Wellington earns its reputation as one of the world's windiest cities, with gales sweeping through the Cook Strait year-round and demanding windproof layers even on sunny days.

Rain falls reliably throughout the year with no true dry season, meaning a waterproof jacket isn't optional luggage but essential daily kit.

Temperatures remain relatively mild, ranging from around 6°C on winter mornings to 20°C on summer afternoons, rarely reaching extremes in either direction.

The near-constant wind creates a penetrating chill that makes the thermometer lie—what reads as 15°C feels considerably colder once the southerlies arrive.

Layering isn't fashion advice here but survival strategy, as the city can cycle through four seasons' worth of conditions between breakfast and lunch.