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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.
- Discover Summer in New Zealand
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- 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.
At low altitude, it has an oceanic climate . The South Island is shaped by the Southern Alps which run along the island from north to south. They include New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook at 3,724 metres (12,218 ft). The high Kaikōura Ranges lie to the northeast.
- 150,437 km² (58,084 sq mi)
- 1,201,300 (June 2022)
- 840 km (522 mi)
- Oceania
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.
South Island weather & climate: all about temperatures, precipitation, sunshine, snow, heat and more South Island weather information. See what the weather in South Island (New Zealand) is like during any month of the year.
