Waikato Weather in January

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

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Taupo Hamilton Whitianga Cambridge

Planning a getaway to Waikato, New Zealand this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Waikato in January

Waikato, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. January in Waikato generally has temperatures that range from pleasant to warm, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. It's the height of summer.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from pleasant in Whakapapa Village at 20°C (68°F) to warm in Pukekohe East at 25°C (77°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 16°C (61°F) in Pukekohe East and 10°C (50°F) in Whakapapa Village.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Waikato, New Zealand, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Opito Bay with an average of 70 mm (2.8 in) to high rainfall in Whakapapa Village with 144 mm (5.7 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Taupo enjoys about 224 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Waikato by month

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

January22°C (72°F) February23°C (73°F) March20°C (68°F) April18°C (64°F) May15°C (59°F) June12°C (54°F) This monthJuly11°C (52°F) August12°C (54°F) September14°C (57°F) October16°C (61°F) November18°C (64°F) December20°C (68°F)
Best Time to Visit Waikato →

Best Places to Visit in Waikato in January

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

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 Waikato

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

Temperature range in Waikato (January)

Precipitation variation in Waikato (January)

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 →

Hamilton

In January Hamilton generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°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)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
208 hours
230 hours
195 hours
Monthly rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
76 mm (3 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Hamilton →

Whitianga

In January Whitianga generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°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
20°C (68°F)
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly rainfall
101 mm (4 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Whitianga →

Cambridge

In January Cambridge generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°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
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
208 hours
230 hours
195 hours
Monthly rainfall
109 mm (4.3 in)
77 mm (3 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Cambridge →

Coromandel Town

In January Coromandel Town generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°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)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
198 hours
230 hours
196 hours
Monthly rainfall
102 mm (4 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Coromandel Town →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Waikato, 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 Waikato in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Taupo 22°C (72°F) 12°C (54°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Hamilton 25°C (77°F) 15°C (59°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Whitianga 22°C (72°F) 17°C (63°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Cambridge 24°C (75°F) 14°C (57°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Coromandel Town 21°C (70°F) 18°C (64°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Turangi 21°C (70°F) 11°C (52°F) 128 mm (5 in)

Waikato weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Waikato, New Zealand in January?

Expect perfect weather across Waikato, New Zealand in January. The popular destination of Taupo averages 22°C (72°F) by day and 12°C (54°F) at night during this summer month.

What is the average temperature in Waikato, New Zealand in January?

Average temperatures in Waikato, New Zealand during January range from a nighttime low near 12°C (54°F) to a daytime high around 22°C (72°F) in Taupo.

Does Waikato, New Zealand get a lot of rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Waikato, New Zealand during January, with Taupo averaging close to 90 mm (3.5 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Waikato, New Zealand?

We believe that January is one of the best times to visit Waikato, New Zealand with overall perfect weather in Taupo. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

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

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Waikato.

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.

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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 →