Kaikoura Weather Forecast
Kaikoura weather: 48°F, clear. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Kaikoura weather in February
Weather map for Kaikoura
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Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Climate in Kaikoura 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 | 67° | 56° | 7,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| February | 69° | 56° | 4,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 65° | 53° | 5,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 63° | 51° | 6,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 58° | 46° | 4,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 55° | 44° | 5,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 54° | 42° | 6,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| August | 54° | 40° | 2,2 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| September | 59° | 44° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 62° | 47° | 4,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 65° | 51° | 3,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 69° | 55° | 6,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit Kaikoura
Go in February, March and November. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: April, June and July - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- A packable rain shell - 3 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid April, June and July - historically the least comfortable months here.
How Kaikoura compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Kaikoura.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough | 63 mi | 56°F | about the same | 33 in |
| Nelson City | 81 mi | 56°F | +33°F warmer | 58 in |
| Nelson | 81 mi | 56°F | +33°F warmer | 58 in |
| Tasman | 88 mi | 53°F | 35°F cooler | 55 in |
| Christchurch | 94 mi | 54°F | 33°F cooler | 27 in |
See the Kaikoura forecast by time range
Kaikoura weather - more answers
Explore Kaikoura
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kaikoura?
Kaikoura is a city in Canterbury. Its coordinates are -42.4, 173.68. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Kaikoura right now?
It is currently 48°F (9°C) with clear. Humidity is 56% and wind is 2 mph.
When is the best time to visit Kaikoura?
February, March and November offer the most comfortable conditions in Kaikoura, which has a temperate climate. April, June and July are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Kaikoura in?
Kaikoura observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+12:00). The local time is 8:23 PM.
How many people live in Kaikoura?
Kaikoura has a population of approximately 2.200.
What is the nearest airport to Kaikoura?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 306 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Kaikoura?
Popular options include South Island, Aoraki / Mount Cook and Tongariro National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-supported) - 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 21, 2026 at 8:23 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
