New Zealand Travel Weather
When Is the Best Time To Visit New Zealand?
The answer to the question of what is the best month to visit New Zealand depends on what you are interested in doing during your stay. Here you can see an overview of each month and its typical weather conditions.
Tourist Season in New Zealand
New Zealand is worth visiting during the summer months from December to February. All the islands have the best weather then for sightseeing, beachcombing, enjoying the sea and trekking. Warm, sunny and rainless days attract many tourists.
The spring period from September to November and the autumn period from March to May are also good times to visit. Although the weather is not ideal at that time, it can be capricious and surprising, humidity and precipitation increase in most areas of New Zealand, we can still count on sunny and warm days, and the rains do not hinder the vacation to a great extent.
The winter period from June to August, due to cold days and increased rains, makes travel a bit difficult. However, it is an excellent season for winter sports. The ski season is in full bloom, with snow-covered slopes and glaciers attracting winter enthusiasts from all over the world.
Tourist season month by month. Legend
Tourist season - time period with sightseeing-friendly weather (or sunbathing in the case of small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical spread, the most visited places were taken into account and the data were averaged. For selected countries, seasonal holidays were also taken into account, as long as they significantly affect the tourist traffic in this period.
The best time to travel, you can count on very good weather.
A good time to travel, however, sometimes there can be some weather conditions that make the visit a bit difficult.
Travel possible, but it is not the best time. The weather at this time can be very unpredictable, with a tendency to be bad.
Travel is not recommended, the weather at this time can make sightseeing/resting very difficult or even impossible.
Popularity among visitors based on actual visits to popular tourist attractions (based on the average for 31 cities).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average temperatures throughout a year for Wellington (°F)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
- Ski resorts including those in Queenstown and Wanaka operate year-round.
- New Zealand has strong ultraviolet (UV) radiation, so sun protection is recommended year-round.
- Watching seals and dolphins in the South Island: the best time is January and February.
Season and weather by month
March - April
Mar | Apr |
The autumn months are a favorable time to visit all regions of New Zealand. The weather in the North Island is definitely better, more often you can count on sunny, cloudless and dry days. A good time for beachcombing and water sports. On the South Island you can also count on a friendly aura, but a bit more rainy.
If you choose March for your trip, you can take part in a unique tourist attraction taking place in Masterton. This is because a sheep shearing contest is in progress at that time (the record holder stripped 750 sheep of their fur in 9 hours).
Holidays and observances in New Zealand
- 10 Mar 2025 - Taranaki Anniversary Day
- 24 Mar 2025 - Otago Anniversary Day
- 18 Apr 2025 - Good Friday
- 21 Apr 2025 - Easter Monday
- 22 Apr 2025 - Southland Anniversary Day
- 25 Apr 2025 - Anzac Day
May
May |
A month that heralds the winter period. The weather can play tricks, some sunshine some rain. The North Island is considerably less rainy, and the precipitation does not significantly impede travel. The South Island is a bit colder, precipitation intensifies, especially around Invercargill and Queenstown.
June - August
Jun | Jul | Aug |
Winter season bringing a drop in temperature, an increase in humidity and increased rains.
The South Island is more prone to weather deterioration, with snowfall and frosts possible in mountainous areas. The ideal time for skiing and other winter sports enthusiasts.
The North Island is a bit sunnier, and the rainfall that occurs there is not so intense as to significantly hamper sightseeing.
Holidays and observances in New Zealand
- 02 Jun 2025 - King's Birthday
- 20 Jun 2025 - Matariki
September - November
Sep | Oct | Nov |
Spring months heralding the return of sunny weather across the country. There may still be rains, but they are no longer as intense as in previous months.
The wettest region is Queenstown (South Island).
Holidays and observances in New Zealand
- 22 Sep 2025 - South Canterbury Anniversary Day
- 24 Oct 2025 - Hawkes' Bay Anniversary Day
- 27 Oct 2025 - Labour Day
- 03 Nov 2025 - Marlborough Anniversary Day
- 14 Nov 2025 - Canterbury Anniversary Day
December - February
Dec | Jan | Feb |
Beginning in December, summer arrives, with an increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall. This is the warmest time of the year, an ideal time to visit all regions of New Zealand. Warm, sunny weather prevails in both the North and South Island. A perfect time for beachcombing, enjoying the sea and trekking to higher elevations.
Also, lavishly celebrated festivals attract crowds of tourists. Noteworthy among them are Summer City - consisting of many cultural events and held in Wellington in late January and early February, or the Marlborough Food & Wine Festival celebrated in February in Blenheim.
Holidays and observances in New Zealand
- 25 Dec 2024 - Christmas Day
- 26 Dec 2024 - Boxing Day
- 01 Jan 2025 - New Year's Day
- 02 Jan 2025 - Day after New Year's Day
- 20 Jan 2025 - Wellington Anniversary Day
- 27 Jan 2025 - Auckland Anniversary Day
- 03 Feb 2025 - Nelson Anniversary Day
- 06 Feb 2025 - Waitangi Day
- 01 Dec 2025 - Westland Anniversary Day
Wellington
Monday 23 Dec
Humidity
88%Cloud cover
39%Wind speed
17.2 mphChance of rain
0%Wellington
Tuesday 24 DecHumidity
88%Cloud cover
72%Wind speed
16.8 mphChance of rain
0%Wellington
Wednesday 25 Dec
Humidity
82%Cloud cover
86%Wind speed
15.4 mphChance of rain
65%Wellington
Thursday 26 DecHumidity
91%Cloud cover
99%Wind speed
26.6 mphChance of rain
87%Wellington
Friday 27 DecHumidity
86%Cloud cover
67%Wind speed
30.9 mphChance of rain
100%Climate and Average Weather in New Zealand
General weather conditions each month by city.
Weather Map
The icons next to the month name indicate the convenience of the date for visiting the selected area/territory/ country. They are only a suggestion and should not be used as the final criterion for selecting your travel date. The season is defined as the time period with the weather favorable for sightseeing (or sunbathing - small island countries) for the average tourist. For countries with a large geographical range, the most touristic places were included.