.
Good to know: New Zealand
- Currency
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Languages
- English, Māori
- Sockets
- Type I · 230 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +64
- Emergency number
- 111
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Wānaka compared
Put Wānaka side by side with another destination.
Wānaka vs Arrowtown
In October Wānaka has the better holiday weather (score 51 vs 26). During the day Arrowtown is 3 °C cooler than Wānaka.
| in October | Wānaka | Arrowtown |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 51 | 26 |
| Daytime high | 13° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 15 |
| Best time | Nov – Mar | Jan – Mar |
Through the year
Best places in the country
New Zealand in October: the best places
In October, Wānaka ranks 11 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Blenheim18°74
- 2Christchurch17°73
- 3Masterton17°69
- 4Ashburton17°68
- 5Cromwell15°67
- 6Alexandra15°64
- 7Oamaru15°11°64
- 8Palmerston North17°64
- 11WānakaThis page13°51
Places nearby
Near Wānaka
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Wānaka
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Wānaka's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Wānaka
When is the best time to visit Wānaka?
The best time to visit Wānaka is from November to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Wānaka?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C and nights around 11 °C. July is the coolest month at 6 °C.
When does it rain most in Wānaka?
The wettest month is October with 87 mm of precipitation. The driest month is August with 50 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Wānaka get?
Wānaka gets around 1,870 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 7.4 hours a day; in June there are 2.2 hours a day.
What time zone is Wānaka in?
Wānaka is on UTC+13 in January and UTC+12 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Wānaka?
A nonstop flight from London to Wānaka takes about 23 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 18,940 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Wānaka?
Wānaka has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 21). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 69, May half-term 29, summer holidays 21, October half-term 51, Christmas holidays 79.