Which is the hottest month in New Zealand?

The hottest time of year in Wellington, New Zealand is normally January. Expect maximum daytime temperatures to reach 20°C.

Best time to visit New Zealand

Q: When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

The best time to visit New Zealand (Wellington) is January based on the following average weather conditions. Maximum daytime temperature = 22 - 30°C. Daily hours of sunshine = 10 hours or more.

Q: Which month has the most rain in New Zealand?

In terms of rainfall, July is usually the wettest month in Wellington, New Zealand with 144mm on average. There are normally 16 days in July with some rain.

Q: When is it sunniest in New Zealand?

The sunniest time of year in Wellington, New Zealand is normally February with bright sunshine on average for 52% of daylight hours; that's 7 hours of sunshine per day.

Q: When is the sea warmest in New Zealand?

The sea is usually at its warmest in Wellington, New Zealand in February when the water temperature reaches 17°C.

Find the best time to visit New Zealand and plan your perfect trip in 2025/2026. Get holiday inspiration, weather guides, travel advice and find great deals.

New Zealand by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Top New Zealand destinations

Below are the temperatures expected today at popular countries, regions and places in New Zealand. Select a destination to compare today's forecast with average weather conditions.

All New Zealand destinations

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

The best time to visit New Zealand (Wellington) is January based on the following average weather conditions.

Maximum daytime temperature = 72 - 86°F [remove]
Daily hours of sunshine = 10 hours or more [remove]

Change the criteria to reflect your weather preferences.

4
Jan
3.5
Feb
2.5
Mar
1.5
Apr
0.5
May
0
Jun
0.5
Jul
0.5
Aug
1
Sep
1.5
Oct
2
Nov
3
Dec

Change criteria

Max Day Temperature (°F)

68
Jan
68
Feb
66
Mar
63
Apr
57
May
54
Jun
52
Jul
54
Aug
55
Sep
59
Oct
63
Nov
66
Dec

Hours of Sunshine (daily)

8
Jan
7
Feb
6
Mar
5
Apr
4
May
3
Jun
4
Jul
4
Aug
5
Sep
6
Oct
7
Nov
7
Dec

Best time to visit

Destination

Daytime temperature

Sunshine hours

Sea temperature

Monthly rainfall

Days with some rain

Heat & humidity

The weather guide for New Zealand (Wellington) shows long term weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia) & today's weather forecast provided by meteoblue. Find out more about our data sources.

Metric (°C) | Imperial (°F)

New Zealand weather overview

Given its South Pacific location (1,200 miles (1,900km) from the nearest landmass), New Zealand has a sunnier climate than one might expect. Its North and South Islands are hilly and mountainous with excellent winter sports in the Southern Alps and spectacular fjords and glaciers. Auckland lies at the top of North Island, the warmest part of New Zealand, and its inhabitants bask in subtropical conditions and enjoy mild winters and warm, humid summers although they can be rained on at any time of the year.

On the southern coast, where Wellington and Napier are located, temperatures are slightly lower than in the north and inland conditions can become very frosty during the winter.

South Island, which houses Christchurch and Dunedin, is rather colder than North Island and has more of a maritime climate with little variation in coastal temperatures between summer (October to March) and winter (April to September). Inland, winters are colder with occasional snow on lower ground and heavy snowfalls in the mountains.

Rainfall is high on the west coast throughout the year but the Canterbury Plains are the driest part of New Zealand.

What to pack for New Zealand weather

Take light clothing if you are travelling in the summer or confining your visit to North Island. On South Island, fairly warm clothes are needed for the winter with heavier wear for trips to the mountains. Whenever you go and wherever you are going, anticipate some rain!

More about New Zealand

Explore our complete guide to New Zealand with the latest travel advice for travellers and holidaymakers including official updates and local travel tips for New Zealand.

