When is the best time to go to Kaikoura
The chart above shows the best time of year to visit Kaikoura, New Zealand. These are based on an analysis of weather averages such as temperature, rainfall and number of hours of sunshine. These ratings are based solely on the climate and do not take into account other factors such as accommodation prices and how busy it is likely to be.
Average temperatures in Kaikoura
Kaikoura weather by month
Please note our recommendations for when to visit Kaikoura are based solely on the weather and do not take into accounts accommodation prices, how busy it will be and what events are on.
January
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18°C | 69mm | 7.6hrs | 16hrs | 16°C |
January is a reasonably dry month in Kaikoura and the temperature is generally mild.
It is perhaps a good month to visit Kaikoura, with some extremely good weather at this time of year.
January is in the summer in Kaikoura and is typically the coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around 20°C (68°F), whilst at night 8°C (47°F) is normal.
On average January is the driest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 69mm 2.7 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 8 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 7.6 hours of sunshine per day.
February
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18°C | 59mm | 7.1hrs | 14.8hrs | 16°C |
February in Kaikoura is generally reasonably dry with the temperature being mild.
It is perhaps the perfect month to visit Kaikoura, with some very good weather at this time of year.
February is in the summer in Kaikoura and is typically the 2nd coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around 20°C (68°F), whilst at night 8°C (47°F) is normal.
On average February is the 2nd driest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 59mm 2.3 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 9 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 7.1 hours of sunshine per day.
Kaikoura weather in February »
March
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16°C | 93mm | 5.7hrs | 13.4hrs | 16°C |
The weather in March in Kaikoura is characteristically mild and a little damp.
It is perhaps a good month to visit Kaikoura, with some surprisingly good weather at this time of year.
March is in the fall / autumn in Kaikoura and is typically the 3rd coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 18°C (65°F), whilst at night 7°C (45°F) is normal.
On average March is the 3rd driest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 93mm 3.6 inches of rain making it a a little damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 10 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 5.7 hours of sunshine per day.
April
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14°C | 89mm | 5.2hrs | 12hrs | 14°C |
Kaikoura's weather in April is typically cool and a little damp in nature.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of quite acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Kaikoura.
April is in the fall / autumn in Kaikoura and is typically the 4th coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 15°C (59°F), whilst at night 5°C (41°F) is normal.
On average April is the 4th driest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 89mm 3.5 inches of rain making it a a little damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 9 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 5.2 hours of sunshine per day.
May
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10°C | 97mm | 4hrs | 10.8hrs | 13°C |
May is a a little damp month in Kaikoura and the temperature is generally cool.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of quite acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Kaikoura.
May is in the fall / autumn in Kaikoura and is typically the 5th coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 11°C (52°F), whilst at night 2°C (36°F) is normal.
On average May is the 5th driest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 97mm 3.8 inches of rain making it a a little damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 11 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 4 hours of sunshine per day.
June
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8°C | 90mm | 3.7hrs | 16hrs | 12°C |
June is a a little damp month in Kaikoura and the temperature is generally cool.
Based on weather alone, this is probably a time of year to avoid going to Kaikoura for your holidays. The weather is often relatively bad and not conducive to spending time outdoors.
June is in the winter in Kaikoura and is typically the 6th coldest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cold 9°C (47°F), whilst at night 0°C (32°F) is normal.
On average June is the 6th driest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 90mm 3.5 inches of rain making it a a little damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 10 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 3.7 hours of sunshine per day.
July
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7°C | 117mm | 3.7hrs | 14.8hrs | 11°C |
July in Kaikoura is generally damp with the temperature being cool.
Based on weather alone, this is probably a time of year to avoid going to Kaikoura for your holidays. The weather is often pretty bad and not conducive to spending time outdoors.
July is in the winter in Kaikoura and is typically the 6th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cold 7°C (45°F), whilst at night -0°C (31°F) is normal.
On average July is the 6th wettest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 117mm 4.6 inches of rain making it a damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 11 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 3.7 hours of sunshine per day.
August
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8°C | 111mm | 4.2hrs | 13.4hrs | 11°C |
The weather in August in Kaikoura is characteristically cool and damp.
Based on weather alone, this is probably a time of year to avoid going to Kaikoura for your holidays. The weather is often not a good and not conducive to spending time outdoors.
August is in the winter in Kaikoura and is typically the 5th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cold 9°C (48°F), whilst at night 0°C (33°F) is normal.
On average August is the 5th wettest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 111mm 4.4 inches of rain making it a damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 12 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 4.2 hours of sunshine per day.
September
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10°C | 83mm | 5hrs | 12hrs | 11°C |
Kaikoura's weather in September is typically cool and a little damp in nature.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of reasonably acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Kaikoura.
September is in the spring in Kaikoura and is typically the 4th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 11°C (52°F), whilst at night 2°C (36°F) is normal.
On average September is the 4th wettest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 83mm 3.3 inches of rain making it a a little damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 12 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 5 hours of sunshine per day.
Kaikoura weather in September »
October
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13°C | 88mm | 6.3hrs | 10.8hrs | 12°C |
October is a a little damp month in Kaikoura and the temperature is generally cool.
Although outside the main holiday season, there is still plenty of reasonably acceptable weather around this time of year. This makes it an okay time to visit Kaikoura.
October is in the spring in Kaikoura and is typically the 3rd warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 14°C (57°F), whilst at night 4°C (39°F) is normal.
On average October is the 3rd wettest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 88mm 3.5 inches of rain making it a a little damp time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 11 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.3 hours of sunshine per day.
November
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14°C | 75mm | 6.7hrs | 16hrs | 13°C |
Kaikoura's weather in November is typically mild and reasonably dry in nature.
It is perhaps a good month to visit Kaikoura, with some inordinately good weather at this time of year.
November is in the spring in Kaikoura and is typically the 2nd warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 16°C (61°F), whilst at night 5°C (42°F) is normal.
On average November is the 2nd wettest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 75mm 3 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 10 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.7 hours of sunshine per day.
Kaikoura weather in November »
December
| Temp | Rain | Sunshine | Day length | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17°C | 80mm | 6.9hrs | 14.8hrs | 14°C |
December in Kaikoura is generally reasonably dry with the temperature being mild.
It is perhaps a good month to visit Kaikoura, with some inordinately good weather at this time of year.
December is in the summer in Kaikoura and is typically the warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cool 18°C (65°F), whilst at night 7°C (45°F) is normal.
On average December is the wettest month of the year in Kaikoura with around 80mm 3.1 inches of rain making it a reasonably dry time to visit. This rainfall is typically spread over 11 days, although this may vary considerably.
On the flip side this corresponds to an average of 6.9 hours of sunshine per day.
Other monthly averages
Kaikoura weather stats
| Hottest month: | January | 19.9°C 67.8°F |
|---|---|---|
| Driest month: | February | 59mm 2.3ins |
| Sunniest month: | February | 7.1hrs |
| Coldest month: | July | 7.2°C 45°F |
| Wettest month: | July | 117mm 4.6ins |
| Warmest sea: | February | 16.3°C 61.3°F |
© Google
Top New Zealand locations
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Auckland
- Christchurch
- Dunedin
- Kaikoura
- Milford Sound
- Napier
- Nelson
- Queenstown
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Wanaka
- Wellington