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Monthly climate in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Last updated: July 31, 2025

Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification Kaikoura features a oceanic climate (Cfb). Temperatures typically range between 9 °C (48 °F) and 17 °C (62 °F) through the year, but rarely can drop to 3 °C (37 °F) or can rise to as high as 27 °C (81 °F). The average annual precipitation amounts to about 1004 mm (39.5 inches) and receives 132 rainy days on the 1 mm (0.04 inches) threshold annually. Kaikoura enjoys an average of 3094 hours of sunshine throughout the year, and daylight varies from 9 hours 6 minutes to 15 hours 12 minutes per day.

Monthly average temperatures in Kaikoura, New Zealand

The warmest months in Kaikoura are January, February and March, with daily mean temperatures ranging from 15 to 17 °C (60 - 62 °F) throughout the day. The coldest temperatures usually occur in June, July and August, when daily mean temperatures range from 9 to 9 °C (48 - 49 °F) throughout the day. On average each year, Kaikoura experiences 0 days above 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 0 days below 0 °C (32.0 °F).

Monthly average temperatures with daily means, minimums and maximums for period, average high and low temperatures in Kaikoura. Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Data for period from January 2017 to June 2022.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Maximum27°C
(81°F)		25°C
(77°F)		24°C
(75°F)		21°C
(70°F)		19°C
(66°F)		16°C
(61°F)		14°C
(58°F)		15°C
(58°F)		17°C
(62°F)		21°C
(69°F)		22°C
(72°F)		24°C
(75°F)
Mean maximum25°C
(76°F)		23°C
(74°F)		22°C
(72°F)		20°C
(69°F)		17°C
(63°F)		15°C
(59°F)		13°C
(56°F)		14°C
(57°F)		16°C
(62°F)		18°C
(65°F)		20°C
(68°F)		22°C
(71°F)
Average high19°C
(66°F)		19°C
(66°F)		17°C
(63°F)		15°C
(60°F)		14°C
(57°F)		11°C
(52°F)		10°C
(51°F)		11°C
(52°F)		12°C
(53°F)		13°C
(56°F)		15°C
(60°F)		17°C
(63°F)
Daily mean17°C
(62°F)		17°C
(62°F)		15°C
(60°F)		13°C
(56°F)		12°C
(53°F)		9°C
(49°F)		9°C
(48°F)		9°C
(48°F)		10°C
(50°F)		11°C
(53°F)		13°C
(56°F)		15°C
(60°F)
Average low15°C
(59°F)		15°C
(59°F)		14°C
(57°F)		11°C
(53°F)		10°C
(50°F)		8°C
(46°F)		7°C
(44°F)		7°C
(45°F)		8°C
(46°F)		9°C
(49°F)		11°C
(53°F)		13°C
(56°F)
Mean minimum10°C
(51°F)		10°C
(51°F)		10°C
(50°F)		8°C
(47°F)		6°C
(43°F)		6°C
(43°F)		4°C
(40°F)		4°C
(40°F)		5°C
(40°F)		5°C
(42°F)		8°C
(47°F)		10°C
(50°F)
Minimum9°C
(49°F)		10°C
(50°F)		8°C
(47°F)		6°C
(42°F)		4°C
(40°F)		4°C
(40°F)		3°C
(37°F)		3°C
(38°F)		3°C
(37°F)		4°C
(40°F)		7°C
(45°F)		8°C
(47°F)

Compare climate in Kaikoura with other places

Compare temperature, precipitation, sunshine, UV index in Kaikoura, New Zealand with other places around the world.

Monthly average precipitation in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Kaikoura usually has the most precipitation in April, June and December, with an average of 12 rainy days and 111 mm (4.4 inches) of precipitation per month. The driest months in Kaikoura are January, February and August. On average, 63 mm (2.5 inches) of precipitation falls during these months.

Monthly average precipitation and precipitation days in Kaikoura. Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Data for period from January 2017 to January 2022.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average precipitation mm (inches)49 (1.9)73 (2.9)74 (2.9)110 (4.3)81 (3.2)117 (4.6)91 (3.6)68 (2.7)76 (3.0)84 (3.3)76 (3.0)106 (4.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)7710101014131211151112

Monthly sunshine hours in Kaikoura, New Zealand

The sunniest months in Kaikoura are February, November and December, when the sun shines an average of 10 hours 42 minutes a day. Least sunny months in Kaikoura: May, June and July receive an average of 6 hours 6 minutes of sunshine daily.

Mean monthly sunshine duration, average sunshine hours per day and mean daily daylight hours in Kaikoura. Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Data for period from January 2017 to January 2022.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean monthly sunshine hours291304274233209168184223251294314345
Mean daily daylight hours14h 52m13h 44m12h 19m10h 54m9h 42m9h 6m9h 24m10h 26m11h 48m13h 14m14h 31m15h 12m

Solar UV radiation in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Kaikoura experiences the highest level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in January, February and December, when the maximum UV index can reach values of 13 - 13, which corresponds to the Extreme category of sun exposure. May, June and July are in the Low / Moderate exposure category. In these months, the maximum values of the UV index do not exceed 4. For more detailed information, check out our hourly Kaikoura UV Index data.

Average daily maximum UV levels by month for Kaikoura. Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Data for period from January 2022 to January 2023.
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
UV Index (month maximum)1313964224691113