New Zealand Weather & Seasons by Month

The New Zealand climate is dominated by two main geographical features, the mountains, and the sea.

New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. Most of the country lies close to the coast which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine.

New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere so the average temperature decreases as you travel south. The far north of the country has an average temperature of about 15°C, while the deep south has a cooler 9°C average.

January and February are the warmest months of the year and July is the coldest. However, the weather can change unexpectedly as cold fronts or tropical cyclones quickly blow in. Because of this, you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature if you’re going hiking or doing other outdoor activities.

Most places in New Zealand receive over 2000 hours of sunshine a year, with the sunniest areas - Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Nelson/Marlborough - receiving over 2350 hours. As New Zealand observes daylight saving, during summer months daylight can last up until 9.00pm.

New Zealand experiences relatively little air pollution compared to many other countries which make the UV rays in our sunlight very strong during the summer months. In order to avoid sunburn, visitors should wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats when they are in direct summer sunlight, especially in the heat of the day (11am to 4pm).

New Zealand’s average rainfall is high - between 640mm and 1500mm - and evenly spread throughout the year. As well as producing areas of stunning native forest, this high rainfall makes New Zealand an ideal place for farming and horticulture.