Weather in Wanaka

Wanaka experiences a continental climate, meaning the summers are nice (without being too hot) and the winters are cool but not too cold. The temperature during the winter months of June, July, and August are unlikely to reach freezing levels during the day but can get down to as low as -2°C overnight. This can lead to a lot of frosty mornings and overnight snowfall. During winter, the surrounding mountain ranges fill with snow so you can enjoy various snow activities like skiing and snowboarding.

The average temperature in summer is around 15°C with most days in December, January and February reaching the mid-10s. Due to Wanaka's geographic location on the South Island, it's highly unlikely temperatures will exceed 24°C, but rainfall is expected with both spring and summer seeing 22 days of rainfall on average per month. 

Wanaka weather is fairly even all year round with fairly classic temperature patterns during the seasons, so there isn't one 'best' time to visit this stunning region. If you love the snow and want to have an action-packed holiday full of winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding and tubing, then travelling in June, July and August is the way to go. 

If you want to avoid the crowds that come with travelling in summer, then spring and autumn are the best months to visit Wanaka. While spring does see some rainy days, it's also the best time to watch the countryside come to life with landscapes brightening, flowers blooming, and birds chirping. Alternately, autumn still enjoys nicer weather (with fewer rainy days). You can still participate in the same activities as during spring, with kayaking on Lake Wanaka and hiking up Roys Peak and through Mount Aspiring National Park popular.