Season guide · Wellington · New Zealand
Wellington in winter
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Cool and wet with occasional clear, still days; seals on the south coast and the August food festival. Expect highs up to 13°C (55°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 38 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 38
- Sea
- 12°C (54°F) to 13°C (55°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 13°C (55°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 13 | 9.2 h | 2/5 |
| July | 12°C (54°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 13 | 9.5 h | 2/5 |
| August | 12°C (54°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 12 | 10.5 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 12°C (54°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 38 of the year's roughly 121 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Wellington Jazz Festival (usually June)
- June: Matariki — Māori New Year, with fire and light events on the waterfront (June or July)
- August: Wellington On a Plate — food festival with the burger competition (usually August)
- August: Beervana — craft beer festival (usually August)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Lambton Quay and CBD
Wellington Museum
Housed in the 1892 Bond Store on Queens Wharf, this museum tells the city's story through its harbour, maritime trade, Māori settlement and the 1968 Wahine ferry disaster.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Te Aro
City Gallery Wellington
Cross the City to Sea Bridge from Civic Square afterwards to reach the waterfront.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Thorndon
Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
The writer Katherine Mansfield was born in this wooden house on Tinakori Road in 1888.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Te Aro
Te Papa Tongarewa
Pick two or three floors rather than trying to see everything; the Māori and nature exhibitions are good starting points.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
- Art
Museum · Kelburn
Space Place at Carter Observatory
Next to the top of the Cable Car in the Botanic Garden, this small observatory and planetarium has full-dome shows on the southern sky, interactive exhibits and a historic telescope used for evening viewing sessions when the sky is clear.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- Days Bay and Eastbourne (About 25 minutes by ferry) — Across the harbour, Days Bay has a sheltered beach, a café, kayak hire and bush walks, with the seaside village of Eastbourne a short walk along the coast.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Wellington?
It is a trade-off: Cool and wet with occasional clear, still days; seals on the south coast and the August food festival. The best months overall are December–March.
+What is the weather like in Wellington in winter?
Highs of up to 13°C (55°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 38 rainy days over the season.