Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, New Zealand is located in the South Pacific. The island state consists of a north and a south island and more than 700 smaller islands.
The 23 kilometers wide Cook Strait separates the two main islands from each other. New Zealand is a total of 268,680 square kilometers.
The Tasman Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that separates New Zealand from Australia, which is up to 2100 kilometers away. Other neighboring countries are French New Caledonia and the South Sea islands of Fiji and Tonga.
New Zealand’s capital is Wellington in the southern part of the North Island. However, by far the largest metropolitan area is in Auckland with around 1.5 million residents.
Wellington is around 18590 kilometers as the crow flies from Frankfurt am Main. The journey from Europe usually takes place with intermediate stops in Asia.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about New Zealand.
Climate in New Zealand
New Zealand falls into two climates. In the north of the northern island there is a subtropical climate, which is characterized by mild winters and relatively warm summers. A temperate climate can be found in the southern part of the North Island and all over the South Island. Temperatures drop the further south you go. In New Zealand’s coastal areas, you will find average annual temperatures of 15 ° C in the north and 9 degrees in the south.
The average temperature in January and February in the northern city of Auckland is 20 ° C, in Wellington 16 ° C and in Dunedin, which is in the south of the South Island, 15 ° C. In July the thermometer shows an average of 11 ° C in Auckland, 8 degrees Celsius in Wellington and 6 ° C in Dunedin. July is therefore the coldest month.
The country experiences neither extreme heat nor severe cold with the exception of the high mountain regions. New Zealand has abundant rainfall relatively evenly throughout the year. On the New Zealand North Island, more than 1000 millimeters fall on average every year. On the west coast of the South Island, precipitation falls up to 8000 millimeters per year. There is often snowfall at high altitudes.
On the east side of the South Island, on the other hand, precipitation sometimes falls below 750 millimeters per year. Most of the rainfall falls from June to August from heaven. The driest months are the summer months from December to February, when the sun shines quite often.
When to go to New Zealand
The best time to travel to New Zealand is in the summer months between November and March. They also form the high season on both islands and offer ideal conditions for active holidays and sporting activities such as rafting, swimming, diving, surfing or hiking.
Skiers prefer the winter months from June to August. In order to get a good compromise between suitable travel weather and a reasonable price level, we particularly recommend the months of October and November as well as February and March. The April is also recommended with good off-season offerings for a trip to New Zealand.
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (New Zealand).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Auckla | January, February, March, September, October, November and December |
| Wellington | January, February, March, November and December |
| Invercargill | January, February, March, November and December |
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Auckland (New Zealand)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 23 ° C | 20 ° C | 17 ° C | 15 ° C | 14 ° C | 15 ° C | 16 ° C | 18 ° C | 20 ° C | 22 ° C |
| Night temperature | 16 ° C | 16 ° C | 15 ° C | 13 ° C | 10 ° C | 8 ° C | 7 ° C | 8 ° C | 9 ° C | 11 ° C | 13 ° C | 14 ° C |
| Water temperature | 20 ° C | 21 ° C | 20 ° C | 19 ° C | 17 ° C | 16 ° C | 15 ° C | 14 ° C | 15 ° C | 15 ° C | 17 ° C | 18 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 74 | 81 | 86 | 93 | 100 | 116 | 126 | 111 | 93 | 80 | 84 | 91 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Hours of sunshine | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Sunrise | 6:20 | 6:50 | 7:20 | 6:45 | 7:10 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:05 | 6:20 | 6:35 | 6:05 | 5:55 |
| Sunset | 20:40 | 20:20 | 19:40 | 17:55 | 17:25 | 17:10 | 17:20 | 17:45 | 18:10 | 19:35 | 20:10 | 20:35 |
Temperatures
The average annual temperature in Auckland is 15.1 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is January (19.7 ° C), coldest month of July with averages of 10.9 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Auckland is 21 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. The months of January, February, March, April, May, November and December have a water temperature of at least 17 ° C. Bathing is then possible to a limited extent. The Feb. has a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and is therefore suitable for a holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 1136 mm on 136 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Auckland.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, January is the sunniest month with an average of 7.4 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines for 5.5 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Cities nearby
The following major towns are nearby and have similar climates: Manukau and North Highlights and attractions
One of the most popular travel destinations in New Zealand is Milford Sound, a fjord of the Fiordland National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You should also visit the cities of Queenstown, Dunedin and Auckland on your trip. Fascinating landscapes await you at the Bay of Islandys and Hawke’s Bay.Shore City.
