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South Island, New Zealand
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New Zealand’s climate is diverse – the north of the North Island can have warm subtropical weather in summer, while inland alpine areas of the South Island can have heavy snow and temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F) in winter. The hottest months in New Zealand are January and February, and the coldest month of the year is July.
- Discover Summer in New Zealand
For example, the pleasant humidity of the subtropical...
- Discover Winter in New Zealand
New Zealand winters are from June–August, with temperatures...
- Seasons in New Zealand
Summer activities tend to make the most of the sun, sea and...
- Spring
This is also the ideal time to visit popular national parks...
- Autumn
April in New Zealand offers agreeable weather with shorter...
- Top NZ Trips
South Island South Island South Island All South Island...
- Art, Culture & Heritage
The South Island’s heritage sites highlight the glamour and...
- North Island
New Zealand's North Island offers island sanctuaries and...
- People and Culture
With a patchwork history of Māori, European, Pacific Island...
- Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers
New Zealand map National Parks ... South Island South Island...
- Discover Summer in New Zealand
The South Island is a bit cooler, with maximum temperatures around 7–12 °C (45–54 °F), though sometimes lower. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −25.6 °C (−14.1 °F) at Ranfurly in Otago in 1903, with a more recent temperature of −21.6 °C (−6.9 °F) recorded in 1995 in nearby Ophir.
- The Weather & Season
- The Crowds
- The Cost
The weather and season are extremely important to those seeking certain activities on the South Island. For instance, some experiences, especially around Abel Tasman, close for winter, while skiing can only be done on the South Island between July and October. Plus, some people simply prefer summer to winter and vice versa!
An overcrowded attraction doesn’t make for good photos, so if you prefer to have a whole place to yourself, then you might want to consider travelling in the tourist low season. Alternatively, match less-crowded attractions with good weather by travelling in one of the shoulder seasons.
Finally, the time of the year certainly affects the cost of travelling in New Zealand. The most popular seasons to travel the South Island are when you’ll see higher hotel rates, higher vehicle rental rates and sometimes more expensive flights.
New Zealand’s climate varies wildly. The far north has subtropical weather during summer, while inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10°C (14°F) in winter. However, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures year-round.
The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest area of New Zealand, whereas the area to the east of the mountains, just over 100 km away, is the driest. Most areas of New Zealand have between 600 and 1600 mm of rainfall, spread throughout the year with a dry period during the summer.
May 20, 2021 · South Island, Auckland, New Zealand Weather Forecast | AccuWeather. Today's Weather. Mon, May 20. Some sun, then turning cloudy; breezy in the afternoon Hi: 64°. Tonight: Cloudy and...
Nov 28, 2020 · Updated on 11/28/20. Fact checked by. Jillian Dara. Queenstown. Fakrul Jamil Photography / Getty Images. New Zealand enjoys a moderate climate, without extremes of hot or cold. This is due not only to the latitude of the country but to the fact that most of New Zealand's landmass is relatively close to the sea.