The short answer
- Month
- January
- Verdict
- Excellent
- Season
- Summer
- North Island
- Warm, about 24°C
- South Island
- Warm, about 22°C in Queenstown
- Crowds
- Busiest month
January is high summer, with daylight until after 9pm in the south. It's perfect for beaches, lakes and Great Walks, but it's also school holiday time, so popular places are busy and prices are at their highest.
New Zealand in January at a glance
The map opens on January; tap another month to compare.
Choose your month
January
Peak summer: warm, long days and busy. School holidays run until late January, so book ahead.
- Northland (best)Bay of Islands, beaches
- Rotorua and Taupo (best)geysers, Hobbiton, Waitomo
- Tongariro (best)the Alpine Crossing, hikers' conditions
- Abel Tasman (best)beaches and coastal walking
- West Coast (best)Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, wet all year
- Mount Cook and Tekapo (best)clear skies, cold winter nights
- Queenstown and Wanaka (best)great in summer, skiing in winter
- Fiordland (best)Milford Sound, Great Walks season October to April
January across the year
How January compares with the rest of the year. The ringed column is January.
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Island touringRotorua, Waitomo, Hobbiton | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best |
| Tongariro Crossingfor hikers without alpine skills | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best |
| Great Walksfull hut service late October to April | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best |
| Queenstown and Mount Cooktouring and day walks | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best |
| Fiordland and Milfordwet all year, best in summer | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best |
| SkiingQueenstown, Wanaka, Ruapehu | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
Where to go in January
- Abel Tasman and the Bay of Islands: Warm water and beach days.
- Great Walks: Full hut service and the most settled alpine weather.
- Queenstown and Wanaka: Lake swimming, hiking and long evenings.
What to avoid in January
- Leaving accommodation, campervans and the Cook Strait ferry until late: they sell out.
- Expecting quiet beaches in the first half of the month.
Events and holidays in January
- New Year (1 and 2 January): Public holidays; the first weeks of January are the peak of the holidays.
- Anniversary days: Wellington's regional holiday usually falls in late January.
Weather in January
Average highs, lows and rainfall, with January highlighted.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | AucklandBay of Islands and Rotorua are similar | ChristchurchCanterbury plains, Lake Tekapo is colder | QueenstownWanaka is similar | Milford Soundone of the wettest places on Earth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24° / 16°75 mm | 23° / 12°45 mm | 22° / 10°75 mm | 19° / 10°720 mm |
| Feb | 25° / 17°65 mm | 22° / 12°45 mm | 22° / 10°60 mm | 19° / 10°500 mm |
| Mar | 23° / 15°90 mm | 20° / 10°50 mm | 19° / 8°65 mm | 18° / 9°580 mm |
| Apr | 21° / 13°100 mm | 17° / 7°50 mm | 15° / 5°65 mm | 15° / 7°520 mm |
| May | 18° / 11°115 mm | 14° / 4°65 mm | 11° / 2°75 mm | 12° / 4°560 mm |
| Jun | 16° / 9°130 mm | 11° / 2°60 mm | 8° / 0°65 mm | 10° / 2°480 mm |
| Jul | 15° / 8°140 mm | 11° / 1°65 mm | 7° / -1°60 mm | 9° / 1°420 mm |
| Aug | 16° / 8°120 mm | 12° / 2°60 mm | 9° / 0°60 mm | 10° / 2°450 mm |
| Sep | 17° / 10°100 mm | 15° / 4°45 mm | 12° / 2°60 mm | 12° / 4°520 mm |
| Oct | 19° / 11°90 mm | 17° / 6°45 mm | 15° / 4°75 mm | 14° / 5°600 mm |
| Nov | 20° / 13°80 mm | 19° / 8°50 mm | 18° / 6°70 mm | 16° / 7°560 mm |
| Dec | 22° / 15°90 mm | 21° / 11°55 mm | 20° / 8°85 mm | 18° / 9°650 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
A 14 day trip for January
Our suggestion for January: Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, the ferry, Abel Tasman and the South Island loop to Queenstown. Every trip can be made private, or try your own route in our New Zealand trip planner.
Tip: Book everything months ahead, or travel from late January when the school holidays end.
Want a January trip made for you?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 14 days, built around your dates.
Other months
Thinking about December or February? See New Zealand in December and New Zealand in February, or compare every season in our guide to the best time to visit New Zealand.
Rather have a trip to New Zealand made just for you?
Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.
Frequently asked questions
Is January a good time to visit New Zealand?
Yes for weather, but it's the busiest and most expensive month. Book well ahead.
Sources we checked
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