New Zealand
Two large islands of fjords, glaciers and volcanic plateaus, home to flightless birds found nowhere else.
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific, made up of two large islands, the North Island and the South Island, plus more than 700 smaller ones. Wellington is the capital and Auckland is the largest city. The Māori name, Aotearoa, is often translated as "land of the long white cloud." On the South Island, the Southern Alps run along its length and rise to Aoraki / Mount Cook at 3,724 metres. Fiordland in the southwest has steep mountains and deep fjords shaped by ice-age glaciers.
The North Island has a volcanic plateau, and Lake Taupō sits in a supervolcano caldera. After about 80 million years of isolation, birds such as the kiwi and kākāpō cannot fly and are found nowhere else. Most visitors arrive by air, and a private car is the main way to get around, with buses linking most major cities and towns. The climate is mostly temperate, and snow falls from June to October in the eastern and southern South Island and in mountain areas.
Five things to know before New Zealand
- Get an NZeTA and pay the visitor levy before you fly
Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA before they fly and pay the NZD $100 International Visitor Levy when they request it. Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not pay the levy, and Australians need neither a visa nor an NZeTA. Visa checker
- Declare every food item on the traveler declaration
Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you land. Undeclared food, plants or muddy hiking boots can mean a fine, even by accident.
- Book Great Walk huts the day bookings open
Huts on the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks sell out within hours for the summer season. Without a booking you cannot walk them as an overnight trip. Fiordland
- Plan drive times on the map, not the distance
Most highways are two lanes with bends and one-lane bridges. Queenstown to Milford Sound is about four hours each way, so a day trip by car is long and tiring. Getting around
- Pack layers for four seasons in a day
Weather changes fast in the mountains and on the west coast, even in summer. Carry a rain jacket and a warm layer on every walk, and check the forecast before alpine drives.
New Zealand travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Summer walks, ski season and the shoulder months with fewer campervans.
Read the guideNZeTA explainedWho needs one, the app versus the website, and the visitor levy.
Read the guideSouth IslandLoops from Christchurch via the glaciers, Fiordland and the Southern Lakes.
Read the guideQueenstownThe base for the Southern Lakes, ski fields and the road to Milford.
Read the guideMilford SoundThe Milford Road, cruise and flight options, and the best months.
Read the guideAucklandThe arrival city, ferries to the gulf islands and the road north and south.
Read the guideRotoruaGeothermal parks, Māori culture and redwood forest trails.
Read the guideWellingtonThe compact capital by the harbor and the ferry to the South Island.
Read the guide
Destinations in New Zealand
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- NZ$45
- Food
- NZ$45
- Transport
- NZ$10
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- NZ$130
- Food
- NZ$100
- Transport
- NZ$35
- Sights
- NZ$40
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- NZ$250
- Food
- NZ$180
- Transport
- NZ$120
- Sights
- NZ$220
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Summer, busyJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer, busy
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Warm, settledFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, settled
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Warm, quieterMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Autumn colorAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Cool, showersMayPartly cloudy
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, showers
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Ski season opensJuneRain
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski season opens
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Wettest, coldJulyRain
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest, cold
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Cold, ski peakAugustRain
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski peak
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Spring, windySeptemberRain
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, windy
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Spring, mixedOctoberPartly cloudy
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mixed
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Warm, fewer crowdsNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, fewer crowds
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Summer holidaysDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer holidays
Average daily high and low in Auckland, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in New Zealand
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 35 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 32%
Wellington
09:07 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today17°14°32%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 32%.
- Wed19°13°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu20°14°12%Thursday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Fri19°15°52%Friday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Sat19°15°60%Saturday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 60%.
- Sun19°14°25%Sunday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 06:56 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.778 NZD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Festivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- MarPasifika FestivalAuckland
- Apr
- May
- JunMatarikiAcross New Zealand
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in New Zealand: BABYMONSTER World Tour [CHOOM] Auckland, Dec 8, 2026 · Foo Fighters Take Cover Tour Christchurch, Auckland, Jan 19 – 22, 2027 · Bruno Mars The Romantic Tour Auckland, Mar 13 – 16, 2027 · Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Auckland, Christchurch, Jul 28 – 30, 2027
Before you go to New Zealand
New Zealand FAQ
Do I need an NZeTA for New Zealand?
Yes, if you come from a visa-waiver country such as the US, UK, Canada, Germany or Spain. Request it before you fly and pay the NZD $100 International Visitor Levy when you request it; the levy is not refunded even if an application is declined. Australian passport holders do not need a visa, an NZeTA or the levy.
How many days do I need in New Zealand?
Two weeks lets you see one island well and a little of the other. With 10 days, pick either the South Island or the North Island rather than rushing both.
Is it better to rent a car or a campervan?
Either works on the main routes. A campervan saves on rooms but you still need to book powered sites in summer, and freedom camping is only allowed at signed spots with self-contained vehicles.
Can I drive in New Zealand on my home license?
Visitors can drive on a valid overseas license for a limited time. The time limit and the rules for licenses not in English are set by NZTA, so check its site before you book a car. Traffic drives on the left.
When is the best time to see Milford Sound?
Any time of year. Rain is common and brings hundreds of waterfalls down the cliffs, so a wet day is not a wasted trip. The road can close for snow or avalanche risk in winter.