Essential travel guide
Travel guidance
Travel health
Travel features
Top travel deals
FAQs

New Zealand travel guide - essential info

Below is a beginner's guide to New Zealand with essential travel facts such as dominant language spoken, typical flight time from the UK and the local currency. You can also check whether visas are required and what plug adapter you need to pack.

New Zealand - quick facts
Flight time^✝	25 hours
Time difference	UK +12 to +12.75 hours
Language(s)	English
Currency	New Zealand Dollar
Electricity	I plug (230V)
Driving side	Left
Visa^✝	Yes

Why visit New Zealand?

Considering a holiday to the New Zealand? Here are some of the very good reasons it makes such a wonderful holiday destination such as for its nature to ensure you get the most out of your 2025/2026 escape.

Nature

New Zealand tourist information

New Zealand Tourism Board

✝ = Typical flight time from the UK and visa requirements for UK travellers.

Travelling to New Zealand?
Hotels Flights eSIMs Travel insurance

New Zealand travel guidance

Check the latest travel guidance and advice on visiting New Zealand from official government sources (in english) from around the world including entry requirements and travel restrictions.

UK traveller advice for New Zealand - UK FCDO
Irish traveller advice for New Zealand - Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
Canadian travel advice for New Zealand - Government of Canada
US travel advisories for New Zealand - US Department of State
Smarter traveller advice for New Zealand - Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia

Learn more about the current safety and security risks from terrorism, natural disasters and more. Read about the local laws and customs to consider when travelling around New Zealand.

Note: UK FCDO - UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

New Zealand travel health

Find out more about staying safe when travelling to New Zealand with the latest guidance on required vaccinations and recommended medication to take with you.

Vaccines & medicines for New Zealand - CDC
Health & vaccinations for New Zealand - TravelHealthPro, NaTHNac
How to stay safe & healthy in New Zealand - Fit for Travel, Public Health Scotland

Check out the general travel tips for staying safe and healthy in New Zealand, risks of preventable diseases and what to pack.

Note: CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

New Zealand travel features

Do you want to learn more about New Zealand? Read our latest features covering travel tips and insider destination guides on where to go and what to do in New Zealand.

We don't currently have any travel features on New Zealand. Discover more about holiday destinations around the world with this selection of general travel articles.

New Zealand FAQs

Read our frequently asked questions about travelling to New Zealand including the current entry restrictions, driving side, electrical plugs used and much more.

Which month has the most rain in New Zealand?

In terms of rainfall, January is usually the wettest month in Wellington, New Zealand with 0.0 inches on average. There are normally no days in January with some rain.

When is it sunniest in New Zealand?

The sunniest time of year in Wellington, New Zealand is normally January with bright sunshine on average for 0% of daylight hours; that's 0 hours of sunshine per day.

When is the sea warmest in New Zealand?

The sea is usually at its warmest in Wellington, New Zealand in January when the water temperature reaches 32°F.

What is the flight time to New Zealand from the UK?

The flight time to New Zealand from the UK is typically 25 hours.

What is the time difference between New Zealand and the UK?

The time difference between New Zealand and the UK is UK time+12 to UK time+12.75 hours.

What is the main language spoken in New Zealand?

The main language spoken in New Zealand is English.

Learn a language for New Zealand with Rosetta Stone^*, Busuu^* and Rocket Languages^*.

What is the currency in New Zealand?

The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).

Send money to New Zealand with TransferGo^*, Wise.com^* and World Remit^*.

Which plugs are used in New Zealand?

New Zealand uses electrical plug type I (230 Volts).

Which side of the road do they drive on in New Zealand?

They drive on the left side of the road in New Zealand.

Find out more about driving in New Zealand with International Drivers Association^*.

Do you need a visa for New Zealand?

Yes, UK passport holders do need a visa to enter New Zealand.

Check New Zealand visa requirements for all passport holders with VisaHQ^*.

New Zealand travel deals

Holidays to New Zealand

Check out the latest deals, discount codes and special offers on holidays to New Zealand in 2025/2026. Pay low deposits and save with last minute holiday availability and free kids places.