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.
What do you dislike more — crowded places or cold weather?
Trying to figure out when to visit New Zealand can be a balancing act between high prices and crowded sights, and cold, wet, windy weather.
Like most destinations, summer is an epic time to travel New Zealand, but it also means more people and higher prices.
I’ve spent a lot of time travelling New Zealand in summer — that’s when we have our big chunk of holidays at the end of the year. But I’ve also been around the country in winter. And spring. And autumn.
I’m convinced there’s no truly bad time to visit New Zealand. At any time of year, you’ll be able to enjoy the landscapes and outdoor activities that make our little South Pacific island so special.
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, I’m here to help. Here’s what I consider to be the best time to visit New Zealand
QUICK TIPS FOR PLANNING WHEN TO VISIT
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.
You can hike in New Zealand all year round, but alpine trails are often inaccessible in winter.
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.
And a few resources for planning your trip:
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The best time to visit New Zealand, weather wise
A summer morning on Waiheke Island
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.
Usually January or February are the hottest months of the year in New Zealand.
July, which is mid winter, is the coldest month of the year.
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.
What do you want to do in New Zealand?
When you visit might depend on what experiences you want the most.
The best time to visit New Zealand for snow and skiing
Most New Zealand ski fields 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.
Queenstown, Wanaka, Christchurch and Ohakune in the North Island are fun snow sport destinations, close to epic ski slopes. In the winter months, these ski towns are more lively than a lot of other parts of New Zealand, with apres ski bringing a fun vibe — especially in Queenstown.
The best time to go hiking in New Zealand
Hiking in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in late March
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.
The best time to visit New Zealand for wild flowers
Lake Tekapo at the end of March
If you’re hoping to see fields of colourful wild flowers in New Zealand, the best time to visit is between December to February. Between these months, lupins bloom around Central Otago in places like Lake Tekapo.
December is also a great time to see the pohutukawa trees bloom in the North Island, though.
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.’
When is the cheapest time to visit New Zealand?
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.
June to September is when you’re likely to find the cheapest international flights to New Zealand.
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.
Summer high season in New Zealand: December to February
Average temperatures range from 20 - 25˚C (68 - 77˚F)
Best for: 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.
Downsides: Busy, expensive, and you need to book in advance.
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
The best time for lower prices and quieter campgrounds
Season: Autumn/Fall
Average temperatures: 17 - 21˚C (62 - 70˚F).
Pros: Autumn colours are beautiful in the South Island, and the weather can be more settled.
Cons: By late April, days start to get shorter and it’s colder than summer.
Autumn colours in Arrowtown
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
Season: Spring
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.
Read more about New Zealand weather by month:
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.
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