New Zealand is located predominantly in the temperate climatic belt of southern hemisphere except for the northern part of North Island which reaches subtropics. That means that temperatures should be approximately the same as in Central Europe with the only difference of switched seasons. But the reality is different especially due to ocean currents. Let's see the specifics.
Seasons
As it’s been said seasons at New Zealand are switched. That means that Christmas is celebrated in the middle of summer at the beaches. The temperatures during the year are not fluctuating too much but weather and its temperature can be very different according to the place where you actually stay. Significant differences are given especially by altitude and latitude. You can, for example, ski at high snow-covered mountains during the time your friends are swimming in the lake in lowlands few tens of kilometers from you. The same is with latitude; where South Island is much colder than North Island (average temperature is about 6 degrees less) but that definitely doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy a beautiful sunny day there.
Seasonal overview
SPRING | SUMMER | AUTUMN | WINTER | |
SEASON | September - November | December - February | March-May | June - August |
TEMPERATURE | 16 - 19°C | 20 - 25°C | 17 - 21°C | 12 - 16°C |
Spring
Spring at New Zealand gradually changes from freezing and cold to warm, sometimes even hot days. The trees and flowers start to bloom and nature, as well as farmers, start being more active. If you travel to New Zealand during that season you can look forward to fences full of cute bouncing and playing newborn animals, verdant nature and melting snow, which offers perfect opportunity to maximize your adrenaline-fueled experience.
Summer
New Zealand's summer is the ideal opportunity for visiting beautiful sandy beaches and trips around the coast with fascinating rocky landscapes, which you can see from the land, from a kayak or even from a boat. Enjoy swimming, surfing and other water activities finished by an evening barbeque party close from the beach while watching the sunset. And if you are an early bird you can enjoy up to 15 hours of daylight.
Autumn
Despite the fact that New Zealand's nature is evergreen the leaves can change their colors after harvesting which offers a nice spectacle. The temperatures fall slowly which make good conditions for hiking and longer trips on tracks which may be closed for winter. With colder temperature also come more rainfalls and daylight is shorter. Therefore be careful and plan your trip properly to be back before the sun goes down and get dark.
Winter
There’s even more rainfall in the winter which is changing into snow at high mountain altitudes where the temperature can drop down to -10°C. This season is a perfect time to visit mountain resorts and try some of the winter sports or just enjoy the beautiful view.