Climate Insights for Gisborne

The climate in Gisborne is temperate. The average annual temperature is 15°C and approximately 994mm of precipitation falls per year. Gisborne receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Gisborne is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed: summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: February, January, December. The coldest months are August, July, June, when temperatures can drop to 8°C.

Gisborne sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 8°C to 23°C. February is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 23°C with a mean of 20°C. August is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 8°C and an average of 11°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 6°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Gisborne is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 994mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 83mm per month. The wettest month is June, averaging 113mm of rainfall. September and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is May, with just 64mm. That's 49mm less than June, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Gisborne is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 15km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is July, averaging 16km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in April, with average winds dropping to 15km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 1km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Gisborne, which began on June 21, 2026. Gisborne is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed: spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in February at around 23°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in August near 8°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (7 days from now).

The best time to visit Gisborne is during January, February, March, April, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 18°C with modest rainfall averaging 80mm per month. By contrast, August can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 8°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely. Pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Gisborne based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.