Best time to visit New Zealand

January is the second warmest month of the year and one of the best months to visit New Zealand. The balmy temperature in the North Island reaches high twenties degrees Celsius (seventy Fahrenheit). It’s time for outdoor festivals, beaches, and hiking. You can go to one of New Zealand's Great Walks, go sailing in the Bay of Islands or try surfing. Don’t forget to wear protection against harmful UVF lights. The South Island is a few degrees cooler in July. The coolest temperature can be observed in the southern part of the South Island, like Dunedin and Invercargill or inland cities and towns like Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, and Alexandra. However, it is still comfortable for hiking and outdoor activities. It’s a great time to visit glaciers and take nature-watching tours.

The last month of summer is the warmest in New Zealand with balmy temperatures on both the North and South Islands. Since it’s warm even in the mountains, February is a good time for camping. But you’ll still need to pack a light jacket because the temperature can fall to 10°C (50°F) on some nights. The warmest part of New Zealand, Northland, has perfect weather with temperatures soaring to hot levels. February is also the driest month almost everywhere in New Zealand, except for Northland and the West Coast of the South Island. But even there, rains are quite moderate. February suits well for caving and canyoning, rafting, and kayaking on both islands.

The first month of fall is still very warm and suits perfectly for visiting New Zealand. The mellow temperature in the Northland of the North Island fits for any outdoor activity. The Bay of Islands and Lake Rotorua are still good for a beach trip with swimming and fishing. Auckland and Tauranga have comfortable temperatures in March. Changing seasons are more visible in the Central Otago region of the South Island and Hawke's Bay in the North Island where fall foliage is especially picturesque. March is a great time to visit wineries and vineyards. Otago region on the South islands is known for its Pinot Noir. March is a relatively dry month for most regions with the exception of the West Coast of the South Island. In Queenstown and inland South Island areas, March is the wettest month of the year. The temperature in Dunedin and Invercargill, Alexandra, Lake Tekapo, and Queenstown is the coldest in New Zealand, but still comfortable enough to walk around in a sweater.

You can experience all four seasons in one day in New Zealand. Especially, if you come in a month like April when the weather is quite capricious and unpredictable. If you get lucky, you will witness crisp sunny weather with cloudless blue skies that is perfect for hiking and sightseeing. The temperature in the North Island can reach 20 degrees Celsius (high sixties Fahrenheit). But the nights are going to be definitely cool. So keep a warm jacket by your side. April is considered to be a perfect month for hiking in the South Island to see beautiful fall colors. Despite the fact that it is slightly colder here than on the North Island, days are still very pleasant for walking trails around Wanaka, Arrowtown, and Queenstown. There can be occasional snow in the mountains, and the temperature at night can drop to freezing level. Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, and Alexandra, as well as Dunedin and Invercargill, are the coldest at this time. April is quite dry at most areas of the South Island, except for its West Coast. Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound are very rainy. Northern New Zealand, particularly Northland, Auckland, and Tauranga also have more rains in April than other parts of the country.

May marks the transition between fall and winter months in New Zealand. It’s not a popular time to visit since many outdoor activities like hiking are not that pleasant due to colder weather, while skiing is still not available in the mountains. The weather in May is very unpredictable. It can change from sunshine to rain and snow very fast. The colder temperature require an insulated jacket and some warm clothes. North Island that is generally warmer has moderate temperatures around 15°C (57°F) while on the South Island, it can easily drop to freezing. It’s still possible to do day hikes, go fishing or cycling. It rains a little bit more on both islands in May in comparison with April. The first snow usually falls in the mountains in mid or late May.

