Next 7 departures
- SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 2–12°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Rain11°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny9°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy2°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Cloudy11°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny12°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Partly sunny10°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–13°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Sunny9°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Sunny8°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Sunny9°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Sunny8°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Sunny8°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Sunny13°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Sunny12°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Mostly sunny12°C - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 7–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Sunny10°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Mostly sunny8°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny9°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Mostly sunny14°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Light rain12°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Partly sunny13°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 9–16°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny10°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Cloudy12°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy12°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Cloudy16°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Cloudy14°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Partly sunny14°C - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–15°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Cloudy12°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy12°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy8°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Light rain15°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Cloudy12°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Rain11°C - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 9–16°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny13°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny13°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny12°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Mostly sunny14°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Cloudy16°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Cloudy12°C - SatOct 10
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 10–17°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Auckland7 AM NZDT Light rain showers14°C Hamilton8:15 AM NZDT Sunny11°C Whakamaru9:30 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Pūkawa Bay10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy12°C SH1 northeast of Ohakune10:45 AM NZDT Mostly sunny10°C Bulls12:15 PM NZDT Mostly sunny17°C Paraparaumu1:15 PM NZDT Sunny15°C Wellington2 PM NZDT Sunny14°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Auckland (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Auckland, NZStart 20 melevation
- Hamilton, NZKm 121 · 1 h 15 min 44 melevation
- Whakamaru, NZKm 230 · 2 h 23 min 236 melevation
- Pūkawa Bay, NZKm 306 · 3 h 11 min 380 melevation
- SH1 northeast of Ohakune, NZKm 359 · 3 h 48 min 1,079 melevation
- Bulls, NZKm 491 · 5 h 13 min 51 melevation
- Paraparaumu, NZKm 587 · 6 h 21 min 20 melevation
- Wellington, NZKm 641 · 6 h 55 min 7 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Auckland, Paraparaumu and Wellington.
| Month | Auckland 7 m | Paraparaumu 7 m | Wellington 12 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 24° / 16° | 21° / 13° | 22° / 14° |
| Feb | 25° / 16° | 22° / 13° | 22° / 14° |
| Mar | 23° / 14° | 20° / 11° | 20° / 13° |
| Apr | 21° / 12° | 18° / 9° | 18° / 11° |
| May | 18° / 10° | 16° / 8° | 16° / 10° |
| Jun | 16° / 8° | 14° / 6° | 13° / 7° |
| Jul | 15° / 7° | 13° / 4° | 13° / 6° |
| Aug | 15° / 8° | 13° / 5° | 13° / 7° |
| Sep | 17° / 9° | 15° / 7° | 15° / 8° |
| Oct | 18° / 10° | 16° / 9° | 16° / 9° |
| Nov | 20° / 12° | 18° / 10° | 18° / 11° |
| Dec | 22° / 14° | 20° / 12° | 20° / 13° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): AUCKLAND AERO AWS, NZ (NZM00093110, 7 m); PARAPARAUMU AWS, NZ (NZ000093417, 7 m); WELLINGTON AERO AWS, NZ (NZM00093439, 12 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for New Zealand rather than repeat them.
- New Zealand · NZTA Waka KotahiNZTA journey planner and road conditions
Check the official forecast from MetService and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Auckland to Wellington with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Auckland to Wellington?
641 km (398 miles), about 7 hours of driving without stops, by way of SH1. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
SH1 northeast of Ohakune, at 1,079 m (3,539 ft). It comes at km 359, about 3 h 48 min of driving after you leave Auckland.
How cold is Wellington in July?
Wellington averages a high of 13°C and a low of 6°C in July (1991–2020 averages).