Best Time to Visit Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand
Month-by-month climate guide for planning a trip to Invercargill.
Invercargill does not have a month that clearly fits our sunny profiles. Its practical travel window centres on its warmest (January, 14.9°C / 58.8°F) and driest (August, 61 mm / 2.4 in) months. The drier stretch runs through February and April and July–November; the wetter half falls in March and May–June and December–January. At the city itself, monthly average temperatures range from 5.7°C / 42.3°F in July to 14.9°C / 58.8°F in January, with rainfall from 61 mm / 2.4 in (August) to 109 mm / 4.3 in (May). These are point-value climate normals sampled at Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand's coordinates — usually more actionable for travellers than the country-wide average. Invercargill's climate is broadly seasonal. The full month-by-month table below lets you match your travel window against our five weather profiles.
Recommended months
| Month | Temp | Rain | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 14.8°C58.6°F | 70 mm2.8″ | — |
| November | 12.2°C54°F | 71 mm2.8″ | — |
| January | 14.9°C58.8°F | 99 mm3.9″ | — |
No month at Invercargill matches our sunny profiles. The three above are the driest-and-warmest fallback.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Invercargill?
Invercargill doesn't have a month that clearly matches our sunny profiles. The practical travel window centres on August (driest, ~61 mm / 2.4 in) and January (warmest, 14.9°C / 58.8°F). Because these are point values at the city, they can differ substantially from New Zealand's national average.
When is the rainy season in Invercargill?
The rainy season at Invercargill, Southland runs through March and May–June and December–January, when monthly rainfall exceeds the annual median of about 92 mm / 3.6 in. The wettest single month is May (109 mm / 4.3 in).
What is the driest month in Invercargill?
The driest month in Invercargill is August, averaging about 61 mm / 2.4 in of rainfall. Temperature that month averages 7°C / 44.6°F.
What months should I avoid visiting Invercargill?
The least comfortable months for travel to Invercargill — based on point-value climate at the city — are March, May, June, July, August, December. These are the wettest or coolest months at this location. Rainfall peaks at 109 mm / 4.3 in in May, and the coldest month averages 5.7°C / 42.3°F.
Is Invercargill climate different from New Zealand overall?
Yes, usually. Our Invercargill figures are point-value climate normals sampled at the city itself, while our New Zealand figures are area-weighted averages across the whole country. The two can diverge substantially in geographically diverse or elevation-varied countries. The month-by-month table below reflects Invercargill specifically — usually the more actionable data for a traveller planning to spend time in the city.