Wellington

Wellington Weather in January

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

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Wellington Lower Hutt Martinborough Masterton

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

What to Expect in Wellington in January

Wellington, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. January in Wellington generally has pleasant temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are pleasant and range from 19°C (66°F) in Wellington to 21°C (70°F) in Masterton. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in Masterton and 15°C (59°F) in Wellington.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Wellington with an average of 58 mm (2.3 in) to high rainfall in Otaki with 111 mm (4.4 in). In Wellington, this particular month consistently records the lowest levels of rainfall, making it the driest period throughout the entire year.

Average sunshine

January brings good sunshine to many areas. Wellington sees around 234 hours of sunlight, great for visitors looking for bright days.

Explore Wellington by month

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

January19°C (66°F) February19°C (66°F) March18°C (64°F) April17°C (63°F) May15°C (59°F) This monthJune13°C (55°F) July13°C (55°F) August13°C (55°F) September14°C (57°F) October15°C (59°F) November16°C (61°F) December17°C (63°F)
Best Time to Visit Wellington →

Best Places to Visit in Wellington in January

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

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 Wellington

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

Temperature range in Wellington (January)

Precipitation variation in Wellington (January)

Wellington

In January Wellington generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
222 hours
234 hours
206 hours
Monthly rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
pleasant
pleasant
Climate in Wellington →

Lower Hutt

In January Lower Hutt generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
222 hours
234 hours
206 hours
Monthly rainfall
80 mm (3.1 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
perfect
Climate in Lower Hutt →

Martinborough

In January Martinborough generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°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
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
222 hours
234 hours
206 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Martinborough →

Masterton

In January Masterton generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°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
19°C (66°F)
21°C (70°F)
22°C (72°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
178 hours
210 hours
189 hours
Monthly rainfall
96 mm (3.8 in)
76 mm (3 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
10 days
9 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
perfect
Climate in Masterton →

Paraparaumu Beach

In January Paraparaumu Beach generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
222 hours
234 hours
206 hours
Monthly rainfall
134 mm (5.3 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
11 days
10 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
tolerable
pleasant
Climate in Paraparaumu Beach →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Wellington 19°C (66°F) 15°C (59°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Lower Hutt 19°C (66°F) 14°C (57°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Martinborough 21°C (70°F) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Masterton 21°C (70°F) 12°C (54°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Paraparaumu Beach 19°C (66°F) 15°C (59°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Greytown 21°C (70°F) 12°C (54°F) 77 mm (3 in)

Wellington weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Wellington, New Zealand typically experiences pleasant weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in Wellington average around 19°C (66°F), and temperatures drop to about 15°C (59°F) at night.

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

Average temperatures in Wellington, New Zealand during January range from a nighttime low near 15°C (59°F) to a daytime high around 19°C (66°F) in Wellington.

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

Not particularly. Wellington averages just 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Wellington, New Zealand.

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

We believe that January is one of the best times to visit Wellington, New Zealand with overall pleasant weather in Wellington.

Generally speaking, January, February and March provide pleasant weather in Wellington. On the other hand, the month of June tends to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Wellington.

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 →