January is midsummer in New Zealand, and peak season. Schools are on vacation until the end of the month, so you'll encounter a lot of domestic travelers throughout the country. Temperatures are generally warm, although there's a lot of variation between the far north and the extreme south. January also tends to be New Zealand's driest month, so conditions are good for outdoor adventures.
February is midsummer in New Zealand, and also peak tourism season. But, schools go back earlier in the month, so international visitors won't be competing with locals for space on beaches or in camp grounds as they do in January, plus weather conditions continue to be ideal for outdoor activities. Here are some important things to know about traveling to New Zealand in February.
March is the first month of fall in New Zealand, but summery conditions tend to linger, and in many parts of the country it's almost as warm and sunny as February. The farther south you go, however, the more autumnal the weather, with leaves on the trees turning orange. If Easter falls in March then expect an increase in domestic travelers at popular places, otherwise this month is the shoulder season. Here's what you need to know about traveling in New Zealand in March.
April is the middle of the fall season in New Zealand. In some parts of the country, that means the leaves on the trees turn orange and the air is crisp and cool. In others, especially farther north, April can still be quite warm, particularly at the start of the month. And because it's shoulder season, you'll contend with fewer visitors than in the peak season. But, if Easter falls in April, you can expect domestic travelers to be out and about.
May is the last month of fall in New Zealand, and weather can range from pleasantly warm to quite wintry, depending on where you go. It's shoulder season, and some of the most popular destinations remain busy, but some of the more outdoorsy attractions see far fewer visitors than in the summer. Here are some important things to know about traveling to New Zealand in May.
June is the first month of winter in New Zealand, and while winters here aren't as extreme as in some parts of North America or Europe, they can still get quite cold. The North Island in particular also gets a lot of rain in the winter, but further south, in the mountains, this manifests as snow—marking the start of the ski season! Here a few important things to know about traveling to New Zealand in June.
July is mid-winter in New Zealand, which means cool and damp in most of the north, and cold, damp, or snowy in the south. It's not peak season unless you're into skiing, and then you're in luck. Here are some important things to know about traveling to New Zealand in July.
August is the last month of winter in New Zealand, and along with July, this is the coldest month. Conditions in the north tend to be cool and wet, and in the south, cold and wet or snowy in the mountains. While this isn't peak tourism season throughout most of the country, it is a good time to go skiing. Read on to find out more about traveling to New Zealand in August.
September is the first month of spring in New Zealand, and this can mean that warmer temperatures are on their way, but also that wintry conditions can linger. It's the shoulder season, which means you can make the most of slightly cheaper prices and less busy conditions at the most popular places, but still enjoy mostly good weather. Here's what you need to know about traveling to New Zealand in September.
October is a great time to travel to and around New Zealand. It's the middle of spring, so the weather is often fine and warm, but it's still the shoulder season, so even the most popular places aren't especially crowded. Here are some important things to know about traveling to New Zealand in October.
November is the last month of spring in New Zealand, and that means the weather can be quite summery, although temperatures may not be as consistently hot as in summer. It's still the shoulder season, but the number of travelers coming to New Zealand increases in November. Here are some important things to know about traveling to New Zealand in November.
December is the start of summer, and the peak season, in New Zealand. The weather can be great, or it can be cooler and wetter than later in the summer. New Zealand schools are out from the middle of the month, so you'll encounter many domestic as well as foreign travelers. Here are some important things to know about visiting New Zealand in December.
