SeasonMapNew Zealand in October
October is New Zealand's 6th-best month (rank 6 of 12): its 17 destinations average 73/100, led by Napier at 85 — 19°C and 10 rainy days — while Aoraki Mount Cook is cooler at 8°C and scores 67.
#6 of 12 months for New Zealand · 17 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in New Zealand in October
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napier | City | 19°C | 70 mm · 10 days | 85 tier A | — |
| 2 | Rotorua | Trekking hub | 15°C | 118 mm · 13 days | 85 tier A | — |
| 3 | Auckland | City | 16°C | 83 mm · 13 days | 84 tier A | — |
| 4 | Wellington | City | 14°C | 71 mm · 13 days | 82 tier A | — |
| 5 | Christchurch | City | 16°C | 66 mm · 12 days | 81 tier A | — |
| 6 | Lake Tekapo | Trekking hub | 10°C | 131 mm · 13 days | 79 tier B | — |
| 7 | Nelson | City | 16°C | 125 mm · 13 days | 79 tier B | — |
| 8 | Dunedin | City | 12°C | 87 mm · 14 days | 77 tier B | — |
| 9 | Paihia | Beach | 16°C | 84 mm · 11 days | 76 tier B | — |
| 10 | Kaikōura | Beach | 16°C | 89 mm · 14 days | 75 tier B | — |
| 11 | Te Anau | National park | 10°C | 195 mm · 19 days | 75 tier B | — |
| 12 | Taupo | City | 15°C | 131 mm · 14 days | 74 tier B | — |
| 13 | Tongariro | National park | 9°C | 189 mm · 20 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 14 | Aoraki Mount Cook | National park | 8°C | 310 mm · 20 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 15 | Franz Josef | Trekking hub | 11°C | 396 mm · 20 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 16 | Wānaka | Ski resort | 11°C | 136 mm · 14 days | 45 tier F | — |
| 17 | Queenstown | Ski resort | 14°C | 145 mm · 16 days | 39 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 October 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 October
- World of WearableArt · Wellington · 17 Sep – 4 Oct
- Sperm whales, all year · Kaikōura · 1 Jan – 31 Dec
- Gannets at Cape Kidnappers · Napier · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)
- Nelson Arts Festival · Nelson · 22 Oct – 1 Nov
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 4 of New Zealand's 12 well-known places this month.