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When to go · New Zealand

New Zealand in November

Good month. Long days before the rush; the best value month for a summer-type trip.

Key facts

Verdict
Good
Crowds
Medium
New Zealand
Prices
Medium
New Zealand

Verdict

GoodVoykit month rating for New Zealand

Long days before the rush; the best value month for a summer-type trip.

Is another month better than November?

November is rated good. These months rate higher:

Weather in November

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

    Subtropical-mild: humid summers around 24 °C (75 °F), wet but rarely cold winters (14 °C (57 °F) days); showers in any month.

  • Central North Island · Rotorua, Taupō, Tongarirofine

    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, Tekapofine

    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 Islandfine

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

  • Bay of Islands: Bay of Islands · Paihia, Russell, Kerikeri and the coastbest weather

    Subtropical: warmest and driest Dec–Mar (25–27 °C (77–81 °F) days), wettest and windiest Jun–Aug. Water is warmest Feb–Mar.

  • Far Far North: Far Far North · Aupouri Peninsulacool

    Summer (Dec–Apr) is warm and long‑daylight; winter can be cool and windy, especially on the coast.

  • Lower Northland: Coastal Lower Northland · Whangarei area and west coastbest weather

    Mild maritime climate; warmest Jan–Feb (~22 °C (72 °F)), coolest Jul–Aug (~12 °C (54 °F)). Rainfall spread year‑round.

  • North Island: Auckland and Northland · Upper North Islandbest weather

    Warmest and wettest part of the island; rain arrives in short heavy showers year-round.

  • North Island: Central North Island · Rotorua, Taupō, Tongarirofine

    Inland and higher; frost and snow on the volcanoes in winter (Jul–Aug), which is also the ski season.

  • North Island: Wellington · Greater Wellingtonfine

    Wind is the local weather; the ferry across Cook Strait can be cancelled in rough conditions.

  • South Island: West Coast · Franz Josef, Fox, Haastfine

    One of the wettest places in New Zealand — over 2000 mm a year. Rain is normal; plan around it, not against it.

  • South Island: Canterbury and Mackenzie Country · Christchurch, Tekapo, Mount Cookbest weather

    Dry east of the Alps; hot northwesterly winds can push summer temperatures into the 30s. Winter snow closes alpine roads at times.

  • South Island: Otago and Southland · Queenstown, Wanaka, Dunedin, Te Anaubest weather

    Cooler the further south you go; alpine areas are cold in winter and snow-capped much of the year.

  • Wairarapa: Wairarapa · Sheltered east of the Rimutaka and Tararua rangesbest weather

    The ranges block the prevailing westerlies, so it is warmer and drier than Wellington. Summer (Dec–Mar) is the reliable window; winter is cool and can bring frost.

  • Auckland20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Akaroa18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Alexandra20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days
  • Arrowtown19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Blenheim21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Bluff17 °C (63 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days
  • Browns Bay20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Cambridge20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 11 rain days
  • Carterton20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Charleston18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 13 rain days
  • Christchurch19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Collingwood19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days
  • Coromandel21 °C (70 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days
  • Cromwell20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Dannevirke19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Dargaville21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 7 rain days
  • Devonport20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dunedin16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Elsthorpe20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days
  • Fairlie18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Feilding20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Flaxmere20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Fox Glacier18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 15 rain days
  • Franz Josef18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 16 rain days
  • Gisborne21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Glenorchy19 °C (66 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days
  • Gore18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Granity18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 14 rain days
  • Greymouth18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 15 rain days
  • Haast17 °C (63 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 15 rain days
  • Hahei20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Hamilton20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 11 rain days
  • Hanmer Springs19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Hastings23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Havelock19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Havelock North21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • Hawera19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 11 rain days
  • Helensville22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days
  • Hokitika18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 14 rain days
  • Horeke21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days
  • Invercargill16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days
  • Kaiapoi18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Kaikoura18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Kaitaia20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days
  • Karamea18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 12 rain days
  • Kerikeri21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days
  • Kingston18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Kohukohu21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Koutu21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kūaotunu20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Lake Tekapo18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days
  • Leigh20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days
  • Levin18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Long Bay22 °C (72 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days
  • Lyttelton19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Manapouri18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 13 rain days
  • Mangamuka Bridge20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mapua19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days
  • Martinborough20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Masterton20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Matamata20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Mataura17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Matawai20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days
  • Methven20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Milford Sound16.4 °C (62 °F) / 7.6 °C (46 °F), 18 rain days
  • Milton16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Morere20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Mossburn18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days
  • Motueka20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Murchison18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Muriwai20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days
  • Napier22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • National Park Village20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Nelson20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • New Plymouth19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 11 rain days
  • Oamaru18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ohakune18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Omarama19 °C (66 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days
  • Onekaka20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Opononi21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days
  • Opotiki21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 9 rain days
  • Otaki18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Paekākāriki20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • Paihia20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 11 rain days
  • Palmerston North20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 11 rain days
  • Paraparaumu19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Pauanui20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Picton19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days
  • Piha20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Pirongia21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Pleasant Point19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Port Chalmers17 °C (63 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Puhoi21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 11 rain days
  • Punakaiki18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 14 rain days
  • Queenstown19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Raetihi18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Raglan20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 11 rain days
  • Rai Valley19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Ranfurly20 °C (68 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 5 rain days
  • Rangiora19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days
  • Rawene20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 11 rain days
  • Reefton18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 13 rain days
  • Renwick20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ross17 °C (63 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 14 rain days
  • Rotorua19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days
  • Russell21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Seddon19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Shannon20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Springfield19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • St Arnaud18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Stratford18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 11 rain days
  • Taipa-Mangonui20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days
  • Tairua21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Takaka19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days
  • Takapuna20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Taradale21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 8 rain days
  • Taumarunui20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Taupō18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Tauranga20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Te Awamutu21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • Te Kuiti20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 11 rain days
  • Te Puke20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days
  • Thames20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days
  • Timaru19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Torbay20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Turangi19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 10 rain days
  • Twizel19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Waihi Beach20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days
  • Waikanae21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days
  • Waipara20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 7 rain days
  • Waipukurau20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days
  • Wairoa20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days
  • Waitomo20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days
  • Wakefield19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 rain days
  • Wanaka20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ward19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Warkworth20 °C (68 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days
  • Wellington17 °C (63 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 10 rain days
  • Wellsford20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Westport18 °C (64 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 13 rain days
  • