All about Auckland. How's the weather?

With its location on the far north tip of New Zealand's north island, Auckland has a nice, balanced climate that offers warm, fairly dry summers coupled with mild, wet winters, making for a reasonably comfortable destination all year round.

The climate of Auckland is similar to many other cities throughout the world which sit on the same level of latitude including Malaga in Spain and Monterey in California, however Auckland tends to be cooler than these cities due to the moderating effects provided by the Pacific Ocean. Most types of weather that exist under the entire possible spectrum can be experienced in Auckland; sometimes all of them in the same day! Auckland also benefits from its geographic location by having generally quite long amounts of daylight hours during the day, and winds that are generally moderate to slight making for pleasant conditions year-around.

Temperatures in Auckland are quite moderate throughout the year, with few uncomfortable extremes being experienced there, especially when compared to some of the other popular destinations in New Zealand. The thermometer ranges from a low in winter of about 8°C to summer's typical maximum of around 23°C, with ranges varying throughout all seasons in between. Rainfall also generally reaches much higher levels in the winter than the summer, with 15 wet days being the average, while summer typically receives around 8 days of rain. Auckland's rainy days usually follow up brief periods of rain with sunshine soon following afterwards.

Auckland's seasons provide a reasonable amount of variety although the transitions are not as stark or as striking as the other cities situated within the more alpine-style environments of New Zealand. While this may provide less of a variety of types of scenery, it also means that having to travel to Auckland during specific times of the year is not as important as other cities within the country; extremes of temperature and weather are not as common in Auckland.

Auckland also has the benefit of being one of the sunniest civilised centres of New Zealand, with an average of around 2060 hours (or 85 consecutive days) worth of sunshine per year making for plenty of additional time to experience the many activities such as cruises, day and harbour tours, sightseeing experiences and more that are popular both in and around the city.

While summer is obviously the warmest season in Auckland, it remains relatively mild and comfortable, with temperatures rarely exceeding 30°C even in February – the hottest month of the year. Summer in Auckland is a great time to get out in the open and experience some of the adventure activities on offer, with the mornings typically being calm before the sea breezes kick in later in the day. The weather in this season is also perfect for exploring beaches and enjoying watersports, but visitors must be mindful during the middle of the day as UV radiation levels can soar high, making wearing a sunscreen with a high-SP Factor a must.

From the months of March to May, Auckland shows only a mild touch of the effects of the transition from summer to autumn, with isolated areas of deciduous trees showing a change in colour but other areas remaining mostly unchanged. The crowds who visit for the summer have typically dispersed by this time, while the weather continues to remain both settled and comfortably warm.

The winter months of June – August bring a cooler change to Auckland although there is not as significant a drop as can be experienced in many other regions – and indeed, countries – throughout the world. Temperatures do not reach negative extremes, and the daily average can be expected to be around 14°C, although variations and unpredictability are commonplace, as westerly winds may suddenly kick up and make the days milder, while on others cold and rain are themes of the day. Rainfall can also be quite heavy during the winter season and conditions are commonly damp, so an umbrella and/or raincoat are an important accessory to have along for your trip. The winter weather can also vary in different parts of the city itself due to its layout and geography, with hilly areas, various degrees of land cover and distance from the sea all coming in to play.

Depending on the year, spring can sometimes be Auckland's wettest season (in competition with winter for the “title”) and is typically dominated by southerly south-westerly winds which play a large part in the temperatures of the day. The weather can change quickly in spring, with cold fronts and cyclones occurring suddenly and causing strong winds and heavy rains. It's not all doom and gloom during Auckland's spring however; the flora of the region thrives, and visitors are commonly treated to fantastic shows of flowers and other blossoms that truly reflect the fact that “spring has come”. Be prepared for a little bit of everything in spring in Auckland – from clear frosty nights to hot days where you'll be able to wear shorts, come equipped to handle all variations of weather and temperatures within reason.