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
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Month-by-month overview

New Zealand at a glance

GreatGoodOkayAvoid
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Verdictgreatgreatgreatgoodokayokaygoodgoodgoodgoodgreatgreat
Temp (°C)
23°
14°
23°
14°
21°
12°
18°
10°
15°
7°
12°
5°
11°
4°
12°
5°
14°
7°
17°
9°
19°
11°
21°
13°
Rain (mm)756575809510511010085858080
Crowdshighhighmediummediumlowlowmediummediumlowmediummediumhigh
Price$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Notes———Autumn colours—Ski season opensSki season peak—Spring lambing season———

Festivals & events

Waitangi Day

Feb

New Zealand’s national day celebrating the founding treaty.

Matariki

Jun–Jul

Māori New Year marked by the rising of the Pleiades star cluster.

WOMAD New Zealand

Mar

World music and arts festival in New Plymouth’s Bowl of Brooklands.

Book your New Zealand trip for November–March

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