New Zealand in January

January is New Zealand's best month (rank 1 of 12): its 18 destinations average 79/100, led by Christchurch at 93 — 23°C and 8 rainy days — while Te Anau is cooler at 18°C and scores 88.

#1 of 12 months for New Zealand · 18 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

🇳🇿 New Zealand, month by month

79/100 in January
  1. 79Jan
  2. 79Feb
  3. 78Mar
  4. 72Apr
  5. 67May
  6. 65Jun
  7. 63Jul
  8. 67Aug
  9. 70Sep
  10. 73Oct
  11. 75Nov
  12. 76Dec

Where in New Zealand in January

#PlaceTypeFeels-like highRainComfortAt its best
1ChristchurchCity23°C52 mm · 8 days93 tier SYes
2Lake TekapoTrekking hub19°C92 mm · 12 days92 tier SYes
3NapierCity26°C81 mm · 10 days91 tier SYes
4NelsonCity25°C96 mm · 10 days91 tier SYes
5TaupoCity24°C92 mm · 10 days91 tier SYes
6WellingtonCity21°C52 mm · 9 days91 tier SYes
7AucklandCity24°C84 mm · 10 days89 tier AYes
8Te AnauNational park18°C129 mm · 13 days88 tier AYes
9TongariroNational park18°C135 mm · 15 days87 tier AYes
10DunedinCity19°C86 mm · 12 days86 tier AYes
11RotoruaTrekking hub24°C92 mm · 11 days86 tier A—
12PaihiaBeach24°C84 mm · 10 days85 tier AYes
13KaikōuraBeach23°C74 mm · 10 days83 tier AYes
14Aoraki Mount CookNational park19°C252 mm · 17 days82 tier AYes
15RaglanBeach22°C98 mm · 12 days82 tier AYes
16Franz JosefTrekking hub19°C330 mm · 17 days76 tier BYes
17WānakaSki resort21°C94 mm · 11 days14 tier F—
18QueenstownSki resort23°C108 mm · 11 days13 tier F—

Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means January is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.

What's on in New Zealand in January

  • Bread & Circus buskers festival · Christchurch · 20 Jan – 3 Feb (usually)
  • New Zealand summer holidays · Christchurch and 9 more places · 19 Dec – 1 Feb (usually)
  • Lupins along the lake · Lake Tekapo · 15 Nov – 10 Jan (usually)
  • Auckland Anniversary Day · Auckland · 26 Jan
  • Pohutukawa in flower · Auckland · 25 Nov – 10 Jan (usually)
  • Bay of Islands Sailing Week · Paihia · 20–31 Jan (usually)
  • Sperm whales, all year · Kaikōura · 1 Jan – 31 Dec
  • Summer peak in the village · Franz Josef · 20 Dec – 5 Feb (usually)

Peak crowds at 12 of New Zealand's 12 well-known places this month.

Other good months for New Zealand

February · 79/100March · 78/100December · 76/100Weakest: July · 63/100
← New Zealand in DecemberNew Zealand in February →Best time to visit New Zealand, month by monthCompare: Christchurch vs Lake Tekapo in January