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New Zealand Weather in October

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

Planning a trip to New Zealand this October? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in New Zealand in October

The weather in New Zealand in October can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from cold to pleasant and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from cold in Mount Cook Village at 7°C (45°F) to pleasant in Mangonui at 19°C (66°F). At night it cools down to 12°C (54°F) in Mangonui and -1°C (30°F) in Mount Cook Village.

To explore the conditions in New Zealand in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In October, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 52 mm (2 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 395 mm (16 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Auckland, you can expect around 182 hours of sunlight in October, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

Explore New Zealand by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in New Zealand — and find the best time to visit. (based on Auckland)

Best Places to Visit in New Zealand in October

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

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 October for some of the most popular destinations in New Zealand?

Temperature range in New Zealand (October)

Precipitation variation in New Zealand (October)

Auckland

In October Auckland generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
182 hours
189 hours
Monthly rainfall
112 mm (4.4 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
17 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Christchurch

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

September
October
November
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
167 hours
204 hours
224 hours
Monthly rainfall
55 mm (2.2 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
61 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Queenstown

In October Queenstown generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
9°C (48°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
1°C (34°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
200 hours
216 hours
Monthly rainfall
138 mm (5.4 in)
152 mm (6 in)
141 mm (5.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Rotorua

In October Rotorua generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
155 hours
193 hours
201 hours
Monthly rainfall
132 mm (5.2 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Taupo

In October Taupo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

September
October
November
Max temperature
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
145 hours
180 hours
192 hours
Monthly rainfall
131 mm (5.2 in)
119 mm (4.7 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in October

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Auckland 18°C (64°F) 12°C (54°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Christchurch 17°C (63°F) 7°C (45°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Queenstown 9°C (48°F) 1°C (34°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Nelson 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Wellington 15°C (59°F) 11°C (52°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Franz Josef 11°C (52°F) 4°C (39°F) 367 mm (14 in)

New Zealand weather in October: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New Zealand in October?

Expect pleasant weather across New Zealand in October. The popular destination of Auckland averages 18°C (64°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in New Zealand in October?

Auckland averages a daytime maximum of 18°C (64°F) in October, with overnight lows close to 12°C (54°F).

Does New Zealand get a lot of rain in October?

Rain is generally moderate to light in New Zealand during October, with Auckland averaging close to 91 mm (3.6 in).

Is October a Good Time to Visit New Zealand?

In our opinion, October is a good time to visit New Zealand with overall pleasant weather in Auckland. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March, April and November offering mostly perfect weather in Auckland. The weather in June, July, August and September, on the other hand, tends to be unpleasant.

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.