Best time to visit Punakaiki, New Zealand

Our verdict

The best time to visit Punakaiki is February-March

Are you looking for top-secret information about when to visit Punakaiki? Look no further! February-March is the best time to go to Punakaiki due to the excellent all-round climate conditions, and it’s not likely to be at its busiest as it’s not during the height of the peak travel season.

The warmest month of the year in Punakaiki is February, where the average temperature gets to around 19℃ (65℉), but temperatures can reach as high as 20℃ (69℉) on the hottest days in summer. The weather at night in the winter can get down to temperatures as low as 6℃ (43℉).

The days are longest in Punakaiki in December, so if you want to see the sights during the day when the sun is up for the longest time, it’s best to visit around that time of year. The wet season in Punakaiki usually falls during the months surrounding October 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.

Learn everything you need to know (and none of the stuff you don’t) about when to go to Punakaiki below. Be sure to check out the handy tools we’ve included to help you search for flights and transport, accommodation, and everything else you need to plan and book your trip.

Warmest month

February

Least rainfall

February

Most daylight

December

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Punakaiki seasons

Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Punakaiki as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Punakaiki 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 Punakaiki

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 Punakaiki 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.

Punakaiki 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 Punakaiki 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:

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC

Punakaiki in January

  • Average temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
  • Average high temperature: 18℃ (65℉)
  • Average low temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 12 days
  • Average rainfall: 109mm (4") over 17 days
12 days
of pure sunshine
17 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in January, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.


Punakaiki in February

  • Average temperature: 16℃ (61℉)
  • Average high temperature: 19℃ (65℉)
  • Average low temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 12 days
  • Average rainfall: 69mm (3") over 14 days
12 days
of pure sunshine
14 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in February, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.


Punakaiki in March

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
  • Average high temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
  • Average low temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 13 days
  • Average rainfall: 84mm (3") over 16 days
13 days
of pure sunshine
16 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in March, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.


Punakaiki in April

  • Average temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
  • Average high temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
  • Average low temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 10 days
  • Average rainfall: 131mm (5") over 18 days
10 days
of pure sunshine
18 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in April, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in May

  • Average temperature: 11℃ (53℉)
  • Average high temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
  • Average low temperature: 10℃ (49℉)
  • Average humidity: 80%
  • Average sunny days: 10 days
  • Average rainfall: 139mm (5") over 19 days
10 days
of pure sunshine
19 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in May, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in June

  • Average temperature: 10℃ (49℉)
  • Average high temperature: 11℃ (53℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average humidity: 79%
  • Average sunny days: 10 days
  • Average rainfall: 102mm (4") over 18 days
10 days
of pure sunshine
18 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in June, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in July

  • Average temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
  • Average high temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
  • Average low temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
  • Average humidity: 79%
  • Average sunny days: 10 days
  • Average rainfall: 137mm (5") over 18 days
10 days
of pure sunshine
18 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in July, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in August

  • Average temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
  • Average high temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
  • Average low temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
  • Average humidity: 80%
  • Average sunny days: 9 days
  • Average rainfall: 121mm (5") over 20 days
9 days
of pure sunshine
20 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in August, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in September

  • Average temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average high temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average humidity: 80%
  • Average sunny days: 8 days
  • Average rainfall: 145mm (6") over 20 days
8 days
of pure sunshine
20 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in September, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.

Punakaiki in October

  • Average temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
  • Average high temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
  • Average low temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
  • Average humidity: 82%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 153mm (6") over 22 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
22 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in October, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in November

  • Average temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
  • Average high temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
  • Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 8 days
  • Average rainfall: 121mm (5") over 20 days
8 days
of pure sunshine
20 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in November, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Punakaiki in December

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
  • Average high temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
  • Average low temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
  • Average humidity: 82%
  • Average sunny days: 10 days
  • Average rainfall: 149mm (6") over 19 days
10 days
of pure sunshine
19 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Punakaiki in December, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.


Top FAQs

The hottest month of the year in Punakaiki is usually February, where temperatures tend to rise to around 19℃ (65℉) in the middle of the day or early afternoon.
The month with the least amount of rain in Punakaiki is generally around February. The dry season often coincides with cooler weather, so you should check the temperatures in February first to make sure it’s still a good time to go.
The rainiest time of year in Punakaiki is generally around October, although the wetter season can sometimes extend a few months either side of October too.
If you want to get the most out of your time visiting Punakaiki, or if you're just afraid of the dark, the days in December are usually the longest between sunrise and sunset.

Punakaiki map