The Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand
It is called the most beautiful walk in New Zealand, the Tongariro Crossing. The official hiking season starts late October until end of April.
The average annual maximum temperature in Wairau Valley, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand is 16°C (61°F), with daytime highs ranging from 10°C (50°F) in July to 21°C (70°F) in January. This page covers monthly averages, day-night differences, and how Wairau Valley compares to cities worldwide.
In Wairau Valley, temperatures can shift dramatically between pleasant in summer and cold in winter. Nights follow the same pattern, with lows ranging from 10°C (50°F) in January to 0°C (32°F) in July.
The chart below illustrates the average maximum day and minimum night temperatures in Wairau Valley by month:
From around 4 AM to 6 AM temperatures are at their lowest; by 3 PM they've climbed to their daily peak. January, the warmest month, averages 268 hours of sunshine.
The chart below shows the average temperature throughout the year:
The map below shows the annual temperature across New Zealand. You can also select individual months if you want to compare a specific time of year.
Wairau Valley's average annual maximum temperature is 16°C (61°F). To put that in context, here's how it compares to a few well-known destinations:
Seville, Spain averages 23°C (73°F) a year, one of the warmer cities in Western Europe, with long hot summers.
On the cooler end, Oslo, Norway averages just 10°C (50°F) annually, with pleasant summers but long, cold winters.
Chicago, USA averages 15°C (59°F) annually, known for extreme seasonal swings, from bitterly cold winters to warm summers.
Perth, Australia averages 25°C (77°F) annually, with a classic Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and mild wet winters.
Temperature alone doesn't tell the whole story, humidity plays a big role in how warm or cold it actually feels. High humidity in summer makes the heat feel more intense, particularly once temperatures climb above 25°C. In winter, the same humidity can make cold air feel sharper than the thermometer suggests.
In the cooler months, when temperatures drop below 10°C, high humidity makes the cold feel more cutting than it would in dry conditions.
In Wairau Valley, July is the coolest month, with average highs of 10°C (50°F) and humidity around 87%, considered very high. For a full picture, see our humidity page.
Climate temperature data is typically calculated as a 30-year average. This smooths out year-to-year variability and gives a more reliable picture of what a place is actually like, rather than what happened in any single unusual year.
The readings come from a range of sources, land-based weather stations, ocean buoys, ships, and satellites. That data is collected by weather services around the world, then pooled, quality-checked, and averaged to produce the climate records you see here.
Global average temperatures have risen by around 1.2°C since the pre-industrial era, and the effects are visible across many regions. Winters are milder on average, with fewer frost days and less snow in many parts of the world. Heatwaves are more frequent and more intense, and Europe's summers of 2018, 2019, and 2020 all set records.
Summers are also getting drier in some areas, while winter rainfall has increased in others. This contributies to higher river levels and more flooding. In many countries, spring arrives earlier and autumn lasts longer. It has knock-on effects for wildlife, agriculture, and local ecosystems.
For more on Wairau Valley's weather, including monthly rainfall, sunshine hours, and humidity, visit our Wairau Valley climate page.
Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Wairau Valley - and find the best time to visit.
Temperature Rainfall Sunshine Humidity
See the full Wairau Valley climate overview or explore weather in New Zealand.
Where to go in October - average daytime high across popular destinations.
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