New Zealand Weather in February

© Unsplash

Typical Temperatures in February

If you’re looking for a warm month to visit New Zealand then February is a great choice with temperatures reaching as high as 25ºC (77ºF) on both North and South Islands and only as low as 10ºC (50ºF) on “cooler” nights. In fact, in the warmest part of New Zealand, Northland, temperatures are known to reach 30ºC (86ºF) quite regularly.

However, because there are slightly different climates experienced throughout New Zealand, here are the average temperatures for each area of New Zealand.

Northern New Zealand (Northland, Auckland and Tauranga) – 20ºC (68ºF)
Central North Island (Hamilton, Taupo and Rotorua) – 18ºC (64ºF)
South-West North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington) – 18ºC (64ºF)
Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Napier and Wairarapa) – 20ºC (68ºF)
Northern South Island (Blenheim and Nelson) – 18ºC (64ºF)
Western South Island (Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound) – 15ºC (59ºF)
Eastern South Island (Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru) – 18ºC (64ºF)
Inland South Island (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and Alexandra) – 15-18ºC (59-64ºF)
Southern New Zealand (Dunedin and Invercargill) – 15ºC (59ºF)

© PocketGuide.com

Other Weather Patterns in February

The weather in February is usually more predictable and consistent than during autumn. It’s one of the best months to do outdoor activities in warm and dry weather. The daylight hours are long with the sun usually rising around 6.30am and setting around 7.30pm.

Rainfall in February

Although New Zealand experiences rain year-round, February is the “driest” season to visit for most regions (with the exception of Northland and the West Coast of the South Island). Check out this list of average rainfall in each area of New Zealand for more details.

Northern New Zealand (Northland, Auckland and Tauranga) – 110mm (4″)
Central North Island (Hamilton, Taupo and Rotorua) – 80mm (3″)
South-West North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington) – 60mm (2″)
Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Napier and Wairarapa) – 60mm (2″)
Northern South Island (Blenheim and Nelson) – 30mm (1″)
Western South Island (Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound) – 160mm-500mm (6″-20″)
Eastern South Island (Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru) – 40mm (1.5″)
Inland South Island (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and Alexandra) – 20mm (0.8″)
Southern New Zealand (Dunedin and Invercargill) – 60mm (2″)

© Tourism NZ

The Best Places to Visit in February

February is a great time to do pretty much any outdoor activity in New Zealand, especially water activities. Here are a few destinations to add to your February itinerary.

Bay of Islands – Snorkelling, sailing, diving, boat trips, fishing… The Bay of Islands in the north of the North Island is a great place to get out on the water and experience the most “summery” weather of the country.

Whangarei – Hike Mt Manaia, scuba dive or paddleboard at the Poor Knights Islands and much more in this warm northern city of the North Island.

Aoraki Mt Cook National Park – The alpine landscape of the Southern Landscape is where the snow never disappears but days are still warm enough for comfortable hikes, glacier heli-hikes, scenic flights and so much more in this breathtaking landscape.

Hawke’s Bay – Not only does the North Island region have loads of sunshine hours, but the city of Napier also hosts the Art Deco Festival which is not to be missed. On top of that, the region is great for mountain biking and wine tasting.

Stewart Island – New Zealand’s third-largest populated island is right at the bottom of the South Island with 80% of it being a national park. It’s a great place to hike in the wilderness and see native wildlife like kiwi birds.

For events to check out during February, take a look at New Zealand in February.

© STIL on Unsplash

February Packing List

Here are a few essentials to add to your packing list for visiting New Zealand in February.

• High factor sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Light clothing
• One warm layer
• Rainjacket
• Hiking shoes
• Swimwear

For more things to add to that list, see the Packing List for Summer in New Zealand and 15 Essentials to Pack for New Zealand. Most important of all, check out our complete New Zealand Packing List.