Te Araroa from Whanganui to Wellington combines lowland roads and rivers with a committing Tararua tops section, then the windy Kāpiti Coast and Wellington hills. January and February typically bring warmer days, long daylight, and a higher likelihood of finding a clear window to cross the range. Outside those months the pattern is changeable, with alternating sunshine and showers, occasional heavy rain, and gusty spells; conditions on the tops turn quickly, while coastal sections swing between bright, breezy days and cloudier, wet periods.