New Zealand in September

Spring: lambs and blossom, but changeable weather and late snow; daylight saving starts late in the month.

• Northland and Auckland · Bay of Islands, Auckland, Coromandelfine

  Subtropical-mild: humid summers around 24 °C, wet but rarely cold winters (14 °C days); showers in any month.

• Central North Island · Rotorua, Taupō, Tongarirocool

  The volcanic plateau is high: frosts and snow on the Tongariro Crossing in winter (guided only then); summer is the crossing season.

• Wellington and Marlborough-Nelson · Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Abel Tasmanfine

  Nelson and Blenheim are the sunniest towns in the country; Wellington's wind and Cook Strait swell can cancel ferries.

• Southern Alps and lakes · Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tekapocool

  Hot dry summers, clear cold winters with ski fields Jun–Sep; chains needed on passes; autumn colour in April.

• West Coast and Fiordland · Franz Josef, Fox, Milford Sound, Te Anaurainy

  Among the wettest places on earth (Milford gets 6–7 m a year): rain makes the waterfalls, but slips close roads; sandflies all summer.

• Otago coast and far south · Dunedin, the Catlins, Stewart Islandcool

  Cool and changeable year-round; short winter days (about 9 hours of light in June).

• Auckland17° / 10°, 13 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• School holidays

  Apr, Jul, late Sep–Oct, mid-Dec – late Jan

  Family travel fills campervans, ski fields (July) and ferries.

Crowds · New Zealand

Low

Prices · New Zealand

Low

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Auckland

  Spring warms; changeable weather.