Season guide · Wellington · New Zealand
Wellington in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Often calm, mild early autumn days in March, becoming cooler and wetter by May; CubaDupa in March. Expect highs up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 29 rainy days across March–May. March is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 19°C (66°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 8 | 12.5 h | 4/5 |
| April | 17°C (63°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 10 | 11 h | 3/5 |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 11 | 9.8 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 121 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: CubaDupa — street music and performance festival on Cuba Street (usually late March)
Good choices for autumn
Experience · Miramar
Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours
Book a workshop tour if you are interested in film-making; the free Wētā Cave alone takes only about 20 minutes.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours with a tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
Architecture · Lambton Quay and CBD
Parliament and the Beehive
New Zealand's Parliament buildings include the Edwardian Parliament House, the Gothic Parliamentary Library and the circular Beehive, the executive wing designed by Basil Spence and completed in the late 1970s.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Lambton Quay and CBD
Wellington Museum
Combine it with a ferry trip from Queens Wharf to Matiu/Somes Island or Days Bay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Te Aro
City Gallery Wellington
On Civic Square, the city's public art gallery shows changing exhibitions of contemporary New Zealand and international art in a converted 1940s library building.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Thorndon
Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Read one of her Wellington stories, such as 'The Garden Party', before you go.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- Cape Palliser and Putangirua Pinnacles (About 2 hours by car) — The southernmost point of the North Island has a red-and-white lighthouse reached by about 250 steps and a fur seal colony beside the road.
- Kāpiti Island (About 1 hour by car or train, then a short boat crossing) — One of New Zealand's oldest nature reserves, the predator-free island off the Kāpiti Coast is home to takahē, kākā, kererū and, at night, little spotted kiwi.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Wellington?
Yes: March is among the best months. Often calm, mild early autumn days in March, becoming cooler and wetter by May; CubaDupa in March.
+What is the weather like in Wellington in autumn?
Highs of up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.