Weather by month for central New Zealand, the best months to go and how New Zealand's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jan, Feb, Mar
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 17°C to 19°C · 8–10 rain days
Apr, Nov, Dec
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 15°C to 17°C · 10–13 rain days
Jul, Aug
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs 11°C · 12–13 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 19°C / 14°C | 8 days (62 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 8.5/10 |
| Best month: February | 19°C / 14°C | 8 days (95 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: March | 17°C / 13°C | 10 days (92 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| April | 15°C / 11°C | 10 days (113 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 6.5/10 |
| May | 13°C / 10°C | 11 days (125 mm) | 7.4 h/day | 5.4/10 |
| June | 11°C / 8°C | 11 days (120 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 4.2/10 |
| July | 11°C / 7°C | 12 days (133 mm) | 6.9 h/day | 3.7/10 |
| August | 11°C / 7°C | 13 days (137 mm) | 8.1 h/day | 3.8/10 |
| September | 12°C / 8°C | 13 days (99 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 4.3/10 |
| October | 14°C / 9°C | 13 days (102 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 5.4/10 |
| November | 15°C / 11°C | 13 days (106 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 6.0/10 |
| December | 17°C / 12°C | 12 days (95 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 7.3/10 |
Figures for central New Zealand; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
19°C / 14°C · 8 rain days · 12.5 h sun
January is the top month, with a score of 8.5 and a 'best' verdict. Highs reach 19°C and lows 13.9°C, the warmest of the year. Expect about 8 rain days and 62 mm of rain, the driest month in the data, plus 12.5 sun hours.
19°C / 14°C · 8 rain days · 11.1 h sun
February is almost as good, scoring 8.3 with a 'best' verdict. Highs stay near 18.7°C with lows of 13.7°C. Rain rises a little to about 8 rain days and 95 mm, and you still get 11.1 sun hours.
17°C / 13°C · 10 rain days · 10.1 h sun
March is the last 'best' month, scoring 7.6. Highs fall to 17.4°C and lows to 12.7°C. Rain days climb to about 10, with 92 mm, but 10.1 sun hours keep it a strong choice.
15°C / 11°C · 10 rain days · 8.9 h sun
April is rated 'good' with a score of 6.5. It is cooler, with highs of 15.2°C and lows of 11.1°C. Expect about 10 rain days and 113 mm of rain, with 8.9 sun hours. Pack layers.
13°C / 10°C · 11 rain days · 7.4 h sun
May scores 5.4, an 'ok' month. Highs drop to 13.4°C and there are about 11 rain days, with 125 mm of rain. Sun falls to 7.4 hours. Go only if cool, wetter weather does not bother you.
11°C / 8°C · 11 rain days · 6.8 h sun
June is 'ok' but only just, scoring 4.2. Highs are 11.4°C, lows 7.9°C, and there are about 11 rain days with 120 mm of rain. With 6.8 sun hours, the lowest of the year, days feel short and grey.
11°C / 7°C · 12 rain days · 6.9 h sun
July is a bad time to go for most travellers. It scores 3.7, the lowest of the year, and the verdict is 'avoid'. Highs are just 10.6°C, lows 6.9°C, and it rains on about 12 days, with 133 mm.
11°C / 7°C · 13 rain days · 8.1 h sun
Avoid August too: it scores 3.8. Highs stay low at 10.8°C and it is the wettest month by volume, with 137 mm across about 13 rain days. Sun improves slightly to 8.1 hours, but the weather is still cold and wet.
12°C / 8°C · 13 rain days · 9.3 h sun
September scores 4.3, an 'ok' month, though still a weak one. Highs rise only to 11.8°C and there are about 13 rain days, with 99 mm of rain. Sun reaches 9.3 hours. Expect cool, changeable weather.
14°C / 9°C · 13 rain days · 10.5 h sun
October scores 5.4 and is rated 'ok'. Highs reach 13.7°C and lows 9°C. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rain days and 102 mm, but sun hours climb to 10.5. It is better than July or August, but not yet warm.
15°C / 11°C · 13 rain days · 11.2 h sun
November is 'good' with a score of 6. Highs are 15.4°C and sun reaches 11.2 hours. The catch is rain: at 13.3 rain days it has the most wet days of any month, with 106 mm, so plan some flexible days.
17°C / 12°C · 12 rain days · 11.9 h sun
December scores 7.3 and is rated 'good'. Highs reach 17.4°C, lows 12.4°C, and there are 11.9 sun hours. Rain is still common, with 12 rain days and 95 mm, but conditions are close to the best months of January to March.
By trip type
City sightseeing
January to March suit city trips best. Highs are 17.4–19°C and there are 10.1–12.5 sun hours a day. January is the driest month, with 62 mm of rain over 7.6 days. February and March get more rain, at 92–95 mm.
Hiking & nature
January to April are best for hiking. They have 7.6–10.4 rain days, fewer than the 11–13.3 of May to December. Sun hours fall from 12.5 in January to 8.9 in April, and April is wetter at 113 mm, so plan shorter days.
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes, January is the best month to visit New Zealand, with the top score of 8.5 out of 10. It is the warmest month, with highs of 19°C and lows of 13.9°C. It is also the driest, with 7.6 rain days and 62 mm of rain, the lowest figures of the year. You get 12.5 hours of sun a day. February and March also rate as best months.
No, July is the worst month to visit New Zealand, with a score of 3.7 out of 10. It is the coldest month, with highs of 10.6°C and lows of 6.9°C. It has 11.5 rain days, 133 mm of rain and only 6.9 hours of sun a day. If you want mild, dry weather, go between January and March instead.
No, we advise against August, which scores 3.8 out of 10. It is the wettest month by rainfall, with 137 mm, and has 13.2 rain days. Only November has more rain days, at 13.3. Highs reach just 10.8°C and lows fall to 7.1°C. You get 8.1 hours of sun a day, compared with 12.5 in January.
Yes, December is a good month, with a score of 7.3 out of 10. Highs reach 17.4°C and lows 12.4°C, and you get 11.9 hours of sun a day. The downside is rain. December has 12 rain days and 95 mm of rain, while January has 7.6 rain days and 62 mm. If you can wait a few weeks, January is drier and warmer.
Enter to search · Esc to close