Black Oszea sneakers walking up a steep wet street in Dunedin

Wet-Weather Guide to Dunedin: Drizzle, Hills and What to Wear on Your Feet

Dunedin is not especially wet by New Zealand standards, about 724 mm of rain a year, but it is reliably damp. NIWA's 1991–2020 averages show roughly 106 days a year with at least 1 mm of rain, spread fairly evenly across every month, so there is no true dry season to wait for. Add some of the steepest streets in the country and cool temperatures for much of the year, and the most useful thing you can do is plan for drizzle and wear shoes that cope with it.

What the numbers say

The figures below are NIWA's Dunedin climate averages for 1991–2020, published via Figure.NZ. A "wet day" is a day with 1 mm or more of rain.

Month Wet days (≥1 mm) Mean daily max Mean daily min
January 9.1 18.9°C 11.6°C
April 8.0 15.4°C 8.2°C
July 7.8 10.4°C 3.0°C
October 10.5 14.9°C 7.0°C
December 10.4 17.5°C 10.4°C
Year 105.6 Annual rainfall: 724.1 mm

A few things stand out. Wet days barely move between about 7.5 (February) and 10.5 (October) a month, so a spring or early-summer visit is, if anything, slightly more likely to be drizzly than midwinter. Winter is the cold part: July averages a 10.4°C maximum and a 3.0°C minimum, which means wet footpaths can stay wet for a long time. For context, the same NIWA dataset gives Christchurch about 83 wet days a year and Invercargill about 161. Sunshine is modest too: NIWA's 1981–2010 average for Dunedin was about 1,684 hours a year, dipping to around 95 hours in June. For more city comparisons, see how many rainy days New Zealand actually gets.

Before heading out, check the MetService forecast and any warnings for Dunedin, especially if you are planning coastal walks.

Steep, wet streets (and Baldwin Street)

Dunedin is built around a harbour and up the surrounding hills, so many everyday walks involve real climbs. Baldwin Street in North East Valley is the famous one: Guinness World Records reinstated it as the world's steepest residential street in 2020, after a survey-led appeal measured its gradient at 34.8%. In the rain it is still walkable, but it is a different experience. Go slowly, use the footpath steps rather than the road, and turn back if it is properly pouring. Coming down is harder on your legs and grip than going up.

The same applies across the hill suburbs such as Roslyn, Maori Hill and the streets climbing above the city centre. Wet leaves in autumn and the odd frosty morning in winter add to it. Give yourself extra time, keep your hands free, and choose shoes with a flexible, grippy-feeling sole that you are comfortable in, rather than smooth-soled fashion shoes.

The Octagon and the city centre

The Octagon is the obvious base on a grey day, with cafés, bars and covered frontages close together. A few good indoor options sit within an easy walk:

  • Dunedin Public Art Gallery, right on The Octagon (30 The Octagon), open 10am–5pm daily.
  • Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Gardens, free entry and open 10am–5pm daily. It sits next to the city's historic railway station area, so you can pair the two.
  • Tūhura Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, open 10am–5pm daily with free general admission for NZ residents (international visitors should check the museum's pricing page). It has seven permanent galleries, a hands-on science centre and a planetarium. At the time of writing its Tropical Forest was closed for maintenance and due to reopen in early December, so check before you go.

Student life in the drizzle

The University of Otago, New Zealand's oldest university (founded 1869), has around 20,000 students across its campuses, and its main campus shapes the whole north end of the city. For most students, Dunedin means walking: from flat to lecture, lecture to library, and back up the hill at night. A few practical habits help:

  • Own one pair of shoes that can handle a full wet day of walking, and a second pair to rotate so each one dries properly. Our guide to drying wet shoes without damaging them covers the flat-heater trap.
  • A compact umbrella will often lose to the wind. A hooded rain jacket is more dependable.
  • Keep a spare pair of socks in your bag for long days on campus.

