A New Zealand summer itinerary: How to make the most of New Zealand’s best season
Summer means barbecues and beach days in New Zealand. It’s also conveniently when the northern hemisphere is in the depths of winter, making it an awesome time to visit Aotearoa.
Average temperatures range from 20 - 25˚C (68 - 77˚F)
Pros of visiting in summer: Fun, lively time with lots of music festivals and long sunny days. I love hiking in summer because you have so much more time to get to your destination.
Cons of visiting in summer: Busy, expensive, and you need to book in advance.
Summer in New Zealand is a time of celebration.
With Christmas and New Year’s falling in our summer season, we spend most of December gearing up for a long summer holiday, then most of the country clocks off between late December and mid-January.
As the weather gets warmer, barbecues and camping equipment are rolled out, we head to the beach after work, and spend weekends on road trips.
Summer is the season of ice cream and fish and chips, getting a jandal (flip-flop) tan, and spending long afternoons drinking cold beers on the deck.
If you’re thinking about visiting New Zealand in summer, here’s an itinerary that takes in some of the best of the country.
A few things you need to know if you’re planning to travel New Zealand in summer
Summer is the busiest and most expensive time to visit New Zealand. Book as far in advance as you can, as some areas (like Mt Cook) will have no availability and you might miss out.
Over Christmas and New Year’s, you need to book early to secure accommodation and rental vehicles.
Summer is hot but rarely sweltering in New Zealand — our climate means cool evening breezes, so pack warm layers.
Rain and bad weather can still happen.
New Zealand summer weather
Seasons in New Zealand are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere, so the New Zealand summer months are December, January, and February.
The summer weather usually continues until the end of March. This makes late February and March a great time to visit New Zealand, as the summer rush dies down a little but the days are still warm and bright.
New Zealand experiences a range of temperatures in the summer months from December to February, but the average mid-summer temperature is 23 °C or 74°F. February is the hottest month of the year.
As New Zealand mostly has a maritime climate with cooling coastal breezes, it rarely gets extremely hot in summer. Temperatures above 30°C (86°F) are rare.
In the North Island, you can expect average daytime temperatures to range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F) during the summer. Auckland and Wellington, for example, often have temperatures in the mid-20s (mid-70s Fahrenheit).
The South Island tends to be slightly cooler than the North Island during the summer in coastal areas, while inland areas can experience higher temperatures.
The hottest summer temperature ever in New Zealand was recorded in the South Island, with 42°C recorded in Rangiora near Christchurch in 1973.
In places like Fiordland and the Southern Alps, temperatures can be cooler, especially at higher elevations. You might encounter temperatures in the teens or low 20s Celsius (around 60-70°F) in these regions during the summer.
However, New Zealand's climate varies significantly from north to south and between the east and west coasts.
For example, the North Island's eastern regions, like Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, tend to be sunnier and drier, while the West Coast of the South Island is known for its lush rainforests and higher rainfall in summer.
While summer is generally drier than other seasons in New Zealand, there can still be occasional rain, especially in the western regions of both islands.
The eastern parts of the South Island, such as Marlborough and Central Otago, are known for their sunny and dry summers.
New Zealand experiences long daylight hours during the summer, with some areas getting up to 15 hours of daylight per day.
This is great for enjoying the beach well into the evening, but beware that New Zealand experiences high levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, especially during the summer months.
Sunburn in New Zealand is ferocious.
It pays to wear breezy, long sleeved shirts so you can cover up as much skin as possible. I even swim in a surf suit (essentially a one piece swim suit with long sleeves) to keep as much skin covered as possible while in the water.
New Zealand summer itinerary: A rough plan to make the most of summer
Both the North and the South Island are fabulous to visit in summer. The North Island has fantastic beaches in places like the Bay of Islands, Gisborne, and the far north.
Hiking the mountain ranges in the South Island is more accessible in summer than in the colder months, making summer the time to explore Mount Aspiring National Park, Nelson Lakes National Park, and other wilderness areas.
This itinerary takes in some of the best beaches in New Zealand, across the North and South Islands, which are wonderful to enjoy when it is warm enough to swim.
The best places to go in New Zealand summer are by the beach.
Not only because you can enjoy the beautiful water and bays, but because New Zealand culture is so beachy. Heading to small beach towns will give you real insight into what life is like in New Zealand.
This summer itinerary is also very hiking focused — longer hours and warmer weather means lots of hiking in New Zealand.
It skips places like Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and Tekapo, which are very busy in summer, but you could modify it to stop by those places on the way back to Christchuch.
