October is close to Wanaka's year-round average, with average highs near 10.2°C and lows around 1.2°C (mean 5.7°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 155 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
October is close to Wanaka's year-round average. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Wanaka was 1999 — when the month averaged 7.6°C — while the coldest was 1982 at 3.7°C. Typical October days reach 10.2°C with nights near 1.2°C. The long-term October temperature trend is broadly flat.
October is a relatively wet time of year in Wanaka, averaging 155 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 1984 with 309 mm, while the driest was 2017 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Wanaka during October averages 83%. The most humid October was 1998 at 87%, and the least humid were 1985 and 2010 at 80%.
October receives about 4.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wanaka. The sunniest Octobers were 1985 and 2015 at 5.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2025 at 4.
Average wind speed in Wanaka during October is 2.9 m/s. The windiest October was 1988 at 4.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1983 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 5.7°C | 5.6°C | 5.3°C | 5.9°C | 6.2°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg High | 10.1°C | 10.0°C | 9.9°C | 10.5°C | 10.7°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 1.4°C | 1.2°C | 0.6°C | 1.2°C | 1.7°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 193 mm | 188 mm | 103 mm | 141 mm | 150 mm | -43 mm |
October temperatures in Wanaka have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of -4.9°C (2003) to a record high of 20°C (2017).
Rainfall in October is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 155 mm, with a wettest year of 309 mm.
A good time to visit Wanaka
October is a good time to visit Wanaka, with days averaging 10.2°C and nights around 1.2°C (mean 5.7°C, close to Wanaka'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 | 8.6°C | 4.8°C | 0.9°C | 12.9°C | -4.3°C | 255 mm | 85% | 4.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2024 | 10.0°C | 5.8°C | 1.7°C | 16.5°C | -2.6°C | 179 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2023 | 11.0°C | 6.1°C | 1.2°C | 16.5°C | -3.5°C | 121 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2022 | 10.9°C | 6.0°C | 1.2°C | 15.0°C | -4.4°C | 120 mm | 82% | 2.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 12.0°C | 7.5°C | 3.0°C | 16.3°C | -2.2°C | 100 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2020 | 11.6°C | 6.9°C | 2.2°C | 16.3°C | -3.8°C | 123 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2019 | 9.4°C | 5.3°C | 1.1°C | 14.7°C | -2.6°C | 158 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2018 | 11.5°C | 6.6°C | 1.8°C | 19.2°C | -4.7°C | 111 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2017 | 12.2°C | 7.2°C | 2.2°C | 20.0°C | -1.9°C | 25 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2016 | 10.4°C | 6.3°C | 2.1°C | 13.4°C | -1.7°C | 186 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2015 | 10.9°C | 5.8°C | 0.6°C | 14.9°C | -3.0°C | 180 mm | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2014 | 10.3°C | 5.6°C | 0.9°C | 16.5°C | -2.9°C | 124 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 5 |
| 2013 | 9.7°C | 5.4°C | 1.0°C | 13.8°C | -3.6°C | 199 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 9.0°C | 4.6°C | 0.1°C | 16.9°C | -3.2°C | 192 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2011 | 10.3°C | 5.8°C | 1.3°C | 15.8°C | -2.4°C | 153 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2010 | 11.5°C | 6.4°C | 1.3°C | 17.8°C | -3.0°C | 87 mm | 80% | 2.6 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2009 | 9.1°C | 4.3°C | -0.5°C | 17.2°C | -3.4°C | 93 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2008 | 9.7°C | 4.8°C | -0.1°C | 14.5°C | -3.5°C | 117 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2007 | 8.2°C | 3.9°C | -0.3°C | 12.9°C | -4.7°C | 170 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2006 | 9.8°C | 5.1°C | 0.3°C | 16.8°C | -3.0°C | 113 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2005 | 10.9°C | 6.5°C | 2.1°C | 15.6°C | -2.8°C | 69 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2004 | 9.6°C | 5.0°C | 0.4°C | 15.2°C | -3.0°C | 88 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2003 | 10.1°C | 5.4°C | 0.6°C | 15.2°C | -4.9°C | 87 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2002 | 8.9°C | 4.3°C | -0.4°C | 14.0°C | -4.1°C | 120 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2001 | 11.9°C | 7.5°C | 3.1°C | 16.3°C | -1.0°C | 74 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 10.4°C | 5.8°C | 1.2°C | 16.9°C | -4.4°C | 100 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1999 🔥 | 12.1°C | 7.6°C | 3.0°C | 17.2°C | -3.3°C | 73 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1998 | 9.1°C | 5.2°C | 1.3°C | 16.2°C | -3.5°C | 159 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1997 | 9.8°C | 5.4°C | 1.1°C | 14.8°C | -3.3°C | 94 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1996 | 9.6°C | 5.6°C | 1.7°C | 13.4°C | -3.1°C | 261 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1995 | 9.6°C | 5.2°C | 0.8°C | 13.1°C | -2.8°C | 129 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 5 |
| 1994 | 9.5°C | 4.6°C | -0.2°C | 17.2°C | -3.7°C | 156 mm | 81% | 2.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1993 | 10.3°C | 5.9°C | 1.4°C | 15.9°C | -3.7°C | 272 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1992 | 10.0°C | 5.5°C | 1.0°C | 17.4°C | -3.8°C | 292 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 9.4°C | 5.0°C | 0.6°C | 15.7°C | -3.2°C | 174 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1990 | 10.3°C | 5.7°C | 1.2°C | 15.5°C | -3.6°C | 271 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1989 | 10.2°C | 6.3°C | 2.4°C | 14.2°C | -3.0°C | 176 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1988 | 8.8°C | 5.1°C | 1.5°C | 13.7°C | -2.4°C | 212 mm | 86% | 4.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1987 | 10.4°C | 6.1°C | 1.7°C | 16.5°C | -3.4°C | 274 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1986 | 10.8°C | 6.5°C | 2.2°C | 16.1°C | -0.6°C | 171 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1985 | 10.8°C | 5.7°C | 0.5°C | 17.2°C | -3.3°C | 75 mm | 80% | 2.3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 🌧️ | 9.5°C | 5.3°C | 1.1°C | 14.3°C | -2.8°C | 309 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1983 | 11.1°C | 6.6°C | 2.2°C | 15.8°C | -2.1°C | 210 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 8.0°C | 3.7°C | -0.6°C | 13.2°C | -4.1°C | 182 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 11.3°C | 6.3°C | 1.4°C | 17.1°C | -2.6°C | 126 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 10.2°C with lows near 1.2°C (mean 5.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 155 mm of rainfall in Wanaka, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 309 mm in 1984.
The hottest October reached 20°C in 2017. The coldest dipped to -4.9°C in 2003.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 10.1°C to 10.5°C and overnight lows from 0.9°C to 1.6°C over the same span.
October is close to Wanaka's year-round average and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 10.2°C daytime highs and 1.2°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 6th coolest month in Wanaka, averaging 5.7°C.
For October in Wanaka, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.2°C and lows of 1.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in October averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in October is 2.9 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 4.4 m/s (1988).
The wettest October on record was 1984 with 309 mm. On average, October sees 155 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 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.
