The best times to visit Waitomo Caves for ideal weather are

November 12th 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 Waitomo Caves Travel Info

Weather in Waitomo Caves

Temperature

Average temperatures in Waitomo Caves vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 32nd 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 Waitomo Caves, the hottest months are January, February, and then December. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late January and early February where highs are regularly around 74.6°F (23.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 53.3°F (11.8°C) at night.

Waitomo Caves Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Waitomo Caves 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.

Waitomo Caves Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Waitomo Caves Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Waitomo Caves 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 73.8 62.9 50.7
Feb 73.4 62.9 51.3
Mar 69.6 59.4 47.4
Apr 63.6 54.5 43.6
May 57.6 49 38.4
Jun 53.3 45.9 36.6
Jul 51.6 43.9 34.9
Aug 53.8 45.9 36.7
Sep 56.9 48.4 38.5
Oct 60.6 51.7 41.7
Nov 66.1 55.8 44
Dec 70.3 60.6 50.3

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 23.2 17.2 10.4
Feb 23 17.2 10.7
Mar 20.9 15.2 8.6
Apr 17.6 12.5 6.4
May 14.2 9.4 3.6
Jun 11.8 7.7 2.6
Jul 10.9 6.6 1.6
Aug 12.1 7.7 2.6
Sep 13.8 9.1 3.6
Oct 15.9 10.9 5.4
Nov 18.9 13.2 6.7
Dec 21.3 15.9 10.2

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Waitomo Caves are February, March, and then November. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early April. For example, on the week of April 2nd there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid August with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of August 13th.

When can you find snow in Waitomo Caves? 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 Waitomo Caves.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Waitomo Caves (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 16% 0 3.3
Feb 11% 0 1.4
Mar 13% 0 2.3
Apr 19% 0 2.9
May 18% 0 3
Jun 26% 0 3.5
Jul 26% 0 3.3
Aug 24% 0 3.7
Sep 26% 0 2.9
Oct 22% 0 2.6
Nov 15% 0 1.5
Dec 20% 0 2.5

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 16 0 8.4
Feb 11 0 3.6
Mar 13 0 5.8
Apr 19 0 7.4
May 18 0 7.6
Jun 26 0 8.9
Jul 26 0 8.4
Aug 24 0 9.4
Sep 26 0 7.4
Oct 22 0 6.6
Nov 15 0 3.8
Dec 20 0 6.4

 

Humidity and Wind

Waitomo Caves has some very humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is January (62.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is June (79.6%).

Wind in Waitomo Caves is usually moderate. The windiest month is October, followed by November and January. October’s average wind speed of around 8.7 knots (10 MPH or 16.1 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 to mid October where average top sustained speeds reach 14.9 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

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

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 7.5 Gentle breeze 12.8 Significant breeze
Feb 6.5 Light breeze 11.5 Significant breeze
Mar 6.9 Light breeze 12 Significant breeze
Apr 6.4 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
May 6 Light breeze 10.9 Significant breeze
Jun 7.2 Gentle breeze 12.8 Significant breeze
Jul 6.9 Light breeze 12.4 Significant breeze
Aug 6.6 Light breeze 11.5 Significant breeze
Sep 7.2 Gentle breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Oct 8.7 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
Nov 7.9 Gentle breeze 13.2 Significant breeze
Dec 7.3 Gentle breeze 12.3 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 62.7%
Feb 64.2%
Mar 67.1%
Apr 74%
May 78.9%
Jun 79.6%
Jul 78.9%
Aug 78%
Sep 74.1%
Oct 70.8%
Nov 65.1%
Dec 67.1%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Waitomo Caves?

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 Waitomo Caves, New Zealand is December, followed by April and July. 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 Waitomo Caves in October. 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 36 in October means 36% of the tourists vs. December.

 

 

Overall Waitomo Caves Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 71.4°F (21.9°C) and 54.1°F (12.3°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 4 to 6 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are still jacket weather. These months see the most precipitation with 7 to 8 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Waitomo Caves, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 69.8°F (21°C) and 56.2°F (13.4°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 5 to 8 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Waitomo Caves to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 74.6°F (23.7°C) and 69.1°F (20.6°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 3 to 6 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› New Zealand › Waitomo Caves, New Zealand