The best times to visit Hokitika for ideal weather are

December 10th to April 8th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Hokitika Travel Info

Weather in Hokitika

Temperature

Average temperatures in Hokitika vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 30th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Hokitika, the hottest months are January, February, and then March. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late January where highs are regularly around 71°F (21.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 53.2°F (11.8°C) at night.

Hokitika Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Hokitika Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Hokitika Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Hokitika Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Hokitika Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 67.8 61 52.1
Feb 67.9 60.5 51
Mar 67.8 60.3 52.3
Apr 62.8 55.7 48.2
May 58.7 50.5 42.2
Jun 55.2 48 40.8
Jul 53.3 44.9 36.5
Aug 54.1 46 37.3
Sep 57.2 49.5 40.4
Oct 58 51.9 43.7
Nov 60 53.5 45.7
Dec 64.2 58.1 50.7

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 19.9 16.1 11.2
Feb 19.9 15.8 10.6
Mar 19.9 15.7 11.3
Apr 17.1 13.2 9
May 14.8 10.3 5.7
Jun 12.9 8.9 4.9
Jul 11.8 7.2 2.5
Aug 12.3 7.8 2.9
Sep 14 9.7 4.7
Oct 14.4 11.1 6.5
Nov 15.6 11.9 7.6
Dec 17.9 14.5 10.4

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Hokitika are February, January, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around late January. For example, on the week of January 22nd there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late April with an average of 5 days of significant precipitation the week of April 23rd.

When can you find snow in Hokitika? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Hokitika.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Hokitika (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 27% 0 4.8
Feb 23% 0 3.6
Mar 32% 0 9.7
Apr 45% 0 11.9
May 36% 0 8
Jun 46% 0 9.1
Jul 40% 0 8.7
Aug 40% 0 10.6
Sep 37% 0 6.6
Oct 47% 0 10.3
Nov 45% 0 9.1
Dec 35% 0 9

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 27 0 12.2
Feb 23 0 9.1
Mar 32 0 24.6
Apr 45 0 30.2
May 36 0 20.3
Jun 46 0 23.1
Jul 40 0 22.1
Aug 40 0 26.9
Sep 37 0 16.8
Oct 47 0 26.2
Nov 45 0 23.1
Dec 35 0 22.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Hokitika has some extremely humid months, and high humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is September (73.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is April (81.5%).

Wind in Hokitika is usually calm. The windiest month is October, followed by November and December. October’s average wind speed of around 7.6 knots (8.7 MPH or 14 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early October where average top sustained speeds reach 17.3 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Hokitika.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 6.1 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Feb 5.3 Light breeze 10.1 Gentle breeze
Mar 5.4 Light breeze 9.5 Significant breeze
Apr 5.6 Light breeze 10 Gentle breeze
May 5.5 Light breeze 10 Significant breeze
Jun 6 Light breeze 10.6 Gentle breeze
Jul 5.4 Light breeze 9.7 Significant breeze
Aug 5.8 Light breeze 10.8 Gentle breeze
Sep 5.8 Light breeze 10.2 Significant breeze
Oct 7.6 Gentle breeze 13.4 Significant breeze
Nov 7.5 Gentle breeze 13.7 Significant breeze
Dec 6.7 Light breeze 11.9 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 78.3%
Feb 79%
Mar 80.8%
Apr 81.5%
May 79.2%
Jun 79.2%
Jul 76.5%
Aug 77%
Sep 73.7%
Oct 79.4%
Nov 76%
Dec 81.4%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Hokitika?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for New Zealand; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Oct 26, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Hokitika, New Zealand is March, followed by July and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Hokitika in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 56.6 in November means 56.6% of the tourists vs. March.

 

 

Overall Hokitika Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 68.6°F (20.3°C) and 56.5°F (13.6°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is very common with 10 to 14 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are still jacket weather. These months see moderate precipitation with 12 to 14 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Hokitika, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 61°F (16.1°C) and 56.4°F (13.6°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a great amount: 11 to 14 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Hokitika to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 71°F (21.7°C) and 61.6°F (16.4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 6 to 11 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› New Zealand › Hokitika, New Zealand