August is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua, with average highs near 12.1°C and lows around 6.1°C (mean 9.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 102 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua. Across 45 years of records, the warmest August in Rotorua was 2022 — when the month averaged 10.4°C — while the coldest were 1992, 1993 and 2004 at 7.8°C. Typical August days reach 12.1°C with nights near 6.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
August is about average for rainfall in Rotorua, averaging 102 mm of rainfall. The wettest August on record was 2010 with 209 mm, while the driest was 1982 at 33 mm.
Relative humidity in Rotorua during August averages 86%. The most humid August was 1991 at 90%, and the least humid was 2000 at 82%.
August receives about 2.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rotorua. The sunniest Augusts were 2005, 2023 and 2025 at 3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 2.3.
Average wind speed in Rotorua during August is 1.8 m/s. The windiest August was 1992 at 2.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1987 at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.0°C | 8.6°C | 9.2°C | 9.3°C | 9.3°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 12.0°C | 11.6°C | 12.3°C | 12.3°C | 12.5°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 6.0°C | 5.6°C | 6.2°C | 6.4°C | 6.2°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 101 mm | 118 mm | 83 mm | 114 mm | 87 mm | -14 mm |
August temperatures in Rotorua have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
August has ranged from a record low of -0.7°C (2011) to a record high of 16.9°C (2005).
Rainfall in August is about average for rainfall, averaging 102 mm, with a wettest year of 209 mm.
A quieter season to visit Rotorua
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of February and January tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Rotorua. That said, August — with days averaging 12.1°C and nights around 6.1°C (mean 9.1°C) and higher rainfall (102 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.9°C | 8.9°C | 5.9°C | 14.8°C | 2.3°C | 98 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 3 |
| 2024 | 12.8°C | 9.6°C | 6.3°C | 15.5°C | 1.1°C | 100 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2023 | 11.8°C | 8.2°C | 4.7°C | 14.0°C | 1.2°C | 58 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2022 🔥 | 13.4°C | 10.4°C | 7.4°C | 16.5°C | 1.8°C | 86 mm | 87% | 1.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2021 | 12.2°C | 9.2°C | 6.2°C | 14.8°C | 1.3°C | 79 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 12.6°C | 9.7°C | 6.8°C | 15.4°C | 2.0°C | 99 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2019 | 12.2°C | 9.5°C | 6.7°C | 14.3°C | 2.2°C | 92 mm | 86% | 2.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 12.6°C | 9.9°C | 7.1°C | 14.5°C | 3.5°C | 145 mm | 89% | 1.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2017 | 12.7°C | 10.1°C | 7.5°C | 15.8°C | 2.6°C | 136 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2016 | 12.2°C | 8.9°C | 5.6°C | 16.5°C | -0.3°C | 83 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 11.7°C | 8.7°C | 5.7°C | 14.3°C | 0.0°C | 127 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2014 | 11.9°C | 8.4°C | 5.0°C | 16.0°C | 0.6°C | 82 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 12.7°C | 10.2°C | 7.8°C | 15.0°C | 4.3°C | 90 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2012 | 12.2°C | 9.4°C | 6.7°C | 14.6°C | 2.7°C | 120 mm | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 11.9°C | 8.3°C | 4.8°C | 16.3°C | -0.7°C | 54 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 12.4°C | 9.8°C | 7.2°C | 14.5°C | 1.5°C | 209 mm | 89% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 12.9°C | 10.1°C | 7.3°C | 15.9°C | 3.0°C | 88 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 11.7°C | 8.8°C | 5.9°C | 15.1°C | -0.6°C | 117 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2007 | 12.3°C | 9.5°C | 6.7°C | 14.3°C | 2.3°C | 87 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2006 | 12.1°C | 8.9°C | 5.8°C | 14.5°C | 0.3°C | 131 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 13.2°C | 9.8°C | 6.5°C | 16.9°C | 3.3°C | 54 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 11.1°C | 7.8°C | 4.4°C | 14.0°C | 0.2°C | 67 mm | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2003 | 12.2°C | 9.4°C | 6.7°C | 14.2°C | 4.4°C | 65 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2002 | 12.4°C | 9.2°C | 6.1°C | 14.7°C | 1.1°C | 56 mm | 83% | 2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2001 | 12.5°C | 9.5°C | 6.5°C | 15.2°C | 2.1°C | 66 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 12.4°C | 9.1°C | 5.7°C | 15.3°C | 2.0°C | 102 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1999 | 12.1°C | 8.8°C | 5.6°C | 15.2°C | 1.2°C | 78 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 12.1°C | 9.0°C | 5.9°C | 15.4°C | 1.1°C | 77 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 11.7°C | 8.5°C | 5.4°C | 15.0°C | 1.8°C | 59 mm | 85% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 11.3°C | 8.3°C | 5.3°C | 14.9°C | -0.4°C | 154 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1995 | 11.3°C | 8.0°C | 4.7°C | 14.1°C | 0.5°C | 103 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1994 | 11.9°C | 9.0°C | 6.1°C | 14.9°C | 1.5°C | 90 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1993 | 11.0°C | 7.8°C | 4.6°C | 14.5°C | -0.2°C | 97 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 10.5°C | 7.8°C | 5.1°C | 14.4°C | 0.1°C | 173 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1991 | 11.9°C | 9.5°C | 7.0°C | 15.3°C | 3.0°C | 142 mm | 90% | 2.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 12.0°C | 9.3°C | 6.6°C | 14.0°C | 2.5°C | 205 mm | 89% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1989 | 11.8°C | 9.1°C | 6.4°C | 15.8°C | 0.6°C | 101 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 12.4°C | 9.3°C | 6.2°C | 15.0°C | 1.0°C | 131 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 13.2°C | 10.0°C | 6.8°C | 16.5°C | 3.0°C | 95 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 11.3°C | 8.3°C | 5.4°C | 14.6°C | 1.6°C | 187 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1985 | 11.7°C | 8.5°C | 5.2°C | 14.0°C | 0.4°C | 70 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1984 | 12.1°C | 9.4°C | 6.8°C | 14.8°C | -0.1°C | 134 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1983 | 12.5°C | 9.3°C | 6.0°C | 14.2°C | 1.6°C | 46 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.1°C | 8.9°C | 5.7°C | 14.4°C | 0.5°C | 33 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 11.3°C | 8.5°C | 5.7°C | 13.6°C | 0.8°C | 111 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded August data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in August is around 12.1°C with lows near 6.1°C (mean 9.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
August averages 102 mm of rainfall in Rotorua, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 209 mm in 2010.
The hottest August reached 16.9°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to -0.7°C in 2011.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average August temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 11.9°C to 12.4°C and overnight lows from 5.9°C to 6.1°C over the same span.
August is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 12.1°C daytime highs and 6.1°C at night.
Not quite — August is the 2nd coolest month in Rotorua, averaging 9.1°C.
For August in Rotorua, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 12.1°C and lows of 6.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in August averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in August is 1.8 m/s. The windiest August on record averaged 2.4 m/s (1992).
The wettest August on record was 2010 with 209 mm. On average, August sees 102 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Rotorua behaves each August, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for August specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
