What’s the Weather Like in New Zealand in November?
Travelling New Zealand in November! Then you’ve picked the perfect time to soak up some warm New Zealand weather while experiencing the country in it’s “shoulder season”. Often, you’ll feel like you have the whole country to yourself. What’s more, the mild climate of spring makes it the perfect time to do outdoor activities in New Zealand, from hiking to white water rafting. So you know what weather to expect while travelling in November, we’ve put together this quick guide of typical New Zealand weather in November.
The New Zealand seasons are different from what is experienced in the Northern Hemisphere. In New Zealand, summer is during December, January and February. Autumn is during March, April and May. Winter is June, July and August. Finally, spring is throughout September, October and November. To learn more about the New Zealand climate, check out The New Zealand Seasons and Climate. Plus, you might like our Month-by-Month Guide to the Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
5 Tips for Travelling in November in New Zealand
Here are a few handy tips to make travelling New Zealand in November a little bit easier.
- If you’re travelling the South Island especially, make sure you have insect repellent! The sandflies start to emerge in November and can leave itchy bites
- Make sure you apply high factor sunscreen several times a day, even on a cloudy day. The hole in the Ozone layer is just above New Zealand making the UV rays pretty intense
- Pack an extra layer in your day pack – even in spring, the weather can change quickly
- While booking transport, accommodation and activities don’t need to be done way in advance for November, we still recommend booking at least a few days in advance
- If travelling the South Island, make sure you check out the Victorian Fete in the town of Oamaru.
For more tips, see the 10 Essential New Zealand Travel Tips.
© PexelsTypical Temperatures in November
November is the last month of spring. With that, the temperatures are mild on the lead-up to summer. However, New Zealand experiences slightly different climates across the country so take a look at the list below to see the average temperature of the areas you will be visiting.
Northern New Zealand (Northland, Auckland and Tauranga) – 16ºC (60ºF)
Central North Island (Hamilton, Taupo and Rotorua) – 14ºC (57ºF)
South-West North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington) – 14ºC (57ºF)
Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Napier and Wairarapa) – 16ºC (60ºF)
Northern South Island (Blenheim and Nelson) – 15ºC (59ºF)
Western South Island (Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound) – 13ºC (55ºF)
Eastern South Island (Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru) – 14ºC (57ºF)
Inland South Island (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and Alexandra) – 13ºC (55ºF)
Southern New Zealand (Dunedin and Invercargill) – 12ºC (53ºF)
© UnsplashOther Weather Patterns in November
The extreme weather patterns like intense rain or wind start to die down during November in New Zealand. However, there’s always the chance of rain and slightly cooler nights so be prepared. Otherwise, there are many clear days in November great for getting outdoors.
Rainfall in November
While there is little rainfall in comparison to other months in New Zealand during November, there are some areas of the country with a much wetter climate than others. Here’s a list of average rainfall in each area of New Zealand during the month of November.
Northern New Zealand (Northland, Auckland and Tauranga) – 80mm (3″)
Central North Island (Hamilton, Taupo and Rotorua) – 90mm (3.5″)
South-West North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington) – 70mm (2.7″)
Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Napier and Wairarapa) – 60mm (2″)
Northern South Island (Blenheim and Nelson) – 80mm (3″)
Western South Island (Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound) – 300mm-540mm (12″-21″)
Eastern South Island (Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru) – 40mm (1.5″)
Inland South Island (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and Alexandra) – 30mm-70mm (1″-2.7″)
Southern New Zealand (Dunedin and Invercargill) – 60mm-80mm (2″-3″)
© UnsplashBest Places to Visit in November
Thanks to November being an uncrowded season (to be fair, New Zealand never really feels crowded), these are the best places to go before the busy summer tourism season starts!
Milford Sound – One of New Zealand’s most popular sights, Milford Sound is much quieter in November and it’s one of the seasons with less rain so it’s a great chance to see the fiord on a clear day!
Aoraki Mt Cook – With plenty of snow still covering the mountains, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park looks amazing this time of year.
Tongariro National Park – Hike the Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand’s most popular day walk.
Geraldine – White water raft on the pumping Rangitata River after all the snowmelt!
Hamilton – See the Hamilton Gardens during the spring bloom.
For events in November, see New Zealand in November.
© PexelsNovember Packing List
Add these items to your New Zealand packing list for November!
- Mid-layers (even in November it can get a little chilly)
- Rain jacket
- Hiking pants
- Long-sleeve top (especially to stop sand fly bites on the South Island)
- Insect repellent
- High factor sunscreen
- Swimwear
- Walking shoes
For a more in-depth packing list, see the Packing List for Autumn or Spring in New Zealand and New Zealand Packing List: What to Pack for New Zealand.
More About the Weather in New Zealand
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
- New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
