New Zealand is a country that can be visited all the year
around. The temperature in general, rarely goes below 0
degrees and goes up to 30 degrees. Throughout the country
the climate is mild, most of the time from cool temperature
to warm temperature. The climate of New Zealand is
considered to be complex because of its variation of
temperature, in the North it can have subtropical
temperature and in the South a quite cool temperature. It
has also hard alpine conditions in the mountainous areas.
The mountain chains that divide the west and east of New
Zealand give each side different climate.
The west side of New Zealand is the wettest and the east
side is the driest and it separated from only around 100 km.
Most parts of New Zealand have between 600 and 1600 mm
rainfall all the year around. In the northern and central
part there is more rainfall in winter than in summer but for
some areas of the southern part there is less rainfall in
winter. Usually the warmest month in New Zealand is January
of February and the coldest month is July.
But usually there is quite small variation between both
temperatures, on the east and inland part there is more
temperature variations it can be up to 14 degrees. In
general the temperature range varies from 10 degrees in the
South to 16 degrees in the North.
The west side of New
Zealand receives some more hours of sunshine but most of the
islands have a minimum of 2000 hours of sunshine throughout
the year. You will see snow falls mostly in the mountains
areas; it will rarely snow on the coast of the North Island
and west coast of the South Island.
But in winter the south and east part of the South Island
may have some snow. The North Island is less mountainous
than the South Island. New Zealand can experience in one
day the four seasons of the year but in general New Zealand
has a pleasant temperature.
Spring starts as from September till November. Spring period
can be from cold to frosty and from warm to hot. Spring is
quite a beautiful period of the year in New Zealand. There
is a blossom festival celebrated in Central Otago, Hawke’s
Bay and Alexandra. And during spring period the water level
of river get higher as the snow melts at this time of the
The summer period in New Zealand starts from December to
February. The Island will experience high temperatures; long
sunny days and mild nights. Summer is a great time of year
for outdoor activities as walking, swimming, sunbathing and
Autumn is usually from March to May. The temperatures are a
little cooler than in summer not so hot and warm. The fauna
at this period of year in New Zealand is evergreen. In
regions as Hawke’s Bay in Hastings and in Central Otago
autumn is wonderful, you will discover the colourful
changing leaves; these areas are known for their autumn
Winter starts from the month of June and ends in August. The
mountains in both North and South will be covered of snow
which gives a beautiful view. In the North Island winter
will bring more rain to most areas. In some areas in the
South Island they will experience less rainfall and cooler
temperatures. Winter is a great time to visit the mountains
and glaciers or do some ski.