Best time to visit Rotorua
The best time to visit Rotorua is January–March, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, 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 | 22.5 °C / 73 °F | 12.9 °C / 55 °F | 98 mm / 3.9 in | best month |
| February | 22.5 °C / 73 °F | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| March | 20.5 °C / 69 °F | 11.2 °C / 52 °F | 88 mm / 3.5 in | best month |
| April | 17.5 °C / 64 °F | 9.3 °C / 49 °F | 104 mm / 4.1 in | good month |
| May | 14.4 °C / 58 °F | 6.9 °C / 44 °F | 108 mm / 4.3 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 12 °C / 54 °F | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | 119 mm / 4.7 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 4.3 °C / 40 °F | 127 mm / 5 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 12.1 °C / 54 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 115 mm / 4.5 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 13.8 °C / 57 °F | 6.1 °C / 43 °F | 119 mm / 4.7 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 15.8 °C / 60 °F | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 106 mm / 4.2 in | good month |
| November | 18.6 °C / 65 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 93 mm / 3.7 in | good month |
| December | 20.6 °C / 69 °F | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | 108 mm / 4.3 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: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: good
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: good
- Best
- January–March
- Good
- April, October–December
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 22.5 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, wet days 10.2 days, relative humidity 75%.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 22.5 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, wet days 9.3 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 76%.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.8 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, wet days 9.1 days, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, average daily low 11.2 °C / 52 °F.
Against: relative humidity 78%.
April · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.3 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, average daily high 17.5 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 104 mm / 4.1 in, wet days 10 days, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F.
Against: relative humidity 83%.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 74%, feels like (high) 13.8 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 106 mm / 4.2 in, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, relative humidity 79%.
November · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.7 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18.6 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 93 mm / 3.7 in, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, wet days 11.1 days.
Against: relative humidity 77%.
December · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.5 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, precipitation 108 mm / 4.3 in, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F.
Against: wet days 13 days, relative humidity 77%.
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: neither
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- October–May
- Good
- June, August–September
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.5 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 14.5 h, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, wet days 10.2 days, feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.5 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, wet days 9.3 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 13.5 h, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.5 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 88 mm / 3.5 in, wet days 9.1 days, feels like (high) 19.8 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 11.2 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 12.3 h, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 9 mph.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.5 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 104 mm / 4.1 in, feels like (high) 16.3 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, wet days 10 days, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, daylight per day 11.1 h, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.4 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 108 mm / 4.3 in, feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, average daily low 6.9 °C / 44 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, wet days 10.3 days, days with heavy rain 3.4 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.
June · good
In its favour: average daily high 12 °C / 54 °F, precipitation 119 mm / 4.7 in, average daily low 5.4 °C / 42 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, feels like (high) 9.7 °C / 49 °F, wet days 10.9 days, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 4.1 days, daylight per day 9.6 h.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 12.1 °C / 54 °F, precipitation 115 mm / 4.5 in, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, feels like (high) 9.4 °C / 49 °F, days with heavy rain 3.9 days, daylight per day 10.7 h, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: wet days 13.3 days.
September · good
In its favour: average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 119 mm / 4.7 in, feels like (high) 11.3 °C / 52 °F, average daily low 6.1 °C / 43 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 11.8 h, days with heavy rain 3.8 days, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 13.3 days.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 106 mm / 4.2 in, feels like (high) 13.8 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 13.1 h, days with heavy rain 3.3 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 12.7 days.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.6 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 93 mm / 3.7 in, feels like (high) 17.7 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, daylight per day 14.2 h, days with heavy rain 3.1 days, wet days 11.1 days, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
December · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 108 mm / 4.3 in, feels like (high) 20.5 °C / 69 °F, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 14.8 h, days with heavy rain 3.2 days, wind (daily max) 16 km/h / 10 mph.
Against: wet days 13 days.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Whakapapa, 137 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) | 22.8 °C | 22.8 °C | 19.8 °C | 16.3 °C | 12.6 °C | 9.7 °C | 8.6 °C | 9.4 °C | 11.3 °C | 13.8 °C | 17.7 °C | 20.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.7 days | 2.7 days | 2.9 days | 3.4 days | 3.4 days | 4.1 days | 4.3 days | 3.9 days | 3.8 days | 3.3 days | 3.1 days | 3.2 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 4 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 1 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 11.5 h | 10.7 h | 9.8 h | 8.5 h | 7.5 h | 6.8 h | 6.9 h | 7.9 h | 8.8 h | 9.7 h | 11.1 h | 10.9 h |
| Relative humidity | 75% | 76% | 78% | 83% | 86% | 88% | 87% | 85% | 82% | 79% | 77% | 77% |
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 | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ | 3.5 µg/m³ | 3.8 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ | 2.6 µg/m³ | 3.1 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.6 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 7 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 5.8 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 6.8 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.