Hokitika

West Coast Weather in January

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

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Franz Josef Greymouth Hokitika Fox Glacier

Planning a getaway to the West Coast, 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 the West Coast in January

The West Coast, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. January in the West Coast generally has temperatures that range from mild to pleasant, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is mild in Franz Josef at 16°C (61°F) to pleasant in Greymouth at 20°C (68°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 13°C (55°F) in Greymouth and 9°C (48°F) in Franz Josef.

For a closer look at conditions across the West Coast, New Zealand, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Karamea with an average of 210 mm (8.3 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 406 mm (16 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Greymouth sees close to 211 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore the West Coast by month

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

January16°C (61°F) February17°C (63°F) March15°C (59°F) April13°C (55°F) May10°C (50°F) This monthJune8°C (46°F) July7°C (45°F) August8°C (46°F) September9°C (48°F) October11°C (52°F) November12°C (54°F) December15°C (59°F)
Best Time to Visit the West Coast →

Best Places to Visit in the West Coast in January

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

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 the West Coast

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

Temperature range in the West Coast (January)

Precipitation variation in the West Coast (January)

Greymouth

In January Greymouth generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
197 hours
211 hours
185 hours
Monthly rainfall
255 mm (10 in)
232 mm (9.1 in)
180 mm (7.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
17 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
pleasant
Climate in Greymouth →

Franz Josef

In January Franz Josef generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly rainfall
376 mm (15 in)
361 mm (14 in)
280 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
15 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Franz Josef →

Hokitika

In January Hokitika generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
Monthly sun hours
197 hours
211 hours
185 hours
Monthly rainfall
345 mm (14 in)
317 mm (12 in)
243 mm (9.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
16 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Hokitika →

Fox Glacier

In January Fox Glacier generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly rainfall
376 mm (15 in)
354 mm (14 in)
276 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
15 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Fox Glacier →

Westport

In January Westport generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly rainfall
265 mm (10 in)
230 mm (9.1 in)
170 mm (6.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
15 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
unpleasant
pleasant
Climate in Westport →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Franz Josef 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 361 mm (14 in)
Greymouth 20°C (68°F) 13°C (55°F) 232 mm (9.1 in)
Hokitika 19°C (66°F) 13°C (55°F) 317 mm (12 in)
Fox Glacier 18°C (64°F) 9°C (48°F) 354 mm (14 in)
Westport 20°C (68°F) 13°C (55°F) 230 mm (9.1 in)
Punakaiki 18°C (64°F) 14°C (57°F) 234 mm (9.2 in)

The West Coast weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the West Coast, New Zealand in January?

Expect unpleasant weather across the West Coast, New Zealand in January. The popular destination of Greymouth averages 20°C (68°F) by day and 13°C (55°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in the West Coast, New Zealand in January?

In Greymouth, the average daytime high in January is 20°C (68°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 13°C (55°F).

Does the West Coast, New Zealand get a lot of rain in January?

Rainfall in the West Coast, New Zealand peaks during January. Greymouth averages roughly 232 mm (9.1 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit the West Coast, New Zealand?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit the West Coast, New Zealand due to the typically unpleasant weather in Greymouth.

On average, the best time to visit the West Coast, New Zealand is in February with generally pleasant weather in Greymouth. The weather in April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the West Coast.

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 →