Best time to go to New Zealand

When planning a trip to New Zealand, you may not know quite what to expect from the climate. Anyone who has traveled around the world will know that the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe and the United States. This is why it can all seem a little confusing when you first start thinking about it. So, when is the best time to go to New Zealand?

Unfortunately, as always, there is no straightforward answer. You can travel around the country all year round without any major concerns. It really depends on what you want to do during your trip. Whether you plan to ski, hike, or enjoy other outdoor activities makes a big difference, as some periods can be a little tricky.

In this travel tips article, I summarize everything you need to know about New Zealand’s climate in general. Then, season by season, I explain the key points to keep in mind and what traveling during each period is really like. I finish the article with a few tips on what to wear during your trip depending on the season.

For travelers on a budget, you can find the cheapest flights using this great flight comparison site, which I have been using for at least 10 years. From the US, the cheapest flights usually depart from Hawaii ($450–$500). You can also find fairly inexpensive flights from the West Coast, departing from Los Angeles or San Francisco to New Zealand, starting at around $600. From Europe, the cheapest flights generally depart from major cities such as London, Paris, and others.

Let’s get straight to the point and focus solely on the climate for your trip. As mentioned in the introduction, the most important thing to remember is that if you are coming from Europe or the US, the seasons are completely reversed. This means that June through August are the coldest months in New Zealand, while it is the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, the hottest months fall during the European and US winter, between November and February.

The country is made up of two main islands, and the climate varies significantly from one to the other. Generally speaking, the farther south you travel, the colder it gets, as is the case throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Even so, most of the country has a temperate oceanic climate.

It is also important to know that New Zealand is famous for its rapidly changing weather. Over the course of a single day, conditions can quickly shift from sunshine to hail, rain, thunderstorms, and more.

January and February are the hottest months of the year. By contrast, July and August are the coldest. On the North Island, in Auckland, for example, the average temperature ranges from 10°C in winter to 18–19°C in summer. Temperatures already drop by a few degrees as you travel farther south on the North Island toward Wellington, where the average is around 7–8°C in winter and 16–17°C in summer. Farther south, near the bottom of the South Island, average winter temperatures in Invercargill are around 5°C, rising to just 13–14°C in summer. In short, for someone like me who lives in the tropics, it is practically the North Pole!

Generally speaking, New Zealand gets a lot of rain. During the month I spent on the North Island in October, I had plenty of opportunities to see that for myself. To sum things up, the North Island receives more rain during the colder part of the year, roughly between May and October. Conversely, rainfall tends to be lighter from November to March. In the south of the country, the pattern is reversed, with heavier rainfall between November and March. As soon as you gain elevation or head farther south on the South Island, snow can fall from June through October during the winter. You therefore need to be careful when hiking in the mountains and driving on the roads.

So, if climate were the only factor to consider, the best option would be the summer period from December to February, when temperatures are warmer and the chances of rain are lower. However, once you factor in the huge number of tourists during this period and the higher prices, it becomes a different story. I discuss this in more detail below.

Here is a summary of everything you need to know about visiting New Zealand in each season. Climate, visitor numbers, activities, prices—it is all covered!

This is a period I know well, since I personally spent a month on the North Island in October 2018. Based on what I saw and the information I gathered, it is a very good time to travel around New Zealand, and I genuinely think so. The tourist season has not yet begun, as it starts in December, and it is honestly not particularly crowded apart from a few very popular tourist spots. You could still consider it the low season. Hikers should be careful, however, as some trails may remain closed because of the snow…

Weather conditions can still be fairly unstable. We experienced plenty of bad weather interspersed with good days. Rain, hail, and sunshine can all be in the forecast. The fact that I live in the tropics probably does not help, but even during the day, I rarely took off my fleece. It feels pleasant when the sun is out, but as soon as clouds roll in and the wind picks up, you need to add a layer because it quickly becomes quite cold.

To be completely honest, I camped for a month, and nighttime temperatures dropped to between 4 and 8°C in some places. This is something anyone planning to camp really needs to know. A good sleeping bag is essential. Overall, the weather is still fairly cool and can even be cold depending on the region. Prices are not particularly high, and I never had to book a single campsite in advance, which shows that tourism is far from excessive during this period.

For those traveling on a WHV (Working Holiday Visa), arriving a few months before the high season can be a good way to settle in and find work before all the other WHV travelers arrive in December.

