Summer in Aotearoa New Zealand is beautiful and adventurous, but our summer activities are something you can enjoy all year long.
Summer is when the world's most beautiful country becomes a bit of a show-off. Warm sunny days provide the perfect backdrop for everything Aotearoa New Zealand has to offer - from stunning scenery and thrilling outdoor activities to incredible food and wine.
New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons are the opposite of the northern hemisphere. This means a New Zealand summer is from December to February.
Summers are generally warm, but for a small country, temperatures vary considerably by region. For example, the pleasant humidity of the subtropical rainforests in the north is different from the alpine conditions of the Southern Alps in the south.
These microclimates are caused by New Zealand’s latitude and rugged topography. Factors that give New Zealand’s its unique character. There aren’t many places where you’ll find a famous glacier within ten kilometres of a rainforest retreat. Or find the highest and lowest temperatures on record happened at the same location.
For most of the country, rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year so you can expect a few showers over summer.
If you’re heading to the West Coast, it is safe to stay you’ll experience more than the odd shower. Here, it rains about half the time and there’s a lot of it – roughly 7m a year. Inconvenient for visitors but advantageous for the spectacular rainforests that live here.
In this small island nation, you are never far from the sea – or a sea breeze. If you visit Wellington the chances are you’ll experience gale-force winds at some point. Here, the wind is gale force or stronger here for about 200 days of the year.
New Zealand gets about 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, usually making it a hot summer.
The sunniest spots are Nelson and Marlborough, which have more than 2,300 hours per year.
City Min Max
Auckland 15°C (46°F) 24°C (75°F)
Wellington 14°C (57°F) 21°C (69.8°F)
Queenstown 9°C (34°F) 22°C (72°F)
Invercargill 9°C (34°F) 19°C (66°F)
Visit MetService for weather forecasts for locations across New Zealand.
New Zealand can get chilly in the evenings so wear layers. When spending extended periods outdoors, wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect you against New Zealand's high UV levels.
We suggest bringing:
New Zealand’s sun is very strong, so you can quickly become sunburnt. Use sun protection from September to April between 10am and 4pm, even on cloudy days.
In summer, the MetService weather forecast(opens in new window) includes a daily UV forecast.
Discover the best summer advice to plan your trip
Be prepared in any of NZ's weather
NZ is a safe destination but it pays to travel wisely
Get to know NZ's road rules and driving conditions
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