The short answer
- Month
- October
- Verdict
- Good
- Season
- Spring
- North Island
- Mild, about 19°C
- South Island
- Warming, snowmelt waterfalls
- Crowds
- Quiet
October brings longer days and warmer weather, though still changeable. It's a quiet, good value month before the summer rush.
New Zealand in October at a glance
The map opens on October; tap another month to compare.
Choose your month
October
Spring: rising temperatures and quieter roads. Great Walks bookings start for the summer season late in the month.
- Rotorua and Taupo (best)geysers, Hobbiton, Waitomo
- Mount Cook and Tekapo (best)clear skies, cold winter nights
- Queenstown and Wanaka (best)great in summer, skiing in winter
- Northland (mixed)Bay of Islands, beaches
- Tongariro (mixed)the Alpine Crossing, hikers' conditions
- Abel Tasman (mixed)beaches and coastal walking
- West Coast (mixed)Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, wet all year
- Fiordland (mixed)Milford Sound, Great Walks season October to April
October across the year
How October compares with the rest of the year. The ringed column is October.
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 October
- Milford Sound: Waterfalls in full flow from melting snow.
- Great Walks: The season usually starts in the last week of October.
- North Island: Mild weather for Rotorua and the Coromandel.
What to avoid in October
- Great Walks before the season starts unless you're experienced.
- Planning the Roys Peak hike near Wanaka: it closes for lambing from 1 October to 10 November.
Events and holidays in October
- Labour Day (fourth Monday in October): A public holiday and a busy long weekend.
Weather in October
Average highs, lows and rainfall, with October 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 12 day trip for October
Our suggestion for October: both islands at an easy pace: Auckland, Rotorua, fly to Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mount Cook and Christchurch. Every trip can be made private, or try your own route in our New Zealand trip planner.
Tip: Late October to early December is a good window for tours: spring weather and pre summer prices.
Want a October trip made for you?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 12 days, built around your dates.
Other months
Thinking about September or November? See New Zealand in September and New Zealand in November, 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 October a good month to visit New Zealand?
Yes for quiet roads and spring scenery, with weather that can still turn cold.
Sources we checked
New Zealand month by month
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