Lake Wakatipu Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Lake Wakatipu: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Lake Wakatipu month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 70° | 53° | 5,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 70° | 52° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 65° | 49° | 4,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 60° | 46° | 5,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 53° | 41° | 3,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 48° | 38° | 4,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| July | 46° | 36° | 3,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| August | 47° | 35° | 2,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| September | 50° | 37° | 13,5 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| October | 55° | 40° | 10,0 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| November | 64° | 45° | 4,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 68° | 51° | 5,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Lake Wakatipu
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Lake Wakatipu compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Lake Wakatipu.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queenstown | 1 mi | 50°F | about the same | 65 in |
| Queenstown Airport | 4 mi | 50°F | about the same | 65 in |
| Wanaka | 33 mi | 52°F | +33°F warmer | 60 in |
| Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand | 47 mi | 53°F | +35°F warmer | 222 in |
| Milford Sound | 47 mi | 53°F | +35°F warmer | 222 in |
Best time to visit Lake Wakatipu
Go in February. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: June, September and October - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Lake Wakatipu
Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 51°F is 3.2°F above the 47°F typical for this month.
A 56% chance means rain is likely somewhere nearby at some point - carry a layer, but do not cancel.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Southern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in December to February.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 53°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- A packable rain shell - 7 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid June, September and October - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Lake Wakatipu is a lake in Otago. Lake Wakatipu is a lake known as a Z-shaped lake at Queenstown.
Right now it is 50°F (10°C) in Lake Wakatipu with overcast. It feels like 48°F. Today runs from 39°F to 51°F. Chance of precipitation is 56%. Sightseeing conditions score 7.6/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Lake Wakatipu is February. The climate is temperate. June, September and October tend to be the least comfortable months. January is the warmest month with average highs near 70°F, while August is the coldest with lows near 35°F.
The closest major airport is Queenstown Airport (ZQN), about 4 mi away. Nearby highlights include Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park and South Island.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 51°F is 3.2°F above the 47°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 4 PM to 7 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Lake Wakatipu today at 9.8/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Lake Wakatipu
| Type | Lake |
|---|---|
| Region | Otago |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 45°2′60″S 168°40′0.1″E (-45.05, 168.6667) |
| Maximum depth | 1.247 ft |
| Known for | a Z-shaped lake at Queenstown |
| Local time | 11:32 AM (UTC+12:00) |
| Best months | February |
| Climate | Temperate |
Weather map for Lake Wakatipu
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Lake Wakatipu
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lake Wakatipu?
Lake Wakatipu is a lake in Otago. Its coordinates are -45.05, 168.6667. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Lake Wakatipu right now?
It is currently 50°F (10°C) with overcast. Humidity is 74% and wind is 2 mph.
When is the best time to visit Lake Wakatipu?
February offer the most comfortable conditions in Lake Wakatipu, which has a temperate climate. June, September and October are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Lake Wakatipu in?
Lake Wakatipu observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 11:32 AM.
What is the nearest airport to Lake Wakatipu?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 4 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Lake Wakatipu?
Popular options include Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island and Aoraki / Mount Cook.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (lakes) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 25, 2026 at 11:32 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
