March is one of the warmer months of the year in Wanaka, with average highs near 14.6°C and lows around 4.9°C (mean 9.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 135 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Wanaka. Across 45 years of records, the warmest March in Wanaka was 2019 — when the month averaged 13.3°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 6.5°C. Typical March days reach 14.6°C with nights near 4.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
March is about average for rainfall in Wanaka, averaging 135 mm of rainfall. The wettest March on record was 1995 with 347 mm, while the driest was 2022 at 36 mm.
Relative humidity in Wanaka during March averages 82%. The most humid March was 2004 at 86%, and the least humid was 2025 at 76%.
March receives about 4.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wanaka. The sunniest March was 1985 at 4.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2018 at 3.8.
Average wind speed in Wanaka during March is 2.4 m/s. The windiest March was 1998 at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1991 and 2022 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.4°C | 8.8°C | 9.7°C | 10.5°C | 10.5°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 14.0°C | 13.5°C | 14.7°C | 15.5°C | 15.5°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Low | 4.9°C | 4.1°C | 4.8°C | 5.5°C | 5.5°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 203 mm | 164 mm | 95 mm | 110 mm | 94 mm | -109 mm |
March temperatures in Wanaka have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
March has ranged from a record low of -3.6°C (1983) to a record high of 22.8°C (2025).
Rainfall in March is about average for rainfall, averaging 135 mm, with a wettest year of 347 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.3°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
One of the best times to visit Wanaka
March is one of the best times to visit Wanaka. Expect days averaging 14.6°C and nights around 4.9°C (mean 9.8°C) — warmer than Wanaka's yearly average — with higher rainfall (135 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 | 17.4°C | 12.0°C | 6.5°C | 22.8°C | 2.1°C | 53 mm | 76% | 2.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2024 | 13.6°C | 8.6°C | 3.7°C | 18.8°C | -0.6°C | 100 mm | 78% | 2.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 14.3°C | 9.4°C | 4.6°C | 19.0°C | -2.5°C | 190 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 17.5°C | 12.9°C | 8.3°C | 20.7°C | 5.9°C | 36 mm | 80% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2021 | 15.4°C | 10.6°C | 5.9°C | 19.2°C | 1.3°C | 87 mm | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2020 | 14.7°C | 9.4°C | 4.1°C | 20.3°C | -1.7°C | 97 mm | 80% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2019 🔥 | 18.7°C | 13.3°C | 7.9°C | 22.4°C | 3.3°C | 113 mm | 78% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2018 | 15.3°C | 10.7°C | 6.0°C | 19.9°C | 0.5°C | 110 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2017 | 15.4°C | 10.4°C | 5.4°C | 20.6°C | 0.7°C | 73 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 15.6°C | 10.7°C | 5.9°C | 20.0°C | -0.3°C | 147 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 4 |
| 2015 | 15.0°C | 10.2°C | 5.5°C | 19.4°C | -1.6°C | 118 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2014 | 15.4°C | 10.2°C | 5.0°C | 19.1°C | -0.9°C | 72 mm | 81% | 1.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2013 | 17.8°C | 12.4°C | 7.1°C | 22.2°C | 2.9°C | 84 mm | 77% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2012 | 13.6°C | 8.7°C | 3.8°C | 18.4°C | -2.0°C | 120 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2011 | 13.8°C | 9.0°C | 4.2°C | 17.7°C | -0.1°C | 148 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2010 | 13.9°C | 9.0°C | 4.2°C | 21.8°C | -1.1°C | 114 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2009 | 13.6°C | 9.0°C | 4.3°C | 18.1°C | -0.6°C | 121 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2008 | 15.3°C | 10.2°C | 5.1°C | 21.8°C | -0.3°C | 107 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 15.1°C | 10.5°C | 5.8°C | 20.7°C | -0.2°C | 118 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2006 | 12.6°C | 7.7°C | 2.9°C | 16.8°C | -1.5°C | 83 mm | 80% | 2.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2005 | 14.4°C | 9.8°C | 5.2°C | 19.0°C | -0.5°C | 130 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 4 |
| 2004 | 13.2°C | 8.5°C | 3.9°C | 18.7°C | -2.9°C | 128 mm | 86% | 2.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2003 | 16.9°C | 11.7°C | 6.5°C | 20.2°C | 1.9°C | 45 mm | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2002 | 14.3°C | 9.5°C | 4.6°C | 20.7°C | -0.4°C | 79 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 16.1°C | 10.5°C | 5.0°C | 21.7°C | -1.7°C | 70 mm | 77% | 2.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2000 | 15.5°C | 9.9°C | 4.3°C | 21.2°C | -3.1°C | 68 mm | 79% | 2.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1999 | 15.8°C | 11.2°C | 6.5°C | 20.9°C | 0.7°C | 152 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1998 | 14.1°C | 9.7°C | 5.3°C | 21.2°C | -1.6°C | 112 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1997 | 12.7°C | 7.9°C | 3.1°C | 16.3°C | -0.2°C | 86 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1996 | 13.2°C | 8.5°C | 3.8°C | 18.1°C | -1.1°C | 121 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 12.7°C | 8.1°C | 3.5°C | 17.7°C | -1.2°C | 347 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 12.6°C | 7.9°C | 3.3°C | 18.6°C | -1.4°C | 224 mm | 84% | 2.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1993 | 12.1°C | 7.6°C | 3.1°C | 18.0°C | -1.7°C | 179 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 11.3°C | 6.5°C | 1.7°C | 18.9°C | -2.8°C | 235 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1991 | 14.7°C | 10.2°C | 5.7°C | 20.8°C | -0.1°C | 69 mm | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1990 | 15.4°C | 10.1°C | 4.9°C | 20.5°C | -2.9°C | 111 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 14.6°C | 9.6°C | 4.6°C | 21.5°C | -1.3°C | 197 mm | 82% | 2.6 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1988 | 12.7°C | 7.7°C | 2.8°C | 20.5°C | -2.0°C | 149 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1987 | 12.9°C | 8.8°C | 4.7°C | 16.7°C | -1.2°C | 172 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 13.9°C | 9.7°C | 5.6°C | 17.5°C | 0.0°C | 230 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1985 | 14.6°C | 9.6°C | 4.5°C | 18.7°C | -1.9°C | 103 mm | 80% | 2.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1984 | 14.6°C | 10.7°C | 6.7°C | 18.4°C | -0.9°C | 329 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1983 | 12.5°C | 7.7°C | 2.9°C | 18.2°C | -3.6°C | 201 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.2°C | 10.5°C | 5.9°C | 18.6°C | -0.6°C | 105 mm | 81% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.8°C | 10.7°C | 6.6°C | 21.3°C | -1.5°C | 343 mm | 86% | 2.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded March data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in March is around 14.6°C with lows near 4.9°C (mean 9.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
March averages 135 mm of rainfall in Wanaka, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 347 mm in 1995.
The hottest March reached 22.8°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to -3.6°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average March temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.3°C to 15.6°C and overnight lows from 5.3°C to 5.8°C over the same span.
March is one of the warmer months of the year in Wanaka and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 14.6°C daytime highs and 4.9°C at night.
Not quite — March is the 9th coolest month in Wanaka, averaging 9.8°C.
For March in Wanaka, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.6°C and lows of 4.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in March averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in March is 2.4 m/s. The windiest March on record averaged 3.3 m/s (1998).
The wettest March on record was 1995 with 347 mm. On average, March sees 135 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 Wanaka 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.
