Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island, features a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and moderate rainfall year-round. The city is known for changeable weather, frequent cloud cover, and refreshing sea breezes. Seasonal contrasts are distinct, with long, sunny days in summer and crisp, sometimes frosty days in winter, making Dunedin a dynamic destination.
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.
Dunedin’s climate is shaped by its southern latitude, coastal position, and hilly terrain. Summers (December–February) are mild, with average highs of 18–22°C and lows of 11–13°C. January is typically the warmest month, though temperatures above 30°C are rare. Sea breezes and the city’s proximity to the Southern Ocean help moderate the heat, making even the warmest days comfortable. Summer is the driest season, with rainfall averaging 40–70 mm per month, and up to 8–9 hours of sunshine daily. Beaches and coastal trails are popular, though cloud cover is frequent.
Winters (June–August) are cool and often overcast, with average highs of 9–11°C and lows near 1–3°C. Frost is common, but snow is rare in the city, though it can occasionally dust the surrounding hills. July is the coldest month, and winter days are short, with only 4–5 hours of sunshine. Rain falls throughout the year, but winter is not especially wet, with monthly totals around 50–60 mm. Winds are generally moderate (average 13–16 km/h), with brisk southwesterlies and occasional warm, dry northwest Foehn winds. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are transitional and known for variable, sometimes rapidly changing weather – sunshine, rain, and wind can all occur in a single day. Autumn is especially scenic, with vibrant foliage in city parks and hills. Dunedin receives about 724–973 mm of precipitation annually and averages 1,775–1,850 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of New Zealand’s cloudier cities.
| Average climate data for Dunedin, New Zealand | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 34 | 43 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 16 | 36 | 40 | 34 | 358 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 15 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 151 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 79 | 81 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 75 | 78 | 78 | 76 | 78 | 80 | 78 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 21 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 11 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 44 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 43 | 42 | 44 | 42 | 45 | 43 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
The best time to visit Dunedin is from late December to March, when temperatures are mild (18–22°C), days are long and sunny, and rainfall is lower. These months are ideal for exploring beaches, wildlife, and outdoor festivals, with comfortable weather and the city’s parks and gardens at their best.
The least favourable time is from June to August, when Dunedin is coolest, cloudiest, and most prone to frost. Short daylight hours, chilly temperatures, and frequent overcast skies can limit outdoor activities, though the city’s museums, cafés, and cosy pubs remain welcoming.
Dunedin has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers (18–22°C), cool winters (9–11°C), and moderate rainfall spread throughout the year. Weather is changeable, with frequent clouds and brisk sea breezes.
The best time to visit is from late December to March, when the weather is mild, days are long and sunny, and rainfall is lower—perfect for outdoor activities and exploring the coast.
Snow is rare in Dunedin city, but can occasionally dust the surrounding hills. Frost is common in winter, especially inland, but heavy snow is unusual except in higher suburbs.
Dunedin receives about 724–973 mm of rain annually. Rain falls year-round, but summer is the driest season and winter is not especially wet, with most rain coming as drizzle or light showers.
Dunedin averages 1,775–1,850 hours of sunshine per year. Summer months have up to 8–9 hours of sun daily, while winter days are shorter and often cloudier, with only 4–5 hours of sunshine.
Yes, Dunedin is often breezy, especially in spring and summer, with average winds of 13–16 km/h. Southwesterlies and occasional Foehn winds are typical, and the city’s hills create local wind variations.
Pack layers, a rain jacket, and sun protection for all seasons. Weather can change rapidly, so be prepared for sun, wind, and rain, especially in spring and autumn.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is February (15.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (9.2 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 12.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is February (11.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (6.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 8.9 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is February (13.7 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is August (9.2 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 11.1 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is February (43.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (16.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 358.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is October (15.7 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is March (11.2 days). Over the whole year there are 150.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is August (3 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 3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is August (0.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are February, April, May and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 1.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is March (80.7 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (75.2 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78.1 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is June (21.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is February (18.4 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 20.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (44.9 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is February (39.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 42.7 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 8.1 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 December (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 3.9 h). Over the whole year there are 7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 4). The months with the lowest average UV index are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.4.
