New Zealand · SummerMonth summary
New Zealand weather in August
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
9°C – 12°C
🌧 Rainy days
42% of days
☀️ Sunshine
8.9h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Summer
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
4.8/10
📅 📅 Best month
January (7.8/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit New Zealand in August?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you want the lowest prices and minimal crowds.
❌ No if: you're looking for summer weather — conditions don't support it.
Our take: August brings a challenging climate (4.8/10). January offers milder conditions if your dates are flexible.
By trip type
New Zealand in August by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ❌ Not recommended
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in August
🎯 Low season — 12°C and limited conditions. Upside: lower prices and few tourists In August, New Zealand sees 12°C during the day with 8.9h of sunshine per day. Expect rain on 42% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 15°C | 20°C | 26% | 1.5 | 13.0h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 16°C | 20°C | 26% | 2.8 | 12.2h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 14°C | 19°C | 32% | 2.3 | 10.7h | 7.3/10 |
| ⛅ April | 13°C | 17°C | 32% | 3.3 | 9.4h | 7.0/10 |
| ⛅ May | 11°C | 15°C | 37% | 3.3 | 8.2h | 5.9/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 10°C | 13°C | 41% | 3.6 | 7.2h | 4.6/10 |
| 🌦️ July | 9°C | 12°C | 43% | 3.7 | 7.6h | 4.5/10 |
| 🌦️ August | 9°C | 12°C | 42% | 3.2 | 8.9h | 4.8/10 |
| 🌦️ September | 10°C | 14°C | 40% | 2.9 | 10.1h | 5.9/10 |
| 🌦️ October | 11°C | 15°C | 41% | 2.5 | 11.1h | 7.0/10 |
| ⛅ November | 13°C | 17°C | 39% | 2.8 | 12.4h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 14°C | 18°C | 37% | 2.7 | 12.7h | 7.2/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In August, New Zealand averages 12°C, 42% rainy days and 8.9h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 4.8/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
August vs January (best month)
The best month is January (score 7.8/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +8°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -16%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +4.1h/day
FAQ
FAQ — New Zealand in August
Is August a good time to visit New Zealand?
August is not recommended for New Zealand (score 4.8/10). With 42% rainy days and 8.9h of sunshine, consider January (7.8/10) instead.
What's the weather like in New Zealand in August?
It's cool with 12°C daytime and 9°C at night. 8.9h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
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