Best time to visit Wanaka
The best time to visit Wanaka is anytime.
Wanaka’s winter ski season runs from June to early-October, while summer brings clear blue skies and long days to enjoy the region’s many adventure activities.
Winter, from late-May through to late-August, sees an average daily high temperature below 9°C (48°F), with frosty mornings, clear blue skies and cold temperatures.
With six international ski areas open from early-June until early-October, winter is best for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing and heli-skiing.
Spring, from early-September to late-November brings unpredictable weather with a mix of sunshine and rain. Daytime temperatures range between 12°C (53°F) and 17°C (62°F).
Spring is still good for skiing as well as mountain biking and hiking. Rivers swell in spring making rafting and jetboating especially thrilling.
Summer, from early-December to mid-March, sees average daily high temperatures above 18°C (64°F). You can expect long, sunny days with dawn breaking around 5am and dusk setting around 10pm.
Summer in Wanaka offers every adventure sport imaginable (except skiing and snowboarding, of course)
Autumn, from early-March to late-May, brings clear, settled days with around 10 hours of daylight. Temperatures range between 11°C (51°F) and 18°C (64°F). Autumn is still warm enough to enjoy most of the region’s summer activities.
Which is the hottest month in Wanaka?
The hottest month of the year in Wanaka is January with an average high of 24°C (75°F) and a night-time low of low of 11°C (52°F).
The warm season in Wanaka lasts from early-December to mid-March, with an average daily high temperature above 22°C (71°F).
However, on the warmest days of summer, the temperature may climb above 32°C (90°F).
Which is the coldest month in Wanaka?
The coldest month of the year in Wanaka is July, with an average low of -1°C (30°F) and high of 8°C (46°F).
When is it sunniest in Wanaka?
The sunniest time of year in Wanaka is usually February, with bright sunshine on average for 48% of daylight hours; that's seven hours of sunshine per day.
Which month has the most rain in Wanaka?
October is usually the wettest month in Wanaka with 63mm (2.4in) on average. There are normally 10 days in October with some rainfall.
What are the windiest months in Wanaka?
The windiest month of the year in Wanaka is October, with an average hourly wind speed of 14 kilometres per hour (8 knots; 10 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from early-September to late-March, with average wind speeds of more than 11 kilometres per hour (6 knots; 12 mph).
The calmer time of year lasts from from late-March through to early-September. The least windy month of the year in Wanaka is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 9 kilometres per hour (5 knots; 7 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction in Wanaka varies throughout the year.
The wind is most often from the west from mid-May to mid-June and from mid-October to early-December; the wind is most often from the north from mid-June to mid-October and from early-December to mid-May.
Wanaka Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 24 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 22 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 11 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 10 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 57 | 50 | 60 | 56 | 62 | 54 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 63 | 54 | 52 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Wanaka, New Zealand | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: From mid-December through February, when most Kiwi families take their annual holidays.
The Easter break and school holidays in April, June to July, and September to October, also tend to be very busy.
From June to August it’s best to book hotel rooms and airline seats well in advance.
Source: Meteorological data for Wanaka is based on weather statistics gathered during the period 2012 to 2021 by MetService New Zealand at the closest weather station: Queenstown Airport (ZQN), located 48km (30mi) south of Wanaka. This station is deemed sufficiently nearby to be relied upon as the primary source for historical climate records, although weather conditions in Wanaka may vary slightly.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Wanaka: 10 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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