New Zealand Weather
🇳🇿 4 cities covered · Oceania
· oceanic climate
Warmest city
Auckland
Coolest city
Queenstown
Sunniest city
Auckland
Best time to visit
January to April
Weather in New Zealand at a glance
Weather in New Zealand spans a single dominant oceanic climate across the 4 cities we cover. Auckland is typically the warmest spot, averaging 61°F (16°C) across the year, while Queenstown runs coolest at 50°F (10°C) - A spread of about 10°F (6°C).
Quick facts
- Warmest city: Auckland - annual average 61°
- Coolest city: Queenstown - annual average 50°
- Sunniest city: Auckland (9.6 h sun/day)
- Best time to visit: January to April
- Climate type: oceanic
The bigger picture
For sunshine, Auckland leads with about 9.6 hours of sun per day on average. Queenstown is the wettest of the covered cities, collecting roughly 1438 mm (56.6 inches) of precipitation a year, and Queenstown sees the most snow, around 28 snowy days annually. Averaged across the country's covered cities, January to April brings the most comfortable mix of temperature, dry days and daylight.
Live weather across New Zealand today
New Zealand cities compared
| City | Annual avg | Hottest month | Coldest month | Rainy days/yr | Sun h/day | Snowy days/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 61° | Feb · 74° | Aug · 49° | 154 | 9.6 | 0 |
| Wellington | 57° | Jan · 68° | Jul · 47° | 130 | 9.2 | 0 |
| Christchurch | 54° | Jan · 71° | Jul · 38° | 107 | 9.0 | 0 |
| Queenstown | 50° | Jan · 70° | Jul · 34° | 155 | 8.5 | 28 |
New Zealand weather by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainy days | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 70° | 58° | 9 | 11.7 h/day |
| February | 70° | 58° | 9 | 10.8 h/day |
| March | 67° | 56° | 10 | 9.5 h/day |
| April | 62° | 52° | 10 | 8.4 h/day |
| May | 58° | 48° | 11 | 7.1 h/day |
| June | 53° | 44° | 11 | 6.2 h/day |
| July | 52° | 42° | 13 | 6.4 h/day |
| August | 53° | 43° | 13 | 7.6 h/day |
| September | 56° | 45° | 13 | 8.8 h/day |
| October | 59° | 48° | 13 | 10.0 h/day |
| November | 63° | 52° | 12 | 11.1 h/day |
| December | 67° | 56° | 12 | 11.5 h/day |
New Zealand weather FAQs
What is the warmest city in New Zealand?
Among the cities we cover, Auckland is the warmest, averaging 61°F (16°C) across the year. Its hottest month is February, with highs near 74°F (23°C).
What is the coldest city in New Zealand?
Queenstown runs coldest, averaging 50°F (10°C) for the year; July lows average 34°F (1°C).
What is the sunniest city in New Zealand?
Auckland, with about 9.6 hours of sunshine per day averaged across the year.
When is the best time to visit New Zealand?
Averaged across the covered cities, January to April offers the most comfortable combination of temperatures, drier days and daylight. Coastal, mountain and desert areas can differ - check each city's climate page for specifics.
Does it snow in New Zealand?
Yes - 1 of the 4 covered cities see regular snowfall. Queenstown gets the most, about 28 snowy days in a typical year.
What is the climate of New Zealand like?
The covered cities fall under oceanic climate. That means mild temperatures year-round with regular rainfall.