Best time to visit Dunedin
The best time to visit Dunedin is February–March, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Dunedin, New Zealand
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.3 °C / 67 °F | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 81 mm / 3.2 in | good month |
| February | 19.2 °C / 67 °F | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 70 mm / 2.8 in | best month |
| March | 18 °C / 64 °F | 9.1 °C / 48 °F | 60 mm / 2.4 in | best month |
| April | 15.6 °C / 60 °F | 6.8 °C / 44 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | good month |
| May | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 4.2 °C / 40 °F | 56 mm / 2.2 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 10 °C / 50 °F | 2.2 °C / 36 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 9.9 °C / 50 °F | 1.7 °C / 35 °F | 49 mm / 1.9 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 2.4 °C / 36 °F | 38 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 13.4 °C / 56 °F | 4 °C / 39 °F | 48 mm / 1.9 in | good month |
| October | 14.8 °C / 59 °F | 5.5 °C / 42 °F | 80 mm / 3.2 in | good month |
| November | 16.6 °C / 62 °F | 7.8 °C / 46 °F | 76 mm / 3 in | good month |
| December | 18.1 °C / 65 °F | 9.8 °C / 50 °F | 93 mm / 3.6 in | good month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: good
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: good
- Best
- February–March
- Good
- April, September–January
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.6 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.3 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, precipitation 81 mm / 3.2 in, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, average daily low 10.5 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 12.1 days.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, precipitation 70 mm / 2.8 in, days with heavy rain 2.3 days, wet days 9.5 days, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F.
Against: relative humidity 77%.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.6 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 10.2 days, average daily low 9.1 °C / 48 °F.
Against: relative humidity 78%.
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 59 mm / 2.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.6 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, wet days 9.6 days, average daily low 6.8 °C / 44 °F.
Against: relative humidity 79%.
September · good
In its favour: precipitation 48 mm / 1.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily high 13.4 °C / 56 °F, wet days 10.8 days, relative humidity 74%, average daily low 4 °C / 39 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 10.2 °C / 50 °F.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 5.5 °C / 42 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: feels like (high) 12.2 °C / 54 °F, wet days 13.8 days.
November · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.9 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, average daily low 7.8 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 75%.
Against: wet days 13.7 days.
December · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.1 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, precipitation 93 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, average daily low 9.8 °C / 50 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 14.2 days.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- August–May
- Good
- June–July
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.3 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 81 mm / 3.2 in, feels like (high) 18.6 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 10.5 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, daylight per day 15.3 h, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, wet days 12.1 days, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 70 mm / 2.8 in, days with heavy rain 2.3 days, wet days 9.5 days, feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 14 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 60 mm / 2.4 in, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, feels like (high) 16.6 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 9.1 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wet days 10.2 days, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.6 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 59 mm / 2.3 in, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, wet days 9.6 days, feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 6.8 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 12.8 °C / 55 °F, precipitation 56 mm / 2.2 in, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, average daily low 4.2 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, feels like (high) 10.2 °C / 50 °F, wet days 10.6 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: daylight per day 9.4 h.
June · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, average daily high 10 °C / 50 °F, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, wet days 8.8 days, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, average daily low 2.2 °C / 36 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph, feels like (high) 7 °C / 45 °F.
Against: daylight per day 8.7 h.
July · good
In its favour: precipitation 49 mm / 1.9 in, average daily high 9.9 °C / 50 °F, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, wet days 8.2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, average daily low 1.7 °C / 35 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph, feels like (high) 6.6 °C / 44 °F.
Against: daylight per day 9.1 h.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 11.3 °C / 52 °F, precipitation 38 mm / 1.5 in, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 9.7 days, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, average daily low 2.4 °C / 36 °F, feels like (high) 8.2 °C / 47 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.4 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 48 mm / 1.9 in, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 4 °C / 39 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 11.8 h, feels like (high) 10.2 °C / 50 °F, wet days 10.8 days, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, feels like (high) 12.2 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 5.5 °C / 42 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 13.4 h, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph.
Against: wet days 13.8 days.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, feels like (high) 14.9 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 7.8 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, daylight per day 14.9 h, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.
Against: wet days 13.7 days.
December · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.1 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 93 mm / 3.6 in, feels like (high) 17 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 9.8 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, daylight per day 15.7 h, days with heavy rain 2.8 days, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.
Against: wet days 14.2 days.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Awakino Ski Area, 122 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 18.6 °C | 18.5 °C | 16.6 °C | 13.5 °C | 10.2 °C | 7 °C | 6.6 °C | 8.2 °C | 10.2 °C | 12.2 °C | 14.9 °C | 17 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.8 days | 2.3 days | 1.4 days | 1.3 days | 1.2 days | 0.8 days | 1.3 days | 0.7 days | 0.8 days | 1.9 days | 2.1 days | 2.8 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 5 pm | 1 pm | 3 pm | 4 am | 10 am | 4 pm | 1 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 11.4 h | 10.7 h | 9.4 h | 8.1 h | 6.9 h | 6.4 h | 6.7 h | 7.9 h | 9.3 h | 10.6 h | 11.4 h | 11.4 h |
| Relative humidity | 76% | 77% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 81% | 80% | 79% | 74% | 74% | 75% | 76% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 5.7 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | 3.6 µg/m³ | 2.8 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ | 3.8 µg/m³ | 3.7 µg/m³ | 3.4 µg/m³ | 4.3 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 8.2 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 5.2 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 6.1 µg/m³ | 7.6 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.