New Zealand

New Zealand Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in New Zealand in January.

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Auckland Christchurch Queenstown Nelson

Planning a journey to New Zealand this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in New Zealand in January

New Zealand offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from mild to warm, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is mild in Mount Cook Village at 15°C (59°F) and warm in Mangonui at 25°C (77°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 17°C (63°F) in Mangonui and 5°C (41°F) in Mount Cook Village.

For specific regional insights in New Zealand, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 54 mm (2.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 406 mm (16 in).

Average sunshine

January brings good sunshine to many areas. Auckland sees around 230 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore New Zealand by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in New Zealand in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across New Zealand.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in New Zealand

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in New Zealand?

Temperature range in New Zealand (January)

Precipitation variation in New Zealand (January)

Auckland

In January Auckland generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
198 hours
230 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
101 mm (4 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Auckland →

Christchurch

In January Christchurch generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
218 hours
238 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Christchurch →

Queenstown

In January Queenstown generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
223 hours
230 hours
207 hours
Monthly rainfall
149 mm (5.9 in)
143 mm (5.6 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
11 days
9 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Queenstown →

Rotorua

In January Rotorua generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
217 hours
240 hours
207 hours
Monthly rainfall
127 mm (5 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
pleasant
Climate in Rotorua →

Taupo

In January Taupo generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
206 hours
224 hours
202 hours
Monthly rainfall
122 mm (4.8 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
10 days
8 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Taupo →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in New Zealand.

In our records: New Zealand January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in New Zealand in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in New Zealand brought 219 mm (8.6 in) in Whangarei on January 19, 2018.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in New Zealand in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Auckland 24°C (75°F) 17°C (63°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Christchurch 22°C (72°F) 13°C (55°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Queenstown 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
Nelson 21°C (70°F) 13°C (55°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Wellington 19°C (66°F) 15°C (59°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Franz Josef 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 361 mm (14 in)

New Zealand weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New Zealand in January?

In January, New Zealand generally has perfect weather conditions. Auckland sees daytime temperatures near 24°C (75°F), with nights cooling to roughly 17°C (63°F).

What is the average temperature in New Zealand in January?

Average temperatures in New Zealand during January range from a nighttime low near 17°C (63°F) to a daytime high around 24°C (75°F) in Auckland.

Does New Zealand get a lot of rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in New Zealand during January, with Auckland averaging close to 78 mm (3.1 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit New Zealand?

We consider January to be one of the best times to travel to New Zealand. Typically, the climate in Auckland is perfect. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March, April and November offering mostly perfect weather in Auckland. In contrast, June, July, August and September tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New Zealand.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

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.

White-water sledge and raft in Rotorua

We recommend to white-water sledge and raft in Rotorua in summer (January, February) when the Glacier melt fills the rivers. This is the best time.
Must visit in New Zealand →