North Island New Zealand Weather in October

Average Temperatures in the North Island in October

Average temperatures are on the up all across the North Island across October. By the end of the month, daily highs over 15°C (59°F) are the norm almost everywhere, while in some areas temperatures are already feeling summery, with average daily highs above 20°C (68°F). At night, it doesn’t get much colder than 10°C (50°F), except for in the upland areas around the central Volcanic Plateau like Taupo and Rotorua, where night can still carry a bit of a wintry chill.

Here’s a rundown on what average temperatures to expect across October in different parts of the North Island:

Average Sunshine Hours Per day in the North Island in October

Springtime brings sunshine to many parts of the North Island in October. In Napier, which often battles with Nelson, Gisborne and Blenheim for the title of New Zealand’s sunniest city, it’s already feeling summery with well over 200 average sunshine hours for the month. Elsewhere, you can expect around 5-6 average sunshine hours per day in the North Island in October. Although it depends a bit on where exactly you want to go…

Average rainfall in the North Island in October

After heavy rainfall throughout the winter months, October welcomes in a period of relatively little rainfall overall. There are still quite a few wet days to be expected in many regions – although showers often don’t last too long, and it’s easy to work a multi-day trip around changes in the weather. Some areas of the North Island, however, have very little rainfall and few wet days, so again it depends on where you plan to go.

Here’s a look at the average rainfall in the North Island in October by location:

Best Things to do in the North Island in October 

Walk among other-worldly landscapes in Taupō

Situated around an ancient volcanic crater lake in the middle of the North Island, Taupō is surrounded by jaw-dropping natural and volcanic landscapes. Given the lack of road or other access, walking and biking are often the best way to see it – and October’s combination of mild temperatures, relatively low rainfall and extending daylight hours make it arguably the best month to do it. From ambling along the easy waterfront trails of the Great Lake Walkway and Huka Falls, or walking among native bush and birdsong around Lake Rotopounamu and the Tongariro River Trail, up to taking on the challenge of the acclaimed, full-day Tongariro Alpine Crossing, there’s a huge range of fantastic trails and different difficulty levels to make it accessible – and perhaps unforgettable – for everybody.

Immerse yourself in Māori culture in Rotorua

The city of Rotorua is rich in accessible Māori heritage, and a great stop for any prospective New Zealand culture and heritage itinerary. From the ancient (but active!) geysers and mud pools of Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and traditional performances at Te Huia, to the immersive experience of staying overnight and enjoying a traditional hangi (earth-oven steamed meal) at Te Pā Tū, there are plenty of opportunities to experience something you can’t anywhere else on Earth.

Start planning your North Island trip

If you want to know more about visiting the North Island in October, then the New Zealand travel blog on the First Light Travel website covers a huge range of topics and FAQs. If you’d prefer just to go ahead and start booking, you can also find a large number of different North Island self-drive itineraries and tour packages there. If you still have questions, or want to create your own individualised itinerary, then feel free to contact FLT’s friendly travel experts for help.