Best time to visit New Zealand
The best time to visit New Zealand is January to March, when its 18 destinations average 79/100 for climate comfort — July is the weakest month, at 63/100.
Updated September 2026 · averaged over 18 New Zealand destinations · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
🇳🇿 New Zealand, month by month
best JanuaryNew Zealand climate comfort by month
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score, averaged across every New Zealand destination in the dataset. Each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. Averages from ERA5 reanalysis normals, not forecasts.
All 18 destinations in New Zealand
- Aoraki Mount Cook 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest February82
- Auckland 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest March89
- Christchurch 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January93
- Dunedin 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest February86
- Franz Josef 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest February76
- Kaikōura 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January83
- Lake Tekapo 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January92
- Napier 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest December91
- Nelson 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January91
- Paihia 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest March85
- Queenstown 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest July13
- Raglan 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest February82
- Rotorua 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest March86
- Taupo 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January91
- Te Anau 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January88
- Tongariro 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest February87
- Wānaka 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest July14
- Wellington 🇳🇿 New Zealandbest January91
New Zealand — FAQ
- When is the best time to visit New Zealand?
- January to March. Across New Zealand's 18 destinations, January averages 79/100 for climate comfort with mean highs of 21.4°C and 113 mm of rain.
- What is the worst month to visit New Zealand?
- July, averaging 63/100 — mean highs of 10.7°C and 148 mm of rain across the country's destinations.
- What is the hottest month in New Zealand?
- January, with mean daily highs of 21.4°C averaged across 18 destinations.
- What is the wettest month in New Zealand?
- September, averaging 149 mm of rain.