The best time of year to visit New Zealand

Here’s what you need to know about the seasons, weather and costs.

Franz Josef in early April — blue skies but a chill wind at the summit of Alex Knob.

In December 2024 — ostensibly the start of New Zealand’s summer — I hiked through a snow storm.

Granted, I was walking over an alpine saddle on the Rees Dart track, but still. I did not expect to be whipped by 100km/hour winds with a wind chill of -7 degrees Celcius.

The moral of that story is that you never really know what the weather in New Zealand is going to do. We have summer days that feel like winter, and winter days that can feel like summer.

Overall, summer is an easier time to visit. You should have good weather most of the time, and you can just pack a lot of warm layers for colder days.

But, like most destinations, while summer is an epic time to travel New Zealand, but it also means more people and higher prices.

I’m convinced there’s no truly bad time to visit New Zealand. But I understand that if this is your trip of a lifetime, you want to make sure you have a good chance of sunny weather and solitude away from the crowds.

So, here’s what I consider to be the best time to visit New Zealand


QUICK TIPS FOR PLANNING WHEN TO VISIT

  • If you plan on visiting between late December and mid January, book accommodation early — this is peak peak season. I use Booking.com to search for most places to stay in New Zealand.

  • March is the best time to visit New Zealand if you want to enjoy warm, summer weather without the crowds of peak season (although with the caveat that the weather can always turn — this year, I found March in the South Island to be freezing!).

  • The winter months, from July to August, can be wet and gloomy but also bring snow sports to ski slopes in both the North and South Islands. This is when you should visit for a ski vacation.

  • The North and South Islands have slightly different climates. Summer is the driest time of year of some regions but the wettest for the West Coast. Winter brings rain to the North Island but crisp, clear blue days to the South.

  • You’ll need to be prepared for rain and shine, no matter what time of year you visit New Zealand. You might need a puffer jacket in summer in the South Island, and a light t-shirt during winter in the North Island. Check out my New Zealand packing list for some advice on what to pack.


The best time to visit New Zealand, weather wise

The best time to travel to New Zealand is during the warm summer months from late January to early March. During this time, summer holidays are over and the crowds are gone, but the weather is still warm and dry.

Summer days are long and bright, making it the best time to visit beaches and go hiking. The temperature usually averages around 20 - 25˚C (68 - 77˚F), and sea temperatures are warmer too, with the water hovering around 20˚C in summer.

With more daylight hours, you can see and do more. It makes activities like camping easier when the sun sets at 8pm instead of 6pm.

 
  • January — high season, with most of the country on holiday until mid-January. Early January can be very busy. Lots of places in the cities close down as everyone clocks off for summer.

  • February — typically the hottest month of the year, schools have started back by early February, so it’s a quieter month to travel than January.

  • March — usually a warm, settled weather month. Great for hiking and the high season is tapering off.

  • April — Easter is a busy travel time, with school holidays, but it’s still a good time to visit. Some beautiful clear days in the South Island.

  • May — things start shutting down, this is well and truly shoulder season, between summer and winter highs. This can be one of the cheapest months to travel.

  • June — it’s cold.

  • Julymid winter, the coldest month of the year.

  • August — ski season is well underway so Queenstown can be busy, but the rest of the country is in hibernation.

  • September — a slow month, it can still be snowing in the South Island, locals are still waiting out winter so overseas visitors can enjoy attractions to themselves.

  • October — usually cool, quickly changing spring weather. Still the shoulder season, so it’s a good time to travel if you don’t mind the cold.

  • November — spring weather can be changeable, but it’s also a great month for hiking. Still relatively quiet.

  • December — late December, between Christmas and New Year’s, is the busiest and most expensive time to travel New Zealand.

 

“The best time to travel to New Zealand is during the warm summer months from late January to early March.”

In coastal areas — which is most of New Zealand — the weather is mild all year round.

There isn’t a huge amount a variation between summer and winter in the North Island, so if you don’t mind a higher chance of rain and darker days, visiting New Zealand in winter can still be wonderful.

In the South Island, the weather is more pronounced. Queenstown especially can be cold and experience snow.

There might be other factors guiding your decision on when to visit New Zealand though, so here are a few more details on some specific activities.

 

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND FOR…

Hiking — There are plenty of hikes that you can do all year round in New Zealand, but in general summer and autumn are the best times to hike.

I love hiking in the summer months.

With longer days, there’s less pressure to set off early. I’ve left on overnight hikes at 4pm some days, knowing I have at least 4 hours to reach my destination.

Hiking in winter is a great way to get outside, but some tracks dissolve into mud. It’s a bit more challenging when it gets dark at 6pm or earlier, as you have a bit less time to be outside.

In winter, snow, ice, and avalanches can also make a lot of tracks inaccessible. River crossings also become significantly more dangerous.

The positive side of hiking in winter is that sunsets are earlier, though. It can be nice to go for a sunset walk and be back in time for dinner.

Wildflowers — December to February is when the lupins bloom in places like Lake Tekapo. I was blown away by the colours around Glenorchy in December.

December is also a great time to see the pohutukawa trees bloom in the North Island. If you are in coastal areas in the upper half of the North Island during summer, keep an eye out for the bright red blooms — New Zealand’s ‘Christmas tree.’

Snow and skiing — Most New Zealand ski fields (around Queenstown, Wanaka, Christchurch and Ohakune in the North Island ) open in June, depending on the weather. The highest snowfall is usually in July and August, and the ski season finishes in early to mid September.

