Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22.4 °C | 19.9 °C | 9 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| February | 21.8 °C | 20.1 °C | 8 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| March | 20.1 °C | 19.2 °C | 10 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| April | 17.5 °C | 17.7 °C | 11 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| May | 15.2 °C | 15.9 °C | 11 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| June | 13.1 °C | 14.1 °C | 11 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| July | 12.2 °C | 12.7 °C | 10 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| August | 12.8 °C | 12.2 °C | 12 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| September | 14.3 °C | 12.9 °C | 13 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| October | 16.4 °C | 14.4 °C | 12 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| November | 18.3 °C | 16.4 °C | 13 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| December | 20.7 °C | 18.5 °C | 13 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
Nearby in October
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
No visa, but an electronic travel authorisation (NZeTA) must be obtained online before departure for stays of up to 180 days. Passport valid for at least 3 months. NZeTA (plus the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) needed before travel, allow 72 hours; a free NZ Traveller Declaration is also required.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 19 March 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
No specific restrictions
Usual precautions apply.
Official advice updated 19 March 2026
Health
Vaccines · hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; hepatitis A depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. No entry requirement.
Malaria · None.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Nelson in October?
The sea averages 14.4°C in October — too cold for most swimmers.
How hot is Nelson in October?
Expect 16.4°C in the afternoon and 9°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Nelson in October?
Around 12 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 39% of days.