What is the golden hour time in Wellington in October?

Golden hour in Wellington in October begins at sunrise (average 06:32) and lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, and again begins about 30 to 60 minutes before sunset (average 19:42).

Wellington Sunrise & Sunset: October 2026

Day-by-day sunrise and sunset times with golden hour data

In Wellington in October, sunrise averages 06:32 and sunset averages 19:42. Days are getting longer through October at Wellington's latitude of -41.3°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.

Avg Sunrise

06:32

Avg Sunset

19:42

Avg Daylight

13h 10m

SeptemberOctober 2026November

Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: Wellington

Date	Day	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Golden Hour
10/01	Thu	06:57	19:26	12h 30m	07:33 – 18:50
10/02	Fri	06:55	19:27	12h 32m	07:31 – 18:51
10/03	Sat	06:53	19:28	12h 35m	07:30 – 18:52
10/04	Sun	06:52	19:29	12h 38m	07:28 – 18:53
10/05	Mon	06:50	19:30	12h 41m	07:26 – 18:54
10/06	Tue	06:48	19:32	12h 43m	07:25 – 18:55
10/07	Wed	06:47	19:33	12h 46m	07:23 – 18:56
10/08	Thu	06:45	19:34	12h 49m	07:22 – 18:57
10/09	Fri	06:43	19:35	12h 51m	07:20 – 18:58
10/10	Sat	06:42	19:36	12h 54m	07:18 – 18:59
10/11	Sun	06:40	19:37	12h 57m	07:17 – 19:00
10/12	Mon	06:38	19:38	13h 00m	07:15 – 19:01
10/13	Tue	06:37	19:39	13h 02m	07:14 – 19:02
10/14	Wed	06:35	19:40	13h 05m	07:12 – 19:03
10/15	Thu	06:34	19:41	13h 08m	07:10 – 19:05
10/16	Fri	06:32	19:42	13h 10m	07:09 – 19:06
10/17	Sat	06:30	19:44	13h 13m	07:07 – 19:07
10/18	Sun	06:29	19:45	13h 16m	07:06 – 19:08
10/19	Mon	06:27	19:46	13h 18m	07:04 – 19:09
10/20	Tue	06:26	19:47	13h 21m	07:03 – 19:10
10/21	Wed	06:24	19:48	13h 24m	07:02 – 19:11
10/22	Thu	06:23	19:49	13h 26m	07:00 – 19:12
10/23	Fri	06:21	19:51	13h 29m	06:59 – 19:13
10/24	Sat	06:20	19:52	13h 32m	06:57 – 19:14
10/25	Sun	06:19	19:53	13h 34m	06:56 – 19:15
10/26	Mon	06:17	19:54	13h 37m	06:55 – 19:17
10/27	Tue	06:16	19:55	13h 40m	06:53 – 19:18
10/28	Wed	06:14	19:56	13h 42m	06:52 – 19:19
10/29	Thu	06:13	19:58	13h 45m	06:51 – 19:20
10/30	Fri	06:12	19:59	13h 47m	06:50 – 19:21
10/31	Sat	06:10	20:00	13h 50m	06:48 – 19:22

Daylight Hours Throughout the Year

October Sunrise & Sunset in Wellington: Complete Monthly Guide

In October 2026, Wellington has an average of 13h 10m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 06:57 at the start of the month to 06:10 at the end, while sunset shifts from 19:26 to 20:00.

October in Wellington brings lengthening spring days in the southern hemisphere. Average sunrise in October is 06:32 and average sunset is 19:42. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.

Day Length Variation in October

Day length in Wellington in October changes throughout the month. Near the solstices (June 21 for the northern hemisphere, December 21 for the southern hemisphere), day length changes very slowly, less than 1 minute per day. Near the equinoxes (March 20 and September 22), day length changes rapidly, gaining or losing 2 to 4 minutes per day depending on latitude.

At Wellington's latitude of -41.3°, the rate of day length change in October is approximately 2 to 3 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in Wellington shifts by approximately 40 to 60 minutes over the course of October.

Golden Hour in Wellington in October

Golden hour in Wellington in October occurs twice each day: in the morning shortly after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. The duration depends on the sun's angle of elevation above the horizon, which varies with latitude and month. In Octoberat Wellington's latitude of -41.3°, golden hour lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes.

For photographers planning shoots in Wellington in October: plan to arrive at your location 30 to 40 minutes before the listed sunrise time to capture blue hour before golden hour begins. The transition from blue hour to golden hour creates the most dramatic color sequences. Evening golden hour in October begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.

Blue Hour and Twilight in Wellington in October

Civil twilight in Wellington in October begins before sunrise and ends after sunset, creating windows of usable natural light even outside the official sunrise-to-sunset window. Civil twilight occurs when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical twilight spans 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Astronomical twilight spans 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon.

The total twilight window in Wellington in October extends the usable light day by approximately 60 to 90 minutes beyond the sunrise-to-sunset window. This extended twilight is valuable for photographers who want to shoot in soft, diffused light without harsh shadows.

Photography Tips for October in Wellington

Shooting in Wellington in October requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in October:

Blue hour: ISO 800 to 1,600; aperture f/8; shutter speed 10 to 30 seconds on tripod.
Golden hour: ISO 100 to 400; aperture f/8 to f/16 for landscapes, or f/1.8 to f/2.8 for portraits; shutter speed 1/250 to 1/1,000s handheld.
Post-sunrise (30 minutes after): ISO 100; aperture f/11; shutter speed 1/500 to 1/2,000s.

In October, Wellington's weather patterns affect photography conditions. Check cloud cover forecasts the evening before a planned shoot: a thin layer of clouds above the horizon creates more dramatic golden and orange tones than a clear sky. Fully overcast conditions produce flat, diffused light that is good for portraits but lacks the dramatic quality of golden hour. Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic conditions.

About This Monthly Sunrise Data

All sunrise and sunset times in this October table for Wellington are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of Wellington (-41.2866°, 174.7756°) and the local timezone (Pacific/Auckland). Times are accurate to within 1 minute and account for atmospheric refraction.

The times shown are for the center of the sun crossing the horizon. Sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the mathematical horizon. Sunset is when the upper limb disappears below the horizon. Both definitions account for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent position of the sun by approximately 0.5 to 1 degree near the horizon.

Frequently Asked Questions: October Sunrise & Sunset in Wellington

What is the average sunrise time in Wellington in October?

The average sunrise time in Wellington in October 2026 is approximately 06:32. This is based on the mid-month calculation for Wellington at latitude -41.29° and longitude 174.78°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 06:57 on the first of the month to 06:10 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.

How many hours of daylight does Wellington get in October?

Wellington receives an average of 13h 10m of daylight per day in October 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 12h 30m on the first of the month to 13h 50m on the last day.

What is the earliest sunrise in Wellington in October?

The earliest sunrise in Wellington in October 2026 occurs on 2026-10-31 at 06:10. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-10-01 at 06:57.

What time is golden hour in Wellington in October?

Golden hour in Wellington in October occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (06:32 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (19:42 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.

Is October a good time to photograph sunrise in Wellington?

October is spring in Wellington's southern hemisphere location. Sunrise at 06:32 provides a reasonable start time for photography.

When does civil twilight start in Wellington in October?

Civil twilight in Wellington in October begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At Wellington's latitude of -41.3°, civil twilight in October starts around 06:07 in the morning. Civil twilight provides enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting and is considered the beginning of the usable photography window each day.

Back to Wellington