Our verdict
The best time to visit Lake Tekapo is May
In summer, the average maximum temperature is around 13℃ (56℉), but temperatures can sometimes reach as high as 17℃ (62℉) on the hottest days of the year. In the colder months such as July, temperatures usually get down to an average minimum of -3℃ (27℉).
If you want to get the most out of your time visiting Lake Tekapo, or you’re just afraid of the dark, the days in December are usually the longest between sunrise and sunset. The wet season in Lake Tekapo usually falls during the months surrounding December each year. It’s not uncommon to get some decent rainfall or light showers during this time, but on some days the weather tends to be fine for a majority of the day, with only a few drops of rain falling from a passing shower.
Keep reading to find out more detailed information about the seasons and climate in Lake Tekapo, as well as our favourite tools to help you find the best options for transport, accommodation, and much more.
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Lake Tekapo seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Lake Tekapo as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Lake Tekapo is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | December to February |
| Autumn/fall | March to May |
| Winter | June to August |
| Spring | September to November |
Average temperatures in Lake Tekapo
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Lake Tekapo for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Lake Tekapo climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Lake Tekapo for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Lake Tekapo in January
- Average temperature: 9℃ (49℉)
- Average high temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
- Average low temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average humidity: 83%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 142mm (6") over 16 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in January, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Lake Tekapo in February
- Average temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average high temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
- Average low temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average humidity: 83%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 121mm (5") over 12 days
- Average snow days: 1 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in February, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Lake Tekapo in March
- Average temperature: 9℃ (47℉)
- Average high temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
- Average low temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average humidity: 83%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 130mm (5") over 13 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in March, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Lake Tekapo in April
- Average temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average high temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
- Average low temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average humidity: 85%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 160mm (6") over 14 days
- Average snow days: 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in May
- Average temperature: 3℃ (38℉)
- Average high temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average low temperature: 1℃ (33℉)
- Average humidity: 86%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 198mm (8") over 13 days
- Average snow days: 11 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in May, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in June
- Average temperature: 1℃ (34℉)
- Average high temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
- Average low temperature: -2℃ (29℉)
- Average humidity: 86%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 103mm (4") over 8 days
- Average snow days: 13 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in June, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in July
- Average temperature: -0℃ (32℉)
- Average high temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average low temperature: -3℃ (27℉)
- Average humidity: 88%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 152mm (6") over 6 days
- Average snow days: 15 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in July, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in August
- Average temperature: 0℃ (33℉)
- Average high temperature: 3℃ (38℉)
- Average low temperature: -3℃ (27℉)
- Average humidity: 89%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 121mm (5") over 6 days
- Average snow days: 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in August, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in September
- Average temperature: 2℃ (35℉)
- Average high temperature: 4℃ (40℉)
- Average low temperature: -2℃ (29℉)
- Average humidity: 87%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 106mm (4") over 9 days
- Average snow days: 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in September, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
Lake Tekapo in October
- Average temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average high temperature: 6℃ (42℉)
- Average low temperature: -1℃ (31℉)
- Average humidity: 89%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 179mm (7") over 12 days
- Average snow days: 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in October, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in November
- Average temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average high temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average low temperature: 2℃ (35℉)
- Average humidity: 87%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 213mm (8") over 14 days
- Average snow days: 9 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Lake Tekapo in December
- Average temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
- Average high temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
- Average low temperature: 4℃ (40℉)
- Average humidity: 84%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 233mm (9") over 17 days
- Average snow days: 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Lake Tekapo in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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