Best time to visit
Best time to visit New Zealand
Summer (December–February) offers the best weather and longest days. Shoulder months of November and March are less crowded. Winter is ski season.
Best monthsNovember–March
Month-by-month overview
| Month | High / Low | Rainfall | Crowds | Prices | Verdict | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23° / 14°C | 75mm | High | $$$Peak | Great | — |
| Feb | 23° / 14°C | 65mm | High | $$$Peak | Great | — |
| Mar | 21° / 12°C | 75mm | Medium | $$Mid | Great | — |
| Apr | 18° / 10°C | 80mm | Medium | $$Mid | Good | Autumn colours |
| May | 15° / 7°C | 95mm | Low | $Low | Okay | — |
| Jun | 12° / 5°C | 105mm | Low | $Low | Okay | Ski season opens |
| Jul | 11° / 4°C | 110mm | Medium | $$Mid | Good | Ski season peak |
| Aug | 12° / 5°C | 100mm | Medium | $$Mid | Good | — |
| Sep | 14° / 7°C | 85mm | Low | $Low | Good | Spring lambing season |
| Oct | 17° / 9°C | 85mm | Medium | $$Mid | Good | — |
| Nov | 19° / 11°C | 80mm | Medium | $$Mid | Great | — |
| Dec | 21° / 13°C | 80mm | High | $$$Peak | Great | — |
Month-by-month deep dives
New Zealand in January
greatNew Zealand in February
greatNew Zealand in March
greatNew Zealand in April
goodNew Zealand in May
okayNew Zealand in June
okayNew Zealand in July
goodNew Zealand in August
goodNew Zealand in September
goodNew Zealand in October
goodNew Zealand in November
greatNew Zealand in December
greatFeatured in our research
New Zealand ranks #28 in The Shoulder Season Score 2026
Queenstown, New Zealand — Oceania · Mid April. Autumn colour, ski-season lift tickets not yet on sale, 62% of peak pricing.
Read the full ranking →Festivals & events
Waitangi Day
FebNew Zealand’s national day celebrating the founding treaty.
Matariki
Jun–JulMāori New Year marked by the rising of the Pleiades star cluster.
WOMAD New Zealand
MarWorld music and arts festival in New Plymouth’s Bowl of Brooklands.
Book your New Zealand trip for November–March
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