St Clair and the Otago Peninsula in the wet

St Clair is about 10 minutes' drive from the city centre, with regular buses. Its refurbished sea wall gives you a wide promenade above the sand, cafés and bars to duck into, and what New Zealand's official tourism site calls the country's most consistent surf break, which is fun to watch even on a moody day. At the southern end is the St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool, an outdoor heated salt-water pool run by the city council; check the council page for its season and hours.

The Otago Peninsula is a good drive on a wet day as long as you stick to the sealed harbour-side road; some roads on the ocean side are gravel and are best left for drier weather. At the very end, the Royal Albatross Centre at Pukekura / Taiaroa Head is open year-round (closed only on Christmas Day), and its albatross viewing is from a glassed indoor observatory, which makes it one of the better wildlife options when it is raining. Dress for the wind out on the headland, though, as it is exposed.

Tunnel Beach: be honest about the track

Tunnel Beach, south of St Clair, is one of Dunedin's most photographed spots. The Department of Conservation describes the walk as about 2 km return and roughly an hour, graded easy, but with some steep sections. The return leg is a solid uphill pull. DOC also warns that the cliffs can be slippery and unstable after heavy rain, that the beach is tidal and prone to rogue waves, and that it is not a swimming beach. Check the tide times before exploring the cave and bring a torch.

It is also a track that weather has already closed: heavy rain caused large slips in October 2024, and DOC reopened it on 14 November 2025 after crews cleared slip material, improved drainage and resurfaced the track with more than 140 tonnes of gravel. Our honest advice: in steady drizzle on a resurfaced track, sturdy walking shoes are fine. After heavy rain, or if you want to scramble around the rocks, either wait for a drier day or wear proper trail shoes or hiking boots. Our guide to hiking and trail shoes covers what to look for. Stay behind the barriers to protect the coastal turf.

What to wear on your feet

For Dunedin's everyday version of wet, meaning drizzle, puddles on George Street, damp grass at the Botanic Garden and a steep walk home, a waterproof everyday sneaker is a sensible choice. We make Oszea, so take this with that in mind: our Tasman Essentials and Urban Essentials use our ZEA-TEX 4-layer construction, a breathable knit outer over a waterproof membrane, a flexible elastomer layer and a soft lining. They are built for rain, puddles and wet grass, are lightweight and vegan-friendly, and wipe clean and air dry. If you are wondering whether that means sweaty feet, we explain how waterproof shoes stay breathable.

The honest limits: they are not hiking boots or trail shoes, and they are not made for wading through water or standing in a rockpool at Tunnel Beach. For steep, muddy or rocky tracks, use a proper trail shoe or boot. Fit is true to size and neutral; size up if you have wider feet. Every pair comes with a 30-day trial and our 1-year Dry-Socks Guarantee covering waterproofing and manufacturing faults under normal everyday wear.

FAQ

What is the wettest month in Dunedin?

By number of wet days, October (about 10.5) and December (about 10.4) edge ahead in NIWA's 1991–2020 averages, but the spread is small. Every month averages between about 7.5 and 10.5 wet days, so pack for rain whenever you visit.

Does Dunedin get more rain than Christchurch?

Yes, a little. NIWA's 1991–2020 averages give Dunedin about 724 mm and 106 wet days a year, compared with about 618 mm and 83 wet days for Christchurch.

Is it safe to walk Baldwin Street in the rain?

Plenty of people do, but take it slowly, use the steps, and avoid it in heavy rain or frost. Coming down is the harder part. Wear shoes you are confident in rather than smooth soles.

Is Tunnel Beach open, and is it hard?

DOC reopened the track on 14 November 2025 after slip repairs. It is about 2 km return and roughly an hour, with steep sections and a stiff climb back up. Avoid it after heavy rain, check tides, and wear sturdy shoes or trail footwear.

What can I do in Dunedin on a rainy day?

Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (free), Tūhura Otago Museum (free general admission for NZ residents), the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on The Octagon, the St Clair promenade cafés and the indoor albatross observatory at the Royal Albatross Centre are all good wet-weather picks.

Sources

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