October is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua, with average highs near 16°C and lows around 8.7°C (mean 12.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 86 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Rotorua was 2001 — when the month averaged 14°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 10.8°C. Typical October days reach 16°C with nights near 8.7°C. The long-term October temperature trend is broadly flat.
October is about average for rainfall in Rotorua, averaging 86 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 1983 with 231 mm, while the driest was 1984 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in Rotorua during October averages 81%. The most humid October was 1983 at 86%, and the least humid was 2002 at 74%.
October receives about 4.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rotorua. The sunniest October was 2018 at 5.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2001 at 4.1.
Average wind speed in Rotorua during October is 2 m/s. The windiest October was 1998 at 2.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2018 and 2020 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.3°C | 12.1°C | 12.1°C | 12.4°C | 13.0°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg High | 15.9°C | 15.7°C | 15.8°C | 16.1°C | 16.5°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 8.7°C | 8.6°C | 8.5°C | 8.6°C | 9.5°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 87 mm | 88 mm | 94 mm | 67 mm | 101 mm | +14 mm |
October temperatures in Rotorua have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 0.9°C (2003) to a record high of 21.6°C (1997).
Rainfall in October is about average for rainfall, averaging 86 mm, with a wettest year of 231 mm.
A good time to visit Rotorua
October is a good time to visit Rotorua, with days averaging 16°C and nights around 8.7°C (mean 12.4°C, cooler than Rotorua's yearly average) and higher rainfall. February and January are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16.6°C | 13.3°C | 10.0°C | 20.1°C | 6.6°C | 113 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2024 | 16.3°C | 12.8°C | 9.4°C | 20.3°C | 5.4°C | 113 mm | 82% | 1.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2023 | 16.7°C | 12.9°C | 9.1°C | 20.4°C | 2.0°C | 72 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2022 | 16.1°C | 12.6°C | 9.0°C | 20.2°C | 1.1°C | 130 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 16.3°C | 12.9°C | 9.5°C | 19.3°C | 4.2°C | 117 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2020 | 17.0°C | 13.4°C | 9.8°C | 21.6°C | 4.0°C | 59 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2019 | 15.8°C | 12.2°C | 8.7°C | 20.6°C | 3.7°C | 91 mm | 81% | 2.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2018 | 17.0°C | 12.7°C | 8.5°C | 20.2°C | 3.3°C | 66 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2017 | 15.7°C | 12.6°C | 9.5°C | 18.4°C | 5.1°C | 108 mm | 84% | 2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 16.0°C | 12.4°C | 8.9°C | 19.0°C | 5.6°C | 72 mm | 83% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2015 | 16.8°C | 12.7°C | 8.7°C | 19.5°C | 4.1°C | 25 mm | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2014 | 15.9°C | 12.3°C | 8.6°C | 20.4°C | 3.9°C | 55 mm | 80% | 2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2013 | 16.9°C | 12.9°C | 8.8°C | 19.3°C | 4.0°C | 33 mm | 79% | 2.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2012 | 15.4°C | 11.4°C | 7.4°C | 20.5°C | 2.3°C | 59 mm | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 5 |
| 2011 | 15.7°C | 12.6°C | 9.5°C | 19.2°C | 6.2°C | 118 mm | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2010 | 15.9°C | 11.9°C | 7.8°C | 19.7°C | 4.9°C | 46 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 14.9°C | 10.9°C | 7.0°C | 18.3°C | 2.5°C | 137 mm | 80% | 2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2008 | 15.4°C | 12.0°C | 8.7°C | 17.6°C | 4.3°C | 72 mm | 81% | 2.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2007 | 15.8°C | 12.1°C | 8.5°C | 19.1°C | 4.2°C | 65 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2006 | 15.4°C | 11.7°C | 8.1°C | 19.2°C | 3.1°C | 80 mm | 79% | 2.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2005 | 15.9°C | 12.7°C | 9.5°C | 19.0°C | 6.6°C | 191 mm | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2004 | 15.8°C | 12.3°C | 8.8°C | 19.7°C | 2.6°C | 113 mm | 83% | 2.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2003 | 15.8°C | 11.9°C | 8.0°C | 19.8°C | 0.9°C | 97 mm | 80% | 1.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2002 | 15.2°C | 11.0°C | 6.8°C | 18.1°C | 1.8°C | 56 mm | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2001 🔥 | 17.3°C | 14.0°C | 10.6°C | 20.0°C | 4.7°C | 82 mm | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2000 | 16.7°C | 12.8°C | 8.9°C | 19.6°C | 3.0°C | 49 mm | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1999 | 17.3°C | 13.5°C | 9.8°C | 21.0°C | 3.5°C | 33 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1998 | 16.6°C | 13.2°C | 9.9°C | 19.5°C | 6.9°C | 90 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1997 | 16.1°C | 12.2°C | 8.4°C | 21.6°C | 4.9°C | 64 mm | 80% | 2.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1996 | 15.8°C | 12.1°C | 8.3°C | 20.1°C | 4.5°C | 58 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1995 | 15.2°C | 12.0°C | 8.7°C | 19.0°C | 4.0°C | 107 mm | 85% | 1.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1994 | 14.5°C | 11.0°C | 7.6°C | 19.1°C | 3.0°C | 137 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1993 | 16.2°C | 12.4°C | 8.6°C | 18.7°C | 5.0°C | 34 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 14.4°C | 10.8°C | 7.3°C | 18.0°C | 3.4°C | 155 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1991 | 15.1°C | 11.6°C | 8.0°C | 18.3°C | 3.2°C | 100 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1990 | 16.0°C | 12.6°C | 9.3°C | 19.0°C | 4.5°C | 107 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1989 | 15.8°C | 12.9°C | 10.1°C | 18.5°C | 4.5°C | 112 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1988 | 15.8°C | 12.4°C | 9.0°C | 19.9°C | 4.7°C | 74 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1987 | 15.8°C | 12.5°C | 9.2°C | 18.9°C | 5.1°C | 83 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1986 | 16.3°C | 12.9°C | 9.4°C | 19.9°C | 6.2°C | 72 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1985 | 16.1°C | 11.8°C | 7.4°C | 20.3°C | 3.6°C | 56 mm | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1984 | 16.4°C | 12.0°C | 7.7°C | 19.9°C | 2.4°C | 20 mm | 76% | 2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 15.9°C | 12.7°C | 9.6°C | 19.3°C | 4.0°C | 231 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 14.6°C | 10.9°C | 7.2°C | 19.7°C | 3.5°C | 78 mm | 78% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.3°C | 12.5°C | 8.6°C | 19.1°C | 3.8°C | 54 mm | 79% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 16°C with lows near 8.7°C (mean 12.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 86 mm of rainfall in Rotorua, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 231 mm in 1983.
The hottest October reached 21.6°C in 1997. The coldest dipped to 0.9°C in 2003.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 15.9°C to 16.4°C and overnight lows from 8.1°C to 9.4°C over the same span.
October is one of the cooler months of the year in Rotorua and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 16°C daytime highs and 8.7°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 6th coolest month in Rotorua, averaging 12.4°C.
For October in Rotorua, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 16°C and lows of 8.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 2 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 2.5 m/s (1998).
The wettest October on record was 1983 with 231 mm. On average, October 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
