New Zealand does experience the four distinctive seasons. Officially these are:
What sort of temperatures and conditions does each season produce?
| Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter | |||||
| Sep, Oct, Nov | Dec, Jan, Feb | Mar, Apr, May | Jun, Jul, Aug | |||||
| High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | |
| Bay of Islands | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 19 | 9 | 25 | 14 | 21 | 11 | 16 | 7 |
| Temperature (F) | 67 | 48 | 76 | 56 | 70 | 52 | 61 | 45 |
| Rain Days/Season | 11 | 7 | 11 | 16 | ||||
| Auckland | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 18 | 11 | 24 | 12 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 9 |
| Temperature (F) | 65 | 52 | 75 | 54 | 68 | 55 | 59 | 48 |
| Rain Days/Season | 12 | 8 | 11 | 15 | ||||
| Rotorua | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 17 | 7 | 24 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 4 |
| Temperature (F) | 63 | 45 | 75 | 54 | 68 | 55 | 59 | 48 |
| Rain Days/Season | 11 | 9 | 9 | 13 | ||||
| Wellington | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 15 | 9 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 6 |
| Temperature (F) | 59 | 48 | 68 | 55 | 63 | 52 | 54 | 43 |
| Rain Days/Season | 11 | 7 | 10 | 13 | ||||
| Christchurch | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 17 | 7 | 22 | 12 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 3 |
| Temperature (F) | 63 | 45 | 72 | 54 | 65 | 46 | 54 | 37 |
| Rain Days/Season | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||
| Queenstown | ||||||||
| Temperature (C) | 16 | 5 | 22 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| Temperature (F) | 61 | 41 | 72 | 50 | 61 | 43 | 50 | 34 |
| Rain Days/Season | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | ||||
Rainfall
Generally speaking, rainfall days are consistent throughout the year at between 7 and 11 days per month but regions such as the West Coast and Fiordland do get drier during the winter months.
Snow
The North Island only gets snow on the high central plateau around Tongariro National Park (the Whakapapa and Turoa Ski fields) and on a few other high peaks such as Mt Egmont/Taranaki. In the South Island almost everywhere can experience snow. Stewart Island also gets snow in winter but not often. Canterbury, Otago and Southland generally get the most snow and this is why most of the ski resorts are based here.
You can check long range forecasts for weather on the New Zealand Metservice Website here.
Take a look through our blogs for some great ideas on touring around New Zealand.
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