Wellington vs New Plymouth: which is sunnier?
🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 263 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Wellington is the sunnier overall: about 2,510 hours of sunshine a year to New Plymouth's 2,321. New Plymouth has the higher Sunshine Score in 10 of 12 months, Wellington in 1 (1 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Wellington | New Plymouth | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,510 | 2,321 |
| Sunniest month | February (83/100) | January (80/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 71/100 | 74/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 28/100 | 31/100 |
| Rain / year | 857 mm | 1,230 mm |
| Warmest sea | 19°C / 66°F | 21°C / 70°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 11 (extreme) |
Wellington vs New Plymouth month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington | New Plymouth | Wellington | New Plymouth | Wellington | New Plymouth | Wellington | New Plymouth | |
| January | 77 | 80 | 19° | 21° | 51 | 69 | 19° | 21° |
| February | 83 | 78 | 20° | 22° | 58 | 80 | 18° | 20° |
| March | 69 | 77 | 18° | 21° | 58 | 82 | 17° | 19° |
| April | 54 | 61 | 16° | 18° | 70 | 103 | 16° | 18° |
| May | 39 | 47 | 14° | 16° | 80 | 123 | 15° | 17° |
| June | 32 | 34 | 13° | 14° | 92 | 128 | 14° | 15° |
| July | 26 | 29 | 12° | 13° | 86 | 121 | 13° | 14° |
| August | 26 | 29 | 12° | 13° | 82 | 118 | 13° | 13° |
| September | 34 | 42 | 13° | 15° | 70 | 107 | 14° | 14° |
| October | 40 | 49 | 14° | 16° | 77 | 105 | 14° | 15° |
| November | 55 | 64 | 16° | 18° | 64 | 85 | 16° | 17° |
| December | 67 | 72 | 18° | 20° | 69 | 109 | 17° | 18° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan New Plymouth · Feb Wellington · Mar New Plymouth · Apr New Plymouth · May New Plymouth · Jun even · Jul New Plymouth · Aug New Plymouth · Sep New Plymouth · Oct New Plymouth · Nov New Plymouth · Dec New Plymouth.
When to pick which
- November–February: New Plymouth (average score 74/100 vs 71). New Plymouth is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
- March–May: New Plymouth (average score 62/100 vs 54). New Plymouth is the warmer, around 18°C daytime highs vs 16°C.
- June–August: New Plymouth (average score 31/100 vs 28). Daytime highs are similar (12°C vs 13°C).
- September–October: New Plymouth (average score 46/100 vs 37). New Plymouth is the warmer, around 16°C daytime highs vs 14°C.
Sea temperature
New Plymouth's sea gets warmer: 21°C / 70°F at its peak vs 19°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Wellington never, New Plymouth about 1 month a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Wellington weather by month · New Plymouth weather by month · Best time to visit New Zealand.
More comparisons: Wellington vs Christchurch · Wellington vs Palmerston North · Wellington vs Blenheim · New Plymouth vs Auckland · New Plymouth vs Tauranga · New Plymouth vs Palmerston North · all head-to-heads