Climate Insights for Whangarei Heads

The climate in Whangarei Heads is temperate. The average annual temperature is 16°C and approximately 978mm of precipitation falls per year. Whangarei Heads receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Whangarei Heads 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: January, February, March. The coldest months are August, July, September, when temperatures can drop to 11°C.

Whangarei Heads sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 11°C to 23°C. January 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 11°C and an average of 13°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between November and December, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Whangarei Heads is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 978mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 82mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 103mm of rainfall. June and February also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 53mm. That's 50mm 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.

Whangarei Heads is moderately windy, with an average annual wind speed of 27km/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 30km/h, which can feel quite blustery and may affect outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in February, with average winds dropping to 24km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 6km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 29km/h in winter, 27km/h in spring, 24km/h in summer, 26km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Whangarei Heads, which began on March 20, 2026. Whangarei Heads 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 January at around 23°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in August near 11°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Whangarei Heads is during January, February, March, April, May, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 18°C with modest rainfall averaging 75mm per month. By contrast, August can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 11°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 Whangarei Heads 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.