DAY 1: Arrive in Auckland
DAY 2: Visit the Coromandel
DAY 3: Explore the Coromandel beaches
DAY 4: Fly to Nelson and head to Abel Tasman National Park
DAY 5: Abel Tasman exploration
DAY 6: Drive from Nelson to Punakaiki
DAY 7: Drive Punakaiki to Franz Josef
DAY 8: Franz Josef area
DAY 9: Drive through Haast Pass to Wanaka
DAY 10: Wanaka
DAY 11: Queenstown
DAY 12-14: Queenstown and surrounds
Day 2: Head to the Coromandel
The busiest parts of New Zealand in summer tend to be the spots where New Zealanders go on holiday.
The Coromandel Peninsula, for example, is the go-to beach destination for Aucklanders who live just two hours away.
These destinations are great for visitors to explore, and it’s awesome to holiday alongside locals, but just be prepared for busier beaches and campgrounds.
Day 5: Exploring Abel Tasman National Park
It’s hard to fully express the beauty of Abel Tasman’s beaches — you really have to see them to believe the golden colour of the sand and the rich green of the water.
Summer is high season for the park, so the beaches and trails closer to the Marahau end will be busy. But hike far enough, or catch a water taxi, and you can still find beaches to yourself.
The great thing about Abel Tasman National Park in summer is that if you get hot, you can just go for a swim. You can also kayak around the coves.
Totaranui campground gets busy over summer, with many families from Christchurch choosing to spend their summer holidays here. But there are many other, smaller campgrounds along the coast.
Head to the northern end of Abel Tasman National Park for hiking and camping without the crowds. I camped at Mutton Cove Campsite for several nights in early January, and while there were (relatively) a lot of people there, it was still serene.
What to expect from visiting New Zealand in summer
For us, this is our Christmas and New Year season, so December is a time when everyone is super happy and winding down their work year, looking forward to a long break (we love to take holidays in New Zealand).
Most workplaces have a closedown period of around three weeks over this time, and schools have holidays for around six weeks.
Christmas is when everyone heads to the beach, kicking back with barbecues and beers. New Years is the main festive season, with festivals ringing in the new year around the country.
For visitors, it can be tricky. A lot of accommodation is booked up well in advance, and some attractions might be closed. It’s also the busiest time of year pretty much anywhere except in the cities (everyone is at the beach instead).
Summer is a great time to try New Zealand food.
Barbecued sausages and fish and chips by the beach are local classics, but summer is also the time when you’ll find fresh sweet corn, delicious when grilled, and a bounty of fruits. I love summer cherries and avocados, which taste of summertime goodness.
Summer is lavender season, and also the time of year when lupins bloom around Lake Tekapo.
If you’re interested in astro-photography or star gazing, the skies also look different at night between summer and winter. In winter the Milky Way core is much brighter, giving photos the classic white sweep of stars.
In summer however, the Milky Way is fainter but celestial objects like planets and endless starry skies take front and centre.
It’s also easier to stargaze in winter as night draws in faster — you’ll have to be more of a night owl to stargaze in summer.
During the summer months, there are more festivals. The sunny weather invites more dancing throughout the night, so these are the best months to attend music and arts festivals around the country.
What to pack for New Zealand in summer
Packing for New Zealand in summer is easier than packing for winter, but you still need to be prepared for a range of weather conditions.
You might spend most days in t-shirts and shorts, but you might also get torrential rain and cool evenings.
My go-to summer wardrobe tends to be lightweight long-sleeve shirts that protect me from the sun, shorts, and a warm jumper and long pants for evenings.
T-shirts, tank tops, and lightweight long-sleeved shirts for sun protection.
Shorts and comfortable pants for hiking and outdoor activities.
A swimsuit for beach outings and water activities.
Lightweight, breathable layers for variable weather conditions.
A lightweight jacket or windbreaker for cooler evenings or sudden rain showers.
A sweater or fleece for cooler regions or higher elevations. It can still get chilly overnight in New Zealand summer.
Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots for outdoor adventures.
Flip-flops or sandals for beach outings and casual strolls. You can wear flip flops around towns too.
Sunscreen with high SPF (for New Zealand's strong UV rays).
Sunglasses with UV protection.
A wide-brimmed hat or cap for sun protection.
New Zealand weather by month
For a full break down of New Zealand weather by month, you might like to check out these pages:
Thanks for reading this far! If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand, you might enjoy some of my other posts:
Find out what to do on Waiheke Island
Plan a long summer lunch at a Waiheke restaurant
