New Zealand in March

© Unsplash

New Zealand Weather in March

March is the first month of autumn in New Zealand. Temperatures are usually mild from the heat of summer going into autumn. Nevertheless, some areas of New Zealand will still feel like the middle of summer, such as Northland and the Bay of Islands. There may be a few showery days, as the weather is often changing in New Zealand, so be prepared.

North Island Temperatures: Highs of around 23ºC (73ºF) or more, and lows of 10ºC (50ºF).
South Island Temperatures: Highs of around 22ºC (72ºF) and lows of 8ºC (76ºF).

For a packing list to match the weather in March, see Packing List for Autumn or Spring in New Zealand.

© Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

March Events in New Zealand

With the weather still good, March is an extremely popular time for events in New Zealand. Some festivals you may even be able to take part in if you are on a working holiday visa, which you can find more about in How to Volunteer at a Festival in New Zealand. Festivals in March in New Zealand tend to be cultural and a great way to immerse yourself in the Maori and Kiwi culture.

Festivals in March

• WOMAD, New Plymouth
• Wildfoods Festival, Hokitika
• Warbirds Over Wanaka
• Balloons Over Waikato, Hamilton
• CubaDupa, Wellington
• Pasifika Festival, Auckland
• Gumboot Day, Taihape

© Tareen Ellis - Tourism New Zealand

The Activities that are Best Done in March

March is a great time to hit the hiking trails in New Zealand. The weather is usually fine enough to enjoy any of the hikes New Zealand has to offer. Try even a multi-day hike where the nights are still at a comfortable temperature for camping or staying in a backcountry hut.

To get some hiking inspiration, start with these articles:

• 5 Incredible Multi-day Hikes in the Fiordland National Park
• 10 Must-Do Hikes Around Mt Cook
• 6 Hikes You Have to do in Egmont National Park!

If you plan on taking on one of New Zealand’s multi-day hikes or Great Walks, then here are your survival kits:

• Guide to the 9 Great Walks of New Zealand
• Multi-Day Backpacking Trips in New Zealand: A Complete Guide
• 12 Awesome Alternatives to the New Zealand Great Walks

© Pexels

Typical March Prices

The beginning of March tends to see tourism prices in New Zealand similar to the popular summer season. However, these prices usually lower as it gets toward the end of March. For typical prices, take a look at How Much Does it Cost to Travel New Zealand? 

Flights in March

Thankfully, the season does not really influence the price of flights to New Zealand in March. However, getting a cheap flight does rely on a few other factors which you can learn more about in our guide to getting a cheap flight in New Zealand. Plus, wise up on the arrival process in our Airport Arrival Guide.

Vehicle Rental in March

Vehicle rental prices start to lower in March after the busy summer season. However, as this season is still popular, expect budget rental vehicles to be around NZ$50 per day at the cheapest. We have more vehicle rental costs to budget for in this article.

Accommodation in March

While most budget accommodations in New Zealand have the same prices year-round, some hostels and holiday parks will have higher prices during the peak season. In March, you may find that holiday parks are priced anywhere between NZ$20 to NZ$50 per night for a powered site, while hostels tend to stay around the NZ$25-$32 price margin for a bed in a dorm.

Activities in March

On the plus side, most activity operators in New Zealand remain open in March giving you more to choose from. Activity prices often stay the same year-round so this should not affect your budget too much when travelling in March.