January in Nelson — the year's strongest window
Best window · 9.3/10January averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 61 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 sunny days and 14.7 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Nelson at 9.3/10 — 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 packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
February in Nelson — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 8.3/10February averages 15°C (60°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 126 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 22 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 8.3/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
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.
March in Nelson — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.8/10March averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 59 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 20 sunny days and 12.3 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Nelson at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. 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 packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
April in Nelson — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.3/10April averages 11°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 86 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 7 sunny days and 10.9 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.3/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Nelson — 3 points higher on the same scale.
May in Nelson — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.3/10May averages 9°C (48°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 115 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4.3/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 Nelson — 5 points higher on the same scale.
June in Nelson — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.5/10June averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 133 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 Nelson — 5.8 points higher on the same scale.
July in Nelson — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.1/10July averages 5°C (42°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 156 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.1/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 Nelson — 6.2 points higher on the same scale.
August in Nelson — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4/10August averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 147 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 4 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 Nelson — 5.3 points higher on the same scale.
September in Nelson — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.1/10September averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 89 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 11 sunny days and 11.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.1/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Nelson — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.
October in Nelson — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 8.1/10October averages 9°C (49°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 80 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 22 sunny days and 13.1 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.1/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 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 packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
November in Nelson — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.5/10November averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 88 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 14.4 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Nelson at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
December in Nelson — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.7/10December averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 83 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 sunny days and 15 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Nelson at 8.7/10 — 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 packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
