New Zealand climate information
New Zealand information supplied by our colleagues at Experience New Zealand, experts in personalised New Zealand itinerary planning.
New Zealand climate summary
The first thing you need to know about New Zealand's climate is that its seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
| Summer | December to February |
| Autumn | March to May |
| Winter | June to August |
| Spring | September to November |
New Zealand comprises two long thin islands that run north-south and, as such, there is a noticeable difference in the climates of the top of the North Island, which is sub-tropical, and the bottom of the South Island, which is temperate. Overall, however, New Zealand's is a very mild climate making it a suitable holiday destination all year round.
| Summer | Average maximum temperature: 20°-25°C (68°-77°F) |
| Winter | Average maximum temperature: 10°-15°C (50°-60°F) |
Main centre temperatures and rain days
Here are the summer and winter average maximum and minimum temperatures and monthly rain days for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
| City | Summer | Winter |
| Auckland | Ave. high: 23.8°C (75°F) Ave. low: 16.4°C (61°F) Ave. rain days per month: 10 |
Ave. high: 14.7°C (58°F) Ave. low: 8.0°C (46°F) Ave. rain days per month: 13 |
| Wellington | Ave. high: 20.3°C (69°F) Ave. low: 13.4°C (56°F) Ave. rain days per month: 9 |
Ave. high: 11.3°C (52°F) Ave. low: 6.2°C (43°F) Ave. rain days per month: 11 |
| Christchurch | Ave. high: 22.5°C (73°F) Ave. low: 12.2°C (54°F) Ave. rain days per month: 7 |
Ave. high: 11.3°C (52°F) Ave. low: 1.7°C (35°F) Ave. rain days per month: 7 |
| Queenstown | Ave. high: 22.5°C (73°F) Ave. low: 10.7°C (51°F) Ave. rain days per month: 8 |
Ave. high: 8.1°C (46°F) Ave. low: 0.1°C (32°F) Ave. rain days per month: 8 |
What to wear in New Zealand
New Zealand is typically an informal place so bring plenty of comfortable, casual clothes. Most bars and restaurants do have a dress code but it is typically 'smart casual'.
In summer, we recommend packing a light jacket and sweater just in case the weather turns cool.
With so many outdoor activities available, swimming gear, hiking shoes, rainwear, and sunglasses are recommended, as is plenty of sunscreen. Due to the hole in the ozone layer above New Zealand, the sun is more harmful here than anywhere else in the world so sunscreen lotion is a must. So please use sunscreen every time you are out in the sun, even if it is just for fifteen minutes.