Cheap prices — The cheapest time to visit New Zealand is in winter and the shoulder seasons — May to October. During the winter months (June to August) you can still see high prices in ski towns like Queenstown, but outside of the ski fields activities and accommodation are much cheaper.


Summer: The high season in New Zealand from December to February

Average temperatures range from 20 - 25˚C (68 - 77˚F)

The season of road trips, camping, hiking until 9pm in the evening, staying up late for sunset and getting up early for sunrise.

Here are a few photos from my summer road trips around New Zealand:

New Zealand summer is a special time.

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.

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).

If you want to visit New Zealand in December or January, make sure you book accommodation and activities in advance.

The weather in December and January is typically mild. February is the hottest month of the year.


Autumn shoulder season: March to May

Average temperatures: 17 - 21˚C (62 - 70˚F).

In March, the weather is usually still warm and settled. But, the crowds are fading.

This is my favourite season for hiking, with many excellent clear weather windows for higher alpine trips. The good weather usually lasts until April, but by the end of April things start to turn. May can be cold, but at least it’s quiet.

Here are some photos from my autumnal travels in the South Island:

Autumn in New Zealand is shoulder season, in between the chaos of summer holidays and the ski season. Days are typically sunny and warm well into late April.

I campervanned around the South Island for all of April and May in 2022 and it was beautiful. Evenings can get cool, but as long as you have a warm jacket and a woolly hat, it’s nothing too bad.

In the South Island, you get to enjoy all the colourful fall colours that makes these months such a great time to visit New Zealand.

Arrowtown is famous for its autumn colours. It’s an awesome time to stop by this little town and other areas like Cromwell, where you can enjoy the autumn harvest from local apple and stonefruit orchards.


The quiet winter months: June to August

  • Pros: This is the quietest and cheapest time of year in New Zealand. You can get pretty good deals on activities, and accommodation prices drop down.

  • Cons: Winter in the North Island can be grey and wet. The South Island can see clearer, sunny days, but it’s cold! You’ll need to pack more gear.

Winter in the North Island can be gloomy.

One year, we had rain every single day in Auckland for three weeks straight. It never gets too cold in the North Island though — I have been on campervan trips around Wellington and Cape Palliser in late June and was never too cold.

New Zealand has a lot of natural hot springs that are just as good, if not better, to visit in winter.

My favourite is Maruia Hot Springs in the South Island, but you can soak in natural hot springs at Kerosene Creek near Rotorua (for free!) or at the beautiful Ngawha Springs in Northland.

The South Island does get a lot colder, and there can be snow around Christchurch, Queenstown, and Southland.

A lot of hiking tracks become impossible due to snow and avalanche risks, so hikes are more limited. Several of the Great Walk tracks aren’t accessible in winter, except to highly experienced and prepared hikers.

Some hikes, like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Milford Track, are impassable in winter due to snow and avalanche risk. If you have specific hikes on your New Zealand bucket list, check whether they are walkable in the months you’ll be visiting.

If you like winter sports, winter is best time to go to Queenstown.

Queenstown comes alive with skiers and snowboarders keen to hurtle down the many different slopes around town. There’s a strong apres ski vibe, and even though the weather is cold, spirits are high.

Outside of ski towns like Queenstown and Ohakune, winter is a great time to travel New Zealand if you like to have quiet campgrounds all to yourself.


Spring and a rainy shoulder season: September to November

Average temperatures: 16 - 19˚C (61 - 66˚F).

Spring is shoulder season in New Zealand, so it’s a nice and quiet time to travel. The ski season is usually wrapped up by October, so there’s a lull before the summer holidays arrive.

This makes it a good time to visit New Zealand, if you don’t mind a few spring showers.

Spring time in New Zealand is often wet in the North island. But, the weather starts to warm up and days get longer.

By the end of September/early October, the clocks have changed to daylight savings and the sun starts to set a lot later.

Most New Zealand foliage is green all year round, so we don’t have a dramatic spring time where everything suddenly bursts into life again. But we do get a lot of flowers coming into bloom (daffodils! Lupins!) which can make the countryside prettier.

It’s also the season of lambs and calves, which can make road trips through rural areas a lot more fun.

November is the best spring month in New Zealand, with days starting to feel like summer.

Late October/November is also the start of New Zealand’s Great Walk hiking season, and the time when a lot of alpine trails start to shake free from snow and become walkable again.

If you get unlucky with the weather and it pours for a few days, some of the best activities are visiting vineyards — Waiheke if you’re near Auckland, or Gibbston Valley if you’re near Queenstown — or checking out New Zealand’s awesome food scene.


And a few resources for planning your trip:

  • I use my Wise card throughout New Zealand (even though I also have a local debit card, I travel so much I find Wise really convenient). I also use Wise whenever I travel overseas, so I can definitely recommend it as a fantastic travel card and way to manage your money in New Zealand. Learn more here >>

  • If you would like help planning your itinerary, take a look at my itinerary planning service.


Hiking the South Island in April, one of my favourite months to travel New Zealand


Thanks for reading this far! I hope this helped you decide when to visit New Zealand, although as a final note, just remember that weather in New Zealand is unpredictable all year round.

Pack layers and a flexible attitude, and you’ll have a great trip at any time of the year.

If you’re in the middle of planning your trip, you might enjoy these articles as well:

Petrina Darrah

I’m a freelance travel writer from New Zealand with bylines in National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and more.

I’ve travelled up and down beautiful Aotearoa and I love sharing my insights into the best places to visit.

If you love good food and good views, you’ve come to the right place. Browse around, and let me give you all my best local recommendations!

https://www.petrinadarrah.com/about
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