From a climate perspective, this is the best season to visit New Zealand. Temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 20–30°C depending on the location. The days are long during this season, allowing you to make the most of your time without worrying too much about the weather.

The main thing to remember is that this is peak tourist season! As demonstrated by the introduction of the new visa required to enter the country and help regulate tourism, New Zealand is attracting more and more visitors, especially those eager to see the landscapes featured in The Lord of the Rings. Naturally, more tourism means more people on the roads, throughout the country’s national parks, and on its hiking trails. Hotels and campsites can also be fully booked long before you arrive. You may therefore need to plan your trip a little more carefully than you would during the off-season. As always, prices also rise across the board during this period.

It is also the ideal season for enjoying outdoor activities without too many difficulties, including mountain biking, bungee jumping, fishing, and kayaking. Finally, keep in mind that this is also when New Zealanders travel the most within their own country, as the school holidays continue through January. It is better to avoid the holidays if you can!

For those of you traveling on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV), this is peak season and generally the time of year when you will find the most work!

By this point in the year, the tourist crowds have usually already left, which is a real advantage. You can enjoy the landscapes and scenery at a more relaxed pace. The days become shorter, temperatures begin to fall, and the closer you get to winter in June, the more important it becomes to pack warmer clothing.

The season is still beautiful, particularly for photographers, thanks to the rich colors of autumn. Most tourist attractions remain open, as do the main hiking trails. Snow is just around the corner, but it has not arrived yet…

From a climate perspective, this is obviously the least favorable season, as the weather will be cold and windy. I was there in October, during spring, and the nights were already very chilly. I cannot really imagine camping outdoors in winter. Temperatures must fall below freezing at night, so you will need to be very well equipped! Here is my complete guide to camping in New Zealand.

This is, of course, the ideal season for winter sports enthusiasts. Many Australians travel to the country to ski during this period, so areas near the ski resorts can become quite busy…

However, the season is less suitable for travelers who want to go hiking, as many parks may be closed. It is also whale season! Prices drop considerably during this period, so you can save money if you are traveling on a budget!

As I mentioned in the introduction, there is no single best time to go. This is a very personal opinion, but I would recommend avoiding the high season, with its summer crowds. Even though temperatures are milder, I would much rather sacrifice a few degrees and avoid the tourists and the sheer number of travelers visiting at that time. For me, the best compromise would be April or May and September or October. I would also avoid winter because temperatures are fairly low, making camping around the country much more difficult.

I am planning a second trip to the country’s South Island, but I probably will not have much choice when it comes to my travel dates, so the trip will take place in December or January 2020. The climate should be fine, although the crowds may be less enjoyable… On the plus side, I will not be as cold as I was in October, especially when sleeping in a tent.

I would like to finish this article with a few words about what to pack for a stay in the country, depending on the season.

Let’s begin with the simplest season: summer, from December to February. There is nothing particularly complicated about it. Shorts and a T-shirt will be perfectly suitable during the day. However, I recommend packing a windbreaker if you plan to hike at higher elevations, along with a lightweight long-sleeved top for the evenings and nights. It will still be cooler once the sun goes down…

Temperatures begin to fall as early as autumn in March, so it is worth packing pants for the daytime and long-sleeved sweaters for the evenings. For campers, this is the time of year when you need to start preparing for cooler nights.

Winter in New Zealand should be treated as cold and wet. You will need a coat, several long-sleeved layers, a fleece, and a hat. Finally, spring is known for being unpredictable throughout the country. When I visited in October, we experienced wind, hail, and heavy downpours, but also plenty of sunshine. Even during this period, I wore my fleece and hat almost all day, every day. You have been warned!

Well, that brings me to the end of this short advice article designed to help you decide on the best time to go to New Zealand. I hope things are clearer now. Are you the kind of traveler who focuses mainly on the weather when planning a vacation? Or would you rather avoid the crowds, even if it means slightly colder temperatures? Personally, I am no longer accustomed to mountains, glaciers, winter weather, and so on. I am simply not used to the mountains anymore. Living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I naturally enjoy the Southern Hemisphere winter, the warmth, the pleasant weather, and life in a tropical environment… In any case, New Zealand can be visited all year round, so it is difficult to make a truly bad choice, isn’t it? Looking for itineraries on the North Island?

Have a great trip!

Written by Sylvain PONS

Living in French Polynesia at the time, I explored New Zealand from 2017 to 2020 during two road trips of two months each. As a family, we camped and discovered the beauty of these two islands.

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