March 2023

The end of May marks the end of autumn in New Zealand, and the weather across the North Island throughout May moves vaguely in this direction, with temperatures getting cold and daylight hours short.

July is peak winter in New Zealand, and with that come the coldest average temperatures of any month in the year. It is also usually the wettest, or one of the wettest, months of the year in many parts of the North Island, and average sunshine hours are relatively low compared with other times of the year.

The long, cold nights and dark skies also make for great stargazing, for warming up in a natural thermal hot pool, or cosying up in front of the fire at a quaint holiday cabin or luxury lodge.

September marks the transition from winter into spring in New Zealand, and this is clearly felt through changes in weather across the North Island. In the subtropical northern regions, the tail-end of the rainy season is still felt earlier in the month, as is peak ski season in the central plateau and subalpine regions.

June marks the beginning of winter in New Zealand, and with it comes a whole host of great activities, events, and special celebrations to look forward to. Overall, temperatures are cold but not freezing, and in terms of rainfall June marks a kind of ‘calm before the storm’ of the wettest months about to come.