AI-generatedWellington at a glance
- Best time
- Jan – Mar
- Warmest month
- Feb · 18°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 16.7°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,100 h
- Rain a year
- 888 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+13 / UTC+12
- Elevation
- 31 m
Climate in Wellington
Wellington has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 18 °C, while July is the coolest at 11 °C. With around 2,100 hours of sunshine a year, Wellington is moderately sunny; January is the sunniest month with 7.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: January – March
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 13°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
06:3319:40
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 06:16–07:10 · evening 19:03–19:57
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:04–06:16 · evening 19:57–20:09
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.
What is the weather like in Wellington in October?
In October, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 87 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Wellington.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 7 min06:33 – 19:40
- UV index
- 7 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 31 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 60 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+13Pacific/Auckland
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %57 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %53 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %40 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Sea temperature in Wellington
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 12.5 – 13.7 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Wellington ranges from 12.2 °C in August to 16.7 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From May to August the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 15.9 and 17.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 16.0° | 15.1° | 17.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 16.7° | 15.9° | 17.6° | cold |
| MarchMar | 16.1° | 15.4° | 16.7° | cold |
| AprilApr | 15.3° | 14.5° | 16.3° | cold |
| MayMay | 14.4° | 13.8° | 15.2° | cold |
| JuneJun | 13.2° | 12.2° | 14.3° | cold |
| JulyJul | 12.5° | 11.5° | 13.4° | cold |
| AugustAug | 12.2° | 11.2° | 13.1° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 12.6° | 11.8° | 13.3° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 13.1° | 12.5° | 13.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 14.1° | 13.3° | 14.8° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 15.2° | 14.2° | 16.5° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Wellington
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 13.1 hours of daylight in Wellington, 47 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 6 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Wellington
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 7 · highSeek shade around midday; sunscreen SPF 30+, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 10).
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 it, 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.
Rain in Wellington: 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, Wellington has about 12 rainy days with 87 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Wellington
How breezy and how cloudy Wellington 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 Wellington typically peaks at 31 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh 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, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 60 % of the sky over Wellington: 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.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Wellington
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 11°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in July (9°), the warmest in February (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from January to February.
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 | 86 | 18° | 15° | 16.0° | 7.5 h | 8 | 55 |
| FebruaryFeb | 88 | 18° | 15° | 16.7° | 7.5 h | 7 | 61 |
| MarchMar | 79 | 17° | 14° | 16.1° | 6.6 h | 8 | 59 |
| AprilApr | 64 | 16° | 13° | 15.3° | 5.2 h | 10 | 69 |
| MayMay | 50 | 14° | 11° | 14.4° | 4.3 h | 11 | 76 |
| JuneJun | 37 | 12° | 10° | 13.2° | 3.4 h | 12 | 87 |
| JulyJul | 32 | 11° | 9° | 12.5° | 3.9 h | 12 | 94 |
| AugustAug | 33 | 12° | 9° | 12.2° | 4.8 h | 14 | 84 |
| SeptemberSep | 44 | 13° | 10° | 12.6° | 5.5 h | 12 | 74 |
| OctoberOct | 51 | 14° | 11° | 13.1° | 6.2 h | 12 | 87 |
| NovemberNov | 64 | 15° | 12° | 14.1° | 7.1 h | 11 | 69 |
| DecemberDec | 71 | 17° | 14° | 15.2° | 7.0 h | 11 | 74 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, 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
41.29° S, 174.78° E · 31 m · Pacific/Auckland
Best time to visit Wellington
The best time to visit Wellington is from January to March. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in February it only reaches 16.7 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from November to April. Rain is most frequent from July to October; the wettest month is July with 94 mm.
Wellington through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Wellington in spring
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 13–15 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Wellington in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 17–18 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Wellington in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 14–17 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Wellington in winter
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 11–12 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 38 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Wellington for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Wellington
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 Wellington: score 88 against 51. In February, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in February. February has 5 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in February.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 51 | 88better |
| Day high | 14° | 18° |
| Night low | 11° | 15° |
| Sea | 13.1° | 16.7° |
| Sunshine | 6.2 h | 7.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 7better |
| Rainfall | 87 mm | 61 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Nov – Apr
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Wellington month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
86January18° · Sea 16° · 8 h
In January, Wellington is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 16.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 55 mm. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in January88February18° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In February, Wellington is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 16.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 61 mm. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in February79March17° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In March, Wellington is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 59 mm. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in March64April16° · Sea 15° · 5 h
In April, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 15.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in April50May14° · Sea 14° · 4 h
In May, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 76 mm in total. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in May37June12° · Sea 13° · 3 h
In June, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 13.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in June32July11° · Sea 13° · 4 h
In July, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in July33August12° · Sea 12° · 5 h
In August, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 84 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in August44September13° · Sea 13° · 6 h
In September, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 12.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 74 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in September51October14° · Sea 13° · 6 h
In October, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 87 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in October64November15° · Sea 14° · 7 h
In November, Wellington is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 69 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in November71December17° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In December, Wellington is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 15.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 74 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Wellington.
Wellington in DecemberWellington compared
Put Wellington side by side with another destination.
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Wellington vs. Nelson
In October Nelson has the better holiday weather (score 57 vs. 51). During the day Nelson is 1 °C warmer than Wellington. The sea in Nelson is 1 °C warmer. Nelson gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Wellington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 51 | 57 |
| Daytime high | 14° | 15° |
| Sea | 13° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 14 |
| Best time | Jan – Mar | Jan – Feb |
Through the year
New Zealand in October: the best places
In October, Wellington ranks 4 of 9 destinations in this country.
- Tauranga17°16°68
- 2Auckland17°16°66
- 3Christchurch15°63
- 4WellingtonThis page14°13°51
- 5Queenstown11°40
- 6Whangārei17°16°20
- 7Nelson15°14°18
- 8Dunedin13°11°14
Planning a trip to Wellington
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Wellington 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.
Wellington has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 33).
- 69
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 47
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 33
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 51
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 79
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
GoodBest holidays
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 23 h 10 min
- Distance
- 18,830 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.
Frequently asked questions about Wellington
When is the best time to visit Wellington?
The best time to visit Wellington is from January to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Wellington?
The sea temperature in Wellington ranges from 12.2 °C in August to 16.7 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Wellington in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 13.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Wellington?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 18 °C and nights around 15 °C. July is the coolest month at 11 °C.
When does it rain most in Wellington?
Rain is most frequent from July to October; the wettest month is July with 94 mm. The driest month is January with 55 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Wellington get?
Wellington gets around 2,100 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 7.5 hours a day; in June there are 3.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Wellington in?
Wellington uses the time zone Pacific/Auckland: UTC+13 in January and UTC+12 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Wellington?
A nonstop flight from London to Wellington takes about 23 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 18,830 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Wellington?
Wellington has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 33). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 69, May half-term 47, Summer holidays 33, October half-term 51, Christmas holidays 79.
Near Wellington
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Wellington
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Wellington's – good alternatives.