What sort of weather can I expect on my tour?
New Zealand does experience the four distinctive seasons. Officially these are:
- Summer: December, January and February
- Autumn: March, April and May
- Winter: June, July and August
- Spring: September, October and November
What sort of temperatures and conditions does each season produce?
- Summer: Expect an average high of 25 C (76 F) in the north to around 22 C (72 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 13 C (55 F) in the north to 12 C (54 F) in the south.
- Autumn: Expect an average high of 20 C (68 F) in the north to around 17 C (63 F) in the south. Average lows (evening time) are 11 C (52 F) in the north to 7 C (45 F) in the south.
- Winter: Expect an average high of 15 C (59 F) in the north to around 10 C (50 F) in the south.
Average lows (evening time) are 6 C (43 F) in the north to 2 C (35 F) in the south. - Spring: Expect an average high of 18 C (65 F) in the north to around 16 C (61 F) in the south.
Average lows (evening time) are 9 C (48 F) in the north to 7 C (45 F) in the south.
| Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter | |||||
| Sep, Oct, Nov | Dec, Jan, Feb | Mar, Apr, May | Jun, Jul, Aug | |||||
| High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | |
| Bay of Islands | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 19 | 9 | 25 | 14 | 21 | 11 | 16 | 7 |
| Temperature (F) | 67 | 48 | 76 | 56 | 70 | 52 | 61 | 45 |
| Rain Days/Season | 11 | 7 | 11 | 16 | ||||
| Auckland | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 18 | 11 | 24 | 12 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 9 |
| Temperature (F) | 65 | 52 | 75 | 54 | 68 | 55 | 59 | 48 |
| Rain Days/Season | 12 | 8 | 11 | 15 | ||||
| Rotorua | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 17 | 7 | 24 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 4 |
| Temperature (F) | 63 | 45 | 75 | 54 | 68 | 55 | 59 | 48 |
| Rain Days/Season | 11 | 9 | 9 | 13 | ||||
| Wellington | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 15 | 9 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 6 |
| Temperature (F) | 59 | 48 | 68 | 55 | 63 | 52 | 54 | 43 |
| Rain Days/Season | 11 | 7 | 10 | 13 | ||||
| Christchurch | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 17 | 7 | 22 | 12 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 3 |
| Temperature (F) | 63 | 45 | 72 | 54 | 65 | 46 | 54 | 37 |
| Rain Days/Season | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||
| Queenstown | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 16 | 5 | 22 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| Temperature (F) | 61 | 41 | 72 | 50 | 61 | 43 | 50 | 34 |
| Rain Days/Season | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | ||||
Rainfall
Generally speaking, rainfall days are consistent throughout the year at between 7 and 11 days per month but regions such as the West Coast and Fiordland do get drier during the winter months.
Snow
The North Island only gets snow on the high central plateau around Tongariro National Park (the Whakapapa and Turoa Ski fields) and on a few other high peaks such as Mt Egmont/Taranaki. In the South Island almost everywhere can experience snow. Stewart Island also gets snow in winter but not often. Canterbury, Otago and Southland generally get the most snow and this is why most of the ski resorts are based here.
You can check long range forecasts for weather on the New Zealand Metservice Website here.
Take a look through our blogs for some great ideas on touring around New Zealand.
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