June marks the arrival of winter in New Zealand and the high season for all winter sports. Colder temperatures are observed in the whole country. June also brings more rain to the most of the North Island and snowfall in the mountains on both North and South islands. If you plan to visit Auckland, pack an umbrella. June is a good time to visit ski resorts that start operating during this month. Coronet Peak usually opens first. On North Island skiing is popular in Ruapehu and Taranaki.South Island has ski areas in Otago, Nelson, Canterbury, Wanaka and Queenstown that always celebrates the arrival of snow. The South Island has cooler temperature than the North Island. It is also more dry here, and days are sunny and crisp. Southern Alps and are especially beautiful at this time. West Coast of the South island experiences more rains than the rest of it during June.

July is a mid-winter month in New Zealand, and visitors can witness different weather patterns at this time: sunny weather, rain, snow, and hail. However, winter on both islands is never too extreme. July is a good month to try skating, snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding in the picturesque mountain ranges of Taranaki, Otago, and Queenstown. The temperature in July ranges from below freezing in Christchurch and Queenstown on South Island to comfortable and warm in Gisborne and Whangarei on the North Island. July is quite wet in New Zealand. That especially concerns the North Island where Auckland and Wellington receive lots of rainfall. Meanwhile, On the South Island, Westport and Queenstown are quite dry in July. July is the least sunny month in New Zealand, but there are still nine hours of sunshine.

The last month of winter is considered to be the best for skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand. There is plenty of snow, and the temperature remains quite cool throughout both islands. The weather is rather cold in mountainous regions and you should wear warm insulated clothes. North Island has quite moderate temperatures in Auckland, Rotorua, New Plymouth, and Wellington, especially during the day. South Island also has warm weather in Nelson and Christchurch and a few degrees cooler air in Queenstown and Invercargill. It is raining quite often, but not too much. Snow is typical for higher elevations in August. Some areas can also experience flooding. Days get longer stretching to 11 hours of daylight by the end of the month.

September brings more sunny weather, longer days and warmer temperatures. The skiing season is still going on in the mountains, at least in the beginning of the month. By the end of the month, the snow is melting actively kicking off the exciting white water rafting on New Zealand rivers. However, the main activity during this month is visiting blossoming valleys and admiring spring blooms. Air temperature quickly rises to comfortable levels on both islands reaching the mid to high teens. However sudden polar cold waves and freezing nights are still possible. September is the month when you can see “four seasons in one day”. September is not too rainy in New Zealand. Most places get as much rain in September as during winter months. Queenstown is a bit more rainy than usual during this month.

The second month of spring brings mellow and warm weather to New Zealand. It’s a perfect time for sightseeing, hiking or any kind of outdoor activity. The ski season is over by this time, however, there are still plenty of wild blooms to check out in all areas. The Wellington has its best weather in October. However, mind the strong winds. All major areas of New Zealand enjoy comfortable temperatures in high teens Celsius. October is a quite wet month, with more rainfall than in September almost in all areas of New Zealand.

November is a warm and dry month in New Zealand that marks the transition from spring to summer. It’s a great month for hiking, sightseeing, kayaking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. 15 hours of daylight will help you to squeeze maximum fun out of 24 hours. Pack a light jacket for colder nights, during the days it would be t-shirt weather. Day temperatures stay in high 20 degrees Celsius (up to 70s Fahrenheit). In places like Christchurch, Tauranga, Gisborne, and Nelson temperature can rise to quite hot. November is not a wet month and less rainy than October, but some days still might be rather rainy. In Queenstown, for instance, it’s quite rainy all spring. Whangarei is also rather wet in November.

December marks the beginning of beach season in New Zealand. Combine it with the Christmas holidays, and you’ll get a perfect combination. Visit Tauranga that offers many surf beaches as well as Gisborne on North Island. December provides hot temperatures perfect for sunbathing and swimming. However, keep in mind that the water around New Zealand is never really warm. Also, wear plenty of UV protection and keep in mind that the South Island gets strong north-western winds during December. December is perfect for hiking in the mountains that receive hot temperatures during the day but can get chilly at night. December is the wettest summer month, however, the amount of rain is not that large. You will get plenty of sunny days to spend time outdoors and enjoy the beautiful nature.