Climate Insights for Rotorua

The climate in Rotorua is temperate. The average annual temperature is 13°C and approximately 1380mm of precipitation falls per year. Rotorua receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Rotorua 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 5°C.

Rotorua sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 5°C to 23°C. February is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 23°C with a mean of 18°C. August is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 5°C and an average of 8°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 8°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Rotorua is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1380mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 115mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 145mm of rainfall. September and November also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 98mm. That's 46mm less than July, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Rotorua is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 11km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is September, averaging 13km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in February, with average winds dropping to 10km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 3km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Rotorua, which began on June 21, 2026. Rotorua 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 5°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (7 days from now).

The best time to visit Rotorua is during January and March, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 99mm per month. By contrast, February can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 23°C, while August is the coldest period with lows dropping to 5°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 Rotorua 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.