When is the best time to go to New Zealand?
New Zealand is a country that can be visited throughout the entire year, yet despite this, the dry season still coincides with the peak tourist season, which runs from November to April. The largest of crowds are most often observed between the last ten days of December and at the end of January. Simply put, this period corresponds perfectly with the school holidays. In addition, New Zealand features many cultural events such as the Christmas season, "boxing day" and the traditional New Year celebrations. For this reason, it is always advisable to book in advance as hotels and transport companies are often sold out. For resorts, the southern winter is the low tourist season; taking account of the cold and the abundance of rain. However, it is the favorite time of the year for snow sports enthusiasts. This explains the high rate of attendance at ski resorts, which are among the most famous in the southern hemisphere. Choosing the right time to visit New Zealand depends solely on the desires of the traveller.
So, when is the best time to go to New Zealand? Here's some more information to help you in your decision:
- The best months to go to Auckland are January, February, March, April, May, October and November
- On average, the warmest months in Auckland are January, February, March and December, and the coldest months are July, August and September
- The rainiest months in this city are May, June and July
- The cities with the best climate are Gisborne, Hastings and Wairoa, with good weather at least 8 months a year
- The best months for swimming in Auckland are February and March
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in New Zealand for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Average temp. | Rainfall | Our opinion | View Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C to 23°C | 117mm | bad to good* | New Zealand in january |
| February | 12°C to 23°C | 97mm | bad to perfect* | New Zealand in february |
| March | 10°C to 22°C | 92mm | bad to good* | New Zealand in march |
| April | 6°C to 20°C | 119mm | very bad to good* | New Zealand in april |
| May | 3°C to 18°C | 145mm | very bad to good* | New Zealand in may |
| June | 2°C to 16°C | 142mm | very bad to tolerable* | New Zealand in june |
| July | 1°C to 15°C | 133mm | very bad to tolerable* | New Zealand in july |
| August | 2°C to 15°C | 139mm | very bad to tolerable* | New Zealand in august |
| September | 3°C to 16°C | 146mm | very bad to tolerable* | New Zealand in september |
| October | 4°C to 18°C | 126mm | very bad to good* | New Zealand in october |
| November | 6°C to 20°C | 90mm | very bad to good* | New Zealand in november |
| December | 9°C to 22°C | 138mm | bad to good* | New Zealand in december |
When to go to New Zealand by city
Best time to go to Auckland
The best months to go to Auckland are january, february, march, april, may, october and november.
Best time to go to Christchurch
The best months to go to Christchurch are january, february, march, april, november and december.
Best time to go to Wellington
The best months to go to Wellington are january, february, march, april and december.
Climate and Weather in New Zealand
Best time to go to Auckland
The best months to go to Auckland are january, february, march, april, may, october and november.
Best time to go to Christchurch
The best months to go to Christchurch are january, february, march, april, november and december.
Best time to go to Wellington
The best months to go to Wellington are january, february, march, april and december.
On the Pacific Ocean near Australia, New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere and therefore portrays reversed seasons than those found in the northern hemisphere. The latter is determined by latitude and therefore the weather experiences not only a semi-tropical climate, but also a temperate one. Divided into two main islands, New Zealand experiences a varied weather that is greatly influenced by both the ocean and its neighbor, the Antarctic. The northern parts of the island are thus undoubtedly cooler and wetter than its southern neighbors. However remarkably, almost all of the country has more than 2000 hours of sunshine combined per year!
The Climate on the North Island of New Zealand
The northern island, also known as the “smoking island” enjoys a subtropical climate, especially in its farther north. The climate in New Zealand varies widely within the same day, similarly to neighboring Melbourne in Australia, namely due to the influences of the sea and mountains. There is a very large dose of sunshine to the east of the northern island, particularly towards Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.
Around the Auckland area, in the North island, the climate is hot and humid and especially so in summer. Winter in turn enjoys a smooth pleasant climate, despite the general humidity. Overall, the rain falls throughout the most part of the year, just as obliged by a subtropical climate, but they are of a significant importance in the winter.
Climate of the South Island of New Zealand
The south island, also called the “Island of Jade”, has a fairly temperate climate that can become very cold in the extreme south, especially towards the mountains. It is not uncommon to experience all four seasons all in one day in this part of the country. Less humid in this part of New Zealand, it is actually particularly dry in the east, even if there exists a tendency for a little more humidity on the North Island, to the west.
Fresh, this island frequently sees snow falling in the south, with cold winds and high humidity, which make these temperatures even more difficult to bear. In Invercargill in particular, the temperatures reach below freezing very often.
In Christchurch, a tourist attraction on the coast, the climate is in turn quite dry and can benefit from both warm summers and cold winters. Just like on the North Island, rain falls all year long, but more so in the winter.
Temperatures and rainfall in New Zealand
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of New Zealand and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and Dunedin, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities..
Where to go in New Zealand?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
Legend:
Map of New Zealand
Hover over cities for information about the weather.
cities in New Zealand (Hover over the icons for more information on the weather)About New Zealand
What can I do in New Zealand?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for New Zealand reliable?
Climate data for New Zealand has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for New Zealand allows us to determine the average for each month in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hokitika, Invercargill, and 46 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.
