Rotorua has a temperate climate with warm summers, cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Summer highs reach 23–24°C, while winter lows can dip to 3–4°C. Sunshine is most abundant from December to March, but weather can change quickly, so visitors should be prepared for both rain and sun in any season.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Rotorua, located in New Zealand’s North Island, experiences four distinct seasons with moderate temperature swings and consistent rainfall. Summers (December–February) are warm and pleasant, with average highs of 23–24°C and lows around 12°C. These months offer the longest days, up to 14–15 hours of daylight, and the most sunshine, with 7–8 hours per day. Rainfall is moderate, and humidity remains comfortable, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploring Rotorua’s geothermal wonders. Occasional summer showers are brief, and the UV index is high, so sun protection is essential.
Winters (June–August) are cool and damp, with highs of 12–14°C and lows near 3–4°C. Frost is possible, but snow is rare in the city itself. Rainfall increases slightly in winter, with July and August being the wettest months, and humidity can reach 84–89%. Days are shorter, with 9–10 hours of daylight and 4–5 hours of sunshine. Despite the chill, Rotorua’s geothermal pools and hot springs are especially inviting. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are transitional, with mild temperatures (13–21°C), moderate rainfall, and vibrant seasonal colours. Spring brings lush greenery and blooming flowers, while autumn is known for golden foliage and comfortable weather for hiking and biking. Winds are generally light, and Rotorua is one of New Zealand’s least windy cities. Annual rainfall is about 1,400–2,000 mm, with rain falling on 10–15 days each month.
| Average climate data for Rotorua, New Zealand | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 23 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 23 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 57 | 45 | 45 | 57 | 61 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 66 | 57 | 52 | 82 | 748 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 169 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 82 | 82 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 85 | 80 | 78 | 80 | 83 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 44 | 50 | 48 | 50 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 57 | 55 | 51 | 46 | 55 | 50 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
The best time to visit Rotorua is from November to March, when temperatures are warm (19–24°C), days are long, and rainfall is moderate. These months are ideal for outdoor activities, geothermal attractions, and lake adventures, though it’s also the busiest season – book accommodations early for the best experience.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to August, when temperatures are coolest (highs of 12–14°C, lows of 3–4°C), rain is more frequent, and daylight is shortest. While winter offers fewer crowds and the charm of hot pools, outdoor activities can be limited by wet, chilly weather.
Rotorua has warm, pleasant summers (highs 23–24°C) and cool, damp winters (highs 12–14°C, lows 3–4°C). Rain falls year-round, peaking in winter, and weather can change quickly in any season.
Snow is rare in Rotorua itself, but frost is common in winter. Higher elevations nearby may see occasional snow, but most winter precipitation in the city falls as rain.
December to March are the sunniest months, with up to 7–8 hours of sunshine daily and long daylight hours. Even in winter, Rotorua enjoys 4–5 hours of sun per day.
Rotorua receives about 1,400–2,000 mm of rain annually, with 10–15 rainy days per month. Rainfall is spread throughout the year, but July and August are usually the wettest months.
Pack layers, sunblock, sunglasses, and a rain jacket. Even in summer, evenings can be cool. In winter, bring warm clothes and waterproof shoes for wet, chilly days.
Rotorua is one of New Zealand’s least windy cities, with generally light winds year-round. Occasional gusts may occur, but wind rarely disrupts outdoor activities.
Rotorua is least crowded in winter (June–August) and early spring. These periods offer quieter attractions and lower prices, but weather is cooler and wetter than in peak season.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is January (22.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (11.2 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 17 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is February (12.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 8.1 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (82.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (45.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 748 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is December (18.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is May (11.9 days). Over the whole year there are 169.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is August (1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is August (0.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are January, February, March, July and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (86.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is January (76.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 82.9 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is October (11.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is February (8.8 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 10.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is August (57.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is January (43.7 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 50.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 8 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 6.4 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February and December (UV index: 5). The month with the lowest average UV index is July (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.8.
