New Zealand weather in January
New Zealand in January averages 17°C (63°F), 57 mm of rain and 7.5 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in New Zealand, January is the second warmest, the second driest and the second sunniest.
- Average temp
- 17°C (63°F)
13–21°C · 56–70°F
- Rainfall
- 57 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
hours per day
What is New Zealand like in January?
Daytime
Days are mild.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for New Zealand in January?
A light rain jacket
About 57 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
Evenings cool off noticeably once the sun is down.
January compared with December and February
January in New Zealand is 1.2°C warmer than December and 14 mm drier than it, which averages 16°C (61°F).
January in New Zealand is about the same temperature as February and about as wet as it, which averages 17°C (63°F).
Daylight in New Zealand in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 14 hours 50 minutes in New Zealand, rising about 06:04 and setting about 20:54 local time.
January ends 47 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
Travel guides for New Zealand
What to read before you book.
New Zealand weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C / 63°F | 57 mm |
| February | 17°C / 63°F | 55 mm |
| March | 16°C / 60°F | 77 mm |
| April | 14°C / 56°F | 83 mm |
| May | 12°C / 54°F | 98 mm |
| June | 10°C / 50°F | 105 mm |
| July | 9°C / 48°F | 116 mm |
| August | 10°C / 49°F | 87 mm |
| September | 11°C / 52°F | 80 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 86 mm |
| November | 14°C / 57°F | 73 mm |
| December | 16°C / 61°F | 71 mm |
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about New Zealand in January
January climate averages for New Zealand, 1991–2020.
New Zealand averages 17°C (63°F) in January, ranging from about 13°C (56°F) at night to 21°C (70°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 57 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. January averages 17°C (63°F) and February 17°C (63°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
January is 1.2°C warmer than December, and 14 mm drier.
Yes. January falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, November to April, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 7.5 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 14 hours 50 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 15 hours 8 minutes in December and 9 hours 12 minutes in June.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 06:04 and sunset about 20:54 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 47 minutes shorter than it starts.
