January in Fiordland — the year's strongest window
Best window · 7.7/10January averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 183 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 29 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Fiordland at 7.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
February in Fiordland — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 7.2/10February averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
231 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 20 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
March in Fiordland — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.8/10March averages 10°C (50°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 185 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 11 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.
April in Fiordland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.8/10April averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
204 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 1 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 3.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.
May in Fiordland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.8/10May averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
250 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 0 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 2.8/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 4.9 points higher on the same scale.
June in Fiordland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.6/10June averages 4°C (39°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 176 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 2.6/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 5.1 points higher on the same scale.
July in Fiordland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.4/10July averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 184 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 2.4/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 5.3 points higher on the same scale.
August in Fiordland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.7/10August averages 4°C (39°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
225 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 0 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 2.7/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 5 points higher on the same scale.
September in Fiordland — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.9/10September averages 5°C (41°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
246 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 6 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 3.9/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 3.8 points higher on the same scale.
October in Fiordland — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.5/10October averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
225 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 15 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 5.5/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Fiordland — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.
November in Fiordland — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.9/10November averages 9°C (48°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
204 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 23 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 6.9/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
December in Fiordland — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 7.3/10December averages 11°C (52°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
226 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 26 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 7.3/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 7.7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
