New Zealand Weather in June

Is June a good time to visit New Zealand? 

June is a great time to visit New Zealand for a number of reasons. With the onset of winter, the ski season starts gearing up in earnest across New Zealand’s alpine regions. Meanwhile, the deep, dark night skies make for beautiful stargazing opportunities and herald a number of festivals and events. For many parts of the country, June is also a quieter time to visit than peak summer. That means you can find good deals and low prices, and you may just have some parts of New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes all to yourselves.

What is the weather like in New Zealand in June?

June is the official beginning of winter in New Zealand, so you can expect some cold and wet weather in many parts of the country. Snow is possible in higher regions, although temperatures don’t really drop below freezing in most places, and remain mild in large areas of the country. Days are short but can be crisp, clear and sunny; and the amount of rain to expect depends exactly on where you plan to go.

Read on for a more detailed look at what kinds of temperatures, sunshine hours and rainfall levels to expect from New Zealand weather in June.

Average temperatures in New Zealand in June

Temperatures are cool to mild across most of New Zealand in June. You can still get days around 15°C-20°C (59°F-68°F) in many parts of the North Island, with much lower nighttime temperatures the further south or inland you go. 

To get a better idea of what to expect, here’s a breakdown of the average temperatures in June for some of New Zealand’s main centers:

Average sunshine hours in New Zealand in June

Some parts of New Zealand enjoy stunning, clear winter days in June, while others have more cloud cover and changeable weather. Days are also short in June compared with other times of year – particularly in the bottom half of the South Island, near Queenstown – so this can affect the amount of sunshine to expect each day. Still, even just a few hours away in Christchurch, you can expect around four hours of sunshine per day.

Average rainfall in New Zealand in June

Winter is the wettest time of year in some parts of New Zealand, particularly in the North Island. The average total rainfall in the likes of Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington is therefore quite high during June; but with a relatively low number of wet days (10-15), you can expect plenty of clear, dry periods sprinkled throughout the month. 

Conversely, winter actually has less rain than summer in other parts of the country – including New Zealand’s wettest area, Milford Sound and Fiordland – and South Island destinations like Christchurch and Queenstown see relatively low rainfall (and wet days) in June. Some precipitation falls, however, as snow.

Best things to do in New Zealand in June

Skiing & Snowboarding

With the New Zealand ski season typically kicking off in mid-June, you can be the first to cut some fresh tracks following the first snows of the season. Head to Taupō, Wānaka and Queenstown for a true ski resort town experience, or hunt out one of New Zealand’s quieter country club fields for an authentic local experience.

Dunedin Midwinter Carnival

Lean into the winter vibe in Dunedin, the largest city in the bottom half of the South Island that often gets bright blue winter days and comes alive for the vibrant Dunedin Midwinter Carnival in June. With a lot of lights, lanterns, quirky costumes and tasty food stalls, Dunedin’s main street gets taken over by a procession of dancers, stilt-walkers and performers for a fun event with a big heart and strong family focus.

Spot humpback whales in Kaikōura

While it might feel cold to us, humpback whales are passing through the warmer New Zealand waters on their seasonal migrations between Antarctica and the tropical South Pacific. June and July are the best times to spot them passing by the ocean trench just off the stunning Kaikōura Coastline. The township of Kaikōura itself is a quirky, picturesque town backed by the stunning Kaikōura Ranges mountains. 

See the stars 

With shorter days and longer, deeper dark skies, June is prime time for enjoying New Zealand’s protected Dark Sky Reserves and viewing the Aurora Australis (“Southern Lights”). It is also often when the Matariki (Pleiades) cluster appears in the sky, which marks the beginning of the Māori new year and is a public holiday in New Zealand.

Ready to go?

If you like the sound of visiting New Zealand in June and would like to start planning your own itinerary, then have a look at First Light Travel’s range of self-drive itineraries and New Zealand tour options on their website. They also have a useful New Zealand Travel Blog and extensive New Zealand Travel Guide with everything you need to know about visiting New Zealand. You can also contact First Light Travel directly to create your own customized New Zealand travel itinerary.