Wet-Weather Guide to Wellington: Wind, Rain and What to Wear on Your Feet

Short answer: Wellington is wet and, above all, windy. NIWA's 1991–2020 normals put Kelburn at about 128 days a year with 1 mm or more of rain, and Ministry for the Environment data shows gale-force gusts at Kelburn on roughly 180 to 220 days a year. Dress for rain that arrives sideways, choose indoor plans that sit close together, and save the muddier hill walks for a day or two after a southerly clears.

We have already written about what to wear on a wet Wellington commute. This guide is broader: how the weather actually behaves, where to go when it turns, which walks get muddy, and how to keep a dog (and your feet) happy through a Wellington winter.

Wellington weather by the numbers

Two things stand out. First, rain is a winter story: June has nearly twice as many rain days as midsummer. Second, the wind is a year-round story. Gale-force gusts on more than half the days of the year means an umbrella is often more trouble than it is worth, and that spray, puddle splash and wind-driven rain reach parts of your shoes that a calm drizzle never would. For how Wellington compares with other cities, see our city-by-city look at New Zealand's rainy days.

Why the wind matters as much as the rain

Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, explains that the prevailing westerlies of the "roaring forties" are funnelled through Cook Strait by the central ranges and strengthen as they go, leaving Wellington "in the teeth of these winds". In practice that means:

• A hood and a zip beat an umbrella on the waterfront, Lambton Quay corners and anywhere exposed to the harbour.
• Rain comes in at an angle, so the tops and sides of your shoes get wet, not just the soles.
• Wet feet feel colder in wind. A damp sock on a still day is annoying; on a gusty day it can make the walk home miserable.
• Check MetService before heading onto exposed coastline or hilltops, and take any wind or rain warnings seriously.

The waterfront and CBD on a wet day

Wellington's compact centre is the city's best wet-weather asset. The waterfront runs from the railway station area past Queens Wharf and Frank Kitts Park to Te Papa and on toward Oriental Bay, so you can link several indoor stops with short walks between them. The flip side is that the waterfront is open to the harbour, which is where the wind and spray hit hardest. On a properly wild day, Lambton Quay and the streets a block back from the water are calmer for getting between places.

Painted crossings, timber boardwalks and metal covers get slick in the wet. Walk a little slower on them, and keep in mind that kerbside water can run deep during a downpour. Step around it rather than through it.

Rainy-day options that are close together

• Te Papa Tongarewa (55 Cable Street): the national museum, open every day 10am to 6pm except Christmas Day, and free for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand. Easily a half day.
• Museum of Wellington City and Sea on Queens Wharf, for local and maritime history.
• City Gallery Wellington in Civic Square, a good start to a gallery trail.
• Old Bank Arcade on Lambton Quay, boutique shopping in a heritage building.
• The Wellington Cable Car from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn and the Botanic Garden, a dry way to climb the hill.
• Wētā Cave in Miramar, a small film-industry museum and shop, and the Embassy Theatre on Courtenay Place for a film.
• Cuba Street cafés, which are the local answer to a wet Sunday morning.

Wet-weather walks, honestly

Mount Victoria / Matairangi

Wellington City Council describes the Mt Vic tracks as "well-formed but steep in places". In dry weather they are a quick escape from the CBD with 360-degree views from the lookout. After rain, the steeper clay and leaf-litter sections get slippery and muddy, and you share the network with mountain bikers on their own priority tracks. If you want the view without the mud, the number 20 bus goes up to the lookout, though the lookout itself has steps. Dogs must be on a leash on Mount Victoria.

The Southern Walkway

This 10.6 km walk follows the Town Belt from Oriental Bay to Island Bay, marked by pink bollards, and takes about 4 to 5 hours. The council calls it steep in places but not difficult overall. In wet weather, expect muddy patches in the shaded Town Belt forest sections, and be ready for the "rugged and exposed" coastline between Houghton Bay and Island Bay, where a southerly will be felt fully. Street access points let you walk it in stages, which is a sensible plan on a showery day: do the forest sections when it is calm, and save the coast for a clear afternoon.

When to wait

Steep tracks are at their worst during and just after heavy rain. A day of drying and a lighter wind make a big difference. If you are heading further afield, onto proper tramping tracks or anywhere with stream crossings, wear a real hiking boot or trail shoe. Our guide to the best hiking and trail shoes in NZ and Australia covers those options.

Walking the dog in Wellington weather

Dogs do not care that it is blowing a southerly, so you will be out regardless. A few Wellington-specific points:

• Wellington City Council allows on-leash walking almost anywhere in the city, including the centre, at all hours and all year.
• Off-leash areas, prohibited areas and beach restrictions are mapped on the council's dog exercise map. Check it before you let a dog run, especially on beaches.
• On the Southern Walkway, dogs must be on a lead outside dog exercise areas, and on Mount Victoria they must be leashed.
• Wet grass at the local park soaks shoes faster than a footpath. Keep a towel by the door for the dog and somewhere airy for your shoes.

What to wear on your feet

For most Wellington days, the job is wind-driven rain, puddles, wet grass and slick footpaths, not deep water. That suits a closed, waterproof shoe with a grippy rubber sole, worn with merino or synthetic socks. Skip cotton socks, which stay wet and cold. If your shoes do get soaked, dry them slowly and away from heaters; our guide on how to dry wet shoes has the steps.

We make Oszea, so take this with that in mind. Our Tasman Essentials and Urban Essentials are waterproof everyday sneakers with ZEA-TEX 4-layer construction: a breathable knit outer, a waterproof membrane, a flexible elastomer layer and a soft inner lining. They are built for rain, puddles and wet grass on the waterfront, the commute and the park dog walk. They are not for wading or full submersion, and they are not a hiking boot or trail shoe, so for muddy tramps or stream crossings, wear proper hiking footwear.

FAQ

What is the wettest month in Wellington?

By rain days, June, with about 13 days of 1 mm or more at Kelburn (NIWA normals, 1991–2020). January and February are the driest, with about 7 each.

How windy is Wellington?

Very. Ministry for the Environment data for Kelburn records gusts above gale force (61 km/h) on 175 to 221 days a year between 2003 and 2012.

Is an umbrella worth it in Wellington?

Often not. With gusty winds most days, a good rain jacket with a hood is more reliable, especially along the waterfront.

Are Mount Victoria and the Southern Walkway muddy after rain?

Parts of them, yes. The tracks are well formed but steep in places, and shaded or clay sections get slippery after rain. Give them a day to dry, or take the bus up to the Mt Vic lookout instead.

What can I do in Wellington on a rainy day?

Te Papa, the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, City Gallery, the cable car, Old Bank Arcade, a film at the Embassy or Wētā Cave in Miramar, and a long coffee on Cuba Street.

Sources

• Wellington climate tables citing NIWA 1991–2020 normals (Wikipedia)
• Days with wind gusts greater than gale force at Kelburn, Ministry for the Environment data via Figure.NZ
• Te Ara – Wellington region climate
• MetService – weather warnings
• Wellington City Council – Southern Walkway
• Wellington City Council – Mount Victoria
• Wellington City Council – Dog exercise areas
• Te Papa – Plan your visit
• Tourism New Zealand – Things to do on a rainy day in Wellington