March is one of the warmer months of the year in Rotorua, with average highs near 21.3°C and lows around 12.9°C (mean 17.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 86 mm of rainfall and 76% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Rotorua. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Rotorua was 2019 — when the month averaged 19.1°C — while the coldest were 1992 and 1993 at 15.3°C. Typical March days reach 21.3°C with nights near 12.9°C. The long-term March temperature trend is broadly flat.
March is about average for rainfall in Rotorua, averaging 86 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1987 with 233 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 17 mm.
Relative humidity in Rotorua during March averages 76%. The most humid March was 1984 at 83%, and the least humid was 2013 at 69%.
March receives about 4.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rotorua. The sunniest March was 2004 at 5.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 3.7.
Average wind speed in Rotorua during March is 1.7 m/s. The windiest March was 1992 at 2.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2019 at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 16.9°C | 16.8°C | 17.1°C | 17.6°C | 16.9°C | 0°C |
| Avg High | 21.0°C | 20.9°C | 21.3°C | 21.9°C | 21.3°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 13.0°C | 12.7°C | 13.0°C | 13.4°C | 12.6°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 98 mm | 91 mm | 72 mm | 87 mm | 77 mm | -21 mm |
March temperatures in Rotorua have fallen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of 4.9°C (1993) to a record high of 28.4°C (2013).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 86 mm, with a wettest year of 233 mm.
One of the best times to visit Rotorua
March is one of the best times to visit Rotorua. Expect days averaging 21.3°C and nights around 12.9°C (mean 17.1°C) — warmer than Rotorua's yearly average — with higher rainfall (86 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22.7°C | 17.9°C | 13.1°C | 26.7°C | 7.4°C | 47 mm | 72% | 1.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2024 | 20.6°C | 15.9°C | 11.3°C | 24.6°C | 6.8°C | 64 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 19.8°C | 16.0°C | 12.1°C | 23.3°C | 6.5°C | 71 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2022 | 21.6°C | 17.7°C | 13.8°C | 25.0°C | 10.1°C | 157 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2021 | 21.4°C | 17.1°C | 12.8°C | 23.7°C | 9.0°C | 66 mm | 74% | 1.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 21.6°C | 17.0°C | 12.3°C | 25.8°C | 9.3°C | 56 mm | 72% | 1.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2019 🔥 | 23.4°C | 19.1°C | 14.7°C | 26.9°C | 10.2°C | 51 mm | 75% | 1.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2018 | 21.7°C | 18.0°C | 14.2°C | 27.9°C | 11.2°C | 82 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 21.5°C | 17.7°C | 14.0°C | 24.8°C | 9.6°C | 198 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2016 | 22.5°C | 18.3°C | 14.2°C | 26.8°C | 8.9°C | 91 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2015 | 21.6°C | 17.5°C | 13.5°C | 26.3°C | 8.8°C | 77 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2014 | 22.2°C | 17.1°C | 12.0°C | 25.0°C | 7.7°C | 34 mm | 70% | 1.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2013 | 23.5°C | 18.7°C | 13.8°C | 28.4°C | 10.9°C | 21 mm | 69% | 1.4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2012 | 19.6°C | 15.7°C | 11.8°C | 22.7°C | 7.5°C | 136 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2011 | 20.9°C | 16.9°C | 12.9°C | 23.7°C | 7.6°C | 164 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2010 | 22.1°C | 17.2°C | 12.4°C | 27.1°C | 6.2°C | 17 mm | 69% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2009 | 20.2°C | 16.0°C | 11.8°C | 24.5°C | 6.9°C | 77 mm | 76% | 1.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2008 | 22.2°C | 18.0°C | 13.8°C | 26.5°C | 10.8°C | 69 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 21.6°C | 17.6°C | 13.6°C | 25.7°C | 9.5°C | 141 mm | 78% | 1.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 20.3°C | 16.3°C | 12.3°C | 25.8°C | 7.2°C | 101 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2005 | 22.5°C | 18.0°C | 13.5°C | 25.3°C | 10.8°C | 94 mm | 73% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2004 | 19.9°C | 15.4°C | 11.0°C | 22.9°C | 6.9°C | 21 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 20.9°C | 17.3°C | 13.7°C | 23.0°C | 9.2°C | 105 mm | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2002 | 22.3°C | 18.0°C | 13.6°C | 25.4°C | 9.2°C | 24 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2001 | 21.0°C | 17.0°C | 13.1°C | 23.9°C | 8.9°C | 43 mm | 74% | 1.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2000 | 22.4°C | 17.8°C | 13.1°C | 28.0°C | 8.4°C | 46 mm | 71% | 1.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 22.4°C | 18.6°C | 14.9°C | 25.5°C | 10.8°C | 57 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1998 | 22.3°C | 18.5°C | 14.7°C | 25.8°C | 10.6°C | 60 mm | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1997 | 20.1°C | 16.3°C | 12.5°C | 23.8°C | 8.3°C | 135 mm | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 | 20.0°C | 16.0°C | 12.0°C | 24.0°C | 8.4°C | 119 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1995 | 21.2°C | 17.4°C | 13.6°C | 25.9°C | 9.4°C | 149 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1994 | 20.9°C | 16.0°C | 11.1°C | 24.5°C | 7.0°C | 54 mm | 70% | 1.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1993 | 19.1°C | 15.3°C | 11.4°C | 24.2°C | 4.9°C | 89 mm | 78% | 1.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 19.7°C | 15.3°C | 11.0°C | 25.0°C | 6.7°C | 68 mm | 75% | 2.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1991 | 20.4°C | 16.1°C | 11.9°C | 23.7°C | 9.9°C | 65 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1990 | 22.4°C | 18.1°C | 13.8°C | 26.2°C | 7.0°C | 120 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 21.6°C | 17.4°C | 13.2°C | 25.1°C | 6.9°C | 37 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1988 | 19.7°C | 16.0°C | 12.4°C | 24.1°C | 8.1°C | 131 mm | 80% | 2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1987 🌧️ | 19.5°C | 15.6°C | 11.6°C | 23.1°C | 5.8°C | 233 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1986 | 21.8°C | 17.1°C | 12.4°C | 24.0°C | 8.5°C | 52 mm | 72% | 1.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1985 | 20.7°C | 16.6°C | 12.6°C | 23.5°C | 6.5°C | 176 mm | 78% | 1.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1984 | 20.1°C | 16.9°C | 13.8°C | 22.3°C | 10.2°C | 124 mm | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1983 | 22.4°C | 17.7°C | 13.0°C | 26.2°C | 6.5°C | 45 mm | 73% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.7°C | 16.7°C | 12.7°C | 24.1°C | 8.0°C | 29 mm | 74% | 1.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.2°C | 18.5°C | 14.9°C | 26.0°C | 7.6°C | 55 mm | 78% | 1.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 21.3°C with lows near 12.9°C (mean 17.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 86 mm of rainfall in Rotorua, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 233 mm in 1987.
The hottest March reached 28.4°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to 4.9°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have fallen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 21.2°C to 21.2°C and overnight lows from 13.4°C to 12.6°C over the same span.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Rotorua and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 21.3°C daytime highs and 12.9°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 10th coolest month in Rotorua, averaging 17.1°C.
For March in Rotorua, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 21.3°C and lows of 12.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 76% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 1.7 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 2.1 m/s (1992).
The wettest March on record was 1987 with 233 mm. On average, March sees 86 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 March, 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 March specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
