Hokitika

West Coast Weather in March

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

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Franz Josef Greymouth Hokitika Fox Glacier

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

What to Expect in the West Coast in March

The West Coast, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. March 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 15°C (59°F) to pleasant in Greymouth at 19°C (66°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 12°C (54°F) in Greymouth and 8°C (46°F) in Franz Josef.

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

Precipitation

In March, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Karamea with an average of 169 mm (6.7 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 329 mm (13 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Greymouth as an example - it receives around 173 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

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) June8°C (46°F) This monthJuly7°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 March

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 March for some of the most popular destinations in the West Coast, New Zealand?

Temperature range in the West Coast (March)

Precipitation variation in the West Coast (March)

Greymouth

In March Greymouth generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
185 hours
173 hours
142 hours
Monthly rainfall
180 mm (7.1 in)
181 mm (7.1 in)
207 mm (8.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Greymouth →

Franz Josef

In March Franz Josef generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly rainfall
280 mm (11 in)
282 mm (11 in)
302 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Franz Josef →

Hokitika

In March Hokitika generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
185 hours
173 hours
142 hours
Monthly rainfall
243 mm (9.6 in)
244 mm (9.6 in)
267 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
16 days
15 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Hokitika →

Fox Glacier

In March Fox Glacier generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
18°C (64°F)
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly rainfall
276 mm (11 in)
280 mm (11 in)
296 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Fox Glacier →

Westport

In March Westport generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 19°C (66°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C (54°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
170 mm (6.7 in)
185 mm (7.3 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
16 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
unpleasant
poor
Climate in Westport →

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

Popular cities in March

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the West Coast in March.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Franz Josef 15°C (59°F) 8°C (46°F) 282 mm (11 in)
Greymouth 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 181 mm (7.1 in)
Hokitika 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 244 mm (9.6 in)
Fox Glacier 16°C (61°F) 8°C (46°F) 280 mm (11 in)
Westport 19°C (66°F) 12°C (54°F) 185 mm (7.3 in)
Punakaiki 18°C (64°F) 13°C (55°F) 188 mm (7.4 in)

The West Coast weather in March: frequently asked questions

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

the West Coast, New Zealand typically experiences unpleasant weather in March, part of the season. Daytime highs in Greymouth average around 19°C (66°F), and temperatures drop to about 12°C (54°F) at night.

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

Greymouth averages a daytime maximum of 19°C (66°F) in March, with overnight lows close to 12°C (54°F).

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

Expect plenty of rainfall. Greymouth records an average of 181 mm (7.1 in) in March, putting it among the wetter months for the West Coast, New Zealand.

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

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Greymouth, March may not be the ideal time to visit the West Coast, New Zealand.

Generally speaking, February provides 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 →