Celebrating the Seasons
The New Zealand summer lasts from December until February, bringing high temperatures and sunshine. Our colder months are between June and August.
Spring - September, October, November
Spring in New Zealand unfurls like the iconic koru (a spiral shaped frond). Shaking off its winter coat to reveal lush greens, crystal blues and snow-capped mountains, the country revels in the warming temperatures and lengthening days.
Spring is when the natural waterways are at their best for hurtling downstream in a jet boat, white water rafting or taking things at a more sedate pace down the Clutha River looking for historic mining huts in the schist.
September heralds the start of the Spring Festival, an array of art, culture, food and wine and gardening events throughout the country. The three-month long programme incorporates 11 key events highlighting the best New Zealand has to offer in spring.
Spring 2006 NIWA report
Distinctive El Nino spring with blustery westerlies and south westerlies; very windy at times with stronger than usual east/west contrasts in climate.
Rainfall: Dry in Northland, coastal Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and eastern Otago; wet in the southwest of the North Island, and the west and far south of the South Island
Temperature: Warm in the east of the North Island and Marlborough; temperatures near normal elsewhere
Sunshine: Sunny in the northeast of the North Island and southeast of the South Island, rather cloudy in the west of the North Island
Summer - December, January, February
Summer is the Christmas season in New Zealand and the traditional time for family holidays and playing outdoors. New Zealand celebrates at this time of year and there’s a party to suit just about everyone.
Christmas is celebrated in shorts and t-shirts and the crimson blooms of the pohutukawa tree provide colour along the coast.
Summer is the season for outdoor food and wine events. The famous Wine Marlborough Festival in Marlborough is a wine connoisseur’s dream, while the effervescent Rhythm and Vines music festival in Eastland hums with a chic, bohemian feel.
For those with a sense of adventure, New Zealand’s doors are thrown wide open. Land, sea, sky and mountains are teeming with activities for all abilities, from extreme adventure to total relaxation.
Summer 2006 NIWA report
Rainfall: Below normal in most regions, especially Waikato, Marlborough, and Otago; above normal in parts of Northland and Canterbury
Temperature: Cold, especially in the North Island and the east of the South Island
Sunshine: Above normal in Northland and Westland; below normal in South Taranaki and North Canterbury
Autumn - March, April, May
Traditionally the temperatures drop, but the weather stabilises making for long days of clear blue skies. From the sub-tropical north to the expansive south, it’s time to enjoy orchard fruits, see vineyards being harvested, or to explore the outdoors.
In the South Island, festivals flourish as the colours change. Wanaka celebrates autumn with the Festival of Colour and at the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on the West Coast, visitors can sample extraordinary edible morsels such as huhu grubs (beetle larvae) and wasabi ice cream. The annual Bluff Oyster and Southland Seafood Festival is another event not to be missed.
In the North Island, the biennial international World of Music and Dance (WOMAD) festival in Taranaki is an eclectic mix of rhythm and movement, while the fiercely contested Dragon Boat Race on Wellington’s harbour offers a sporting and cultural event like no other.
Autumn 2007 NIWA report
Warm; record dry in east of the North Island
Rainfall: Well below normal in the east, and Manawatu and Wellington
Soil moisture: Significant deficits in several eastern regions
Temperature: Above average, especially in the east and inland areas of the South Island
Sunshine: Well above normal in Gisborne, Marlborough and parts of Canterbury
Winter - June, July, August
Winter brings snow and winter sports to both the Central North Island and the South Island, but sub-tropical Northland is still a playground for sun seekers.
The months from June to August herald the ski season in both the North and South Islands where world class ski fields can be found amidst spectacular scenery. But there’s just as much excitement can be found off the slopes.
Rotorua (Central North Island) is steaming with relaxing, hot mineral pools, Queenstown (South Island) is alive with winter festivals, and the country’s major cities - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - make for great weekend breaks to shop for designer brands and dine at world-class restaurants.
In the North Island, Mount Ruapehu is home to the country’s largest ski fields. The South Island has over seven public ski areas and numerous other private fields. The highlight of the ski season is the Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival.
Winter 2006 NIWA report
Wild in the lower North Island, exceptional snowstorms in the east of the South Island, but quite benign in the north of both islands. New high sunshine records in places.
Rainfall: Wet in the southern half of the North Island, especially Wanganui, Wairarapa, and
Wellington; relatively dry in the north of both islands, and Otago
Temperature: Below normal in the north and west of the North Island, Buller, South
Canterbury and east Otago; near normal elsewhere
Sunshine: Extremely sunny for winter with record winter sunshine in parts of the north and west of the North Island and the southeast of the South Island
Source: Tourism New Zealand and NIWA