SeasonMapNew Zealand in July
July is New Zealand's weakest month (rank 12 of 12): its 17 destinations average 64/100, led by Rotorua at 73 — 9°C and 13 rainy days — while Aoraki Mount Cook is cooler at 2°C and scores 55.
#12 of 12 months for New Zealand · 17 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in New Zealand in July
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rotorua | Trekking hub | 9°C | 142 mm · 13 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 2 | Queenstown | Ski resort | 7°C | 123 mm · 14 days | 72 tier B | Yes |
| 3 | Wānaka | Ski resort | 3°C | 117 mm · 12 days | 71 tier B | Yes |
| 4 | Auckland | City | 12°C | 121 mm · 15 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 5 | Napier | City | 12°C | 79 mm · 10 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 6 | Wellington | City | 10°C | 106 mm · 14 days | 66 tier C | — |
| 7 | Te Anau | National park | 5°C | 147 mm · 18 days | 65 tier C | — |
| 8 | Dunedin | City | 7°C | 61 mm · 9 days | 64 tier C | — |
| 9 | Christchurch | City | 9°C | 79 mm · 10 days | 63 tier C | — |
| 10 | Lake Tekapo | Trekking hub | 2°C | 140 mm · 12 days | 62 tier C | — |
| 11 | Nelson | City | 12°C | 159 mm · 11 days | 61 tier C | — |
| 12 | Franz Josef | Trekking hub | 7°C | 353 mm · 16 days | 59 tier D | — |
| 13 | Paihia | Beach | 13°C | 124 mm · 10 days | 59 tier D | — |
| 14 | Tongariro | National park | 3°C | 197 mm · 18 days | 59 tier D | — |
| 15 | Kaikōura | Beach | 10°C | 104 mm · 13 days | 57 tier D | — |
| 16 | Taupo | City | 8°C | 150 mm · 14 days | 57 tier D | — |
| 17 | Aoraki Mount Cook | National park | 2°C | 281 mm · 16 days | 55 tier D | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means July is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in New Zealand in July
- Matariki · Rotorua and 1 more place · 20 Jun – 15 Jul (usually)
- New Zealand school holidays · Queenstown · 4–19 Jul (usually)
- Matariki · Auckland · 10 Jul
- Milky Way season · Lake Tekapo and 1 more place · 15 Apr – 15 Sep (usually)
- Sperm whales, all year · Kaikōura · 1 Jan – 31 Dec
- Seal pups in the streams · Kaikōura · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)
- Albatross season · Kaikōura · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)
- Winter Deco weekend · Napier · 8–25 Jul (usually)
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 6 of New Zealand's 12 well-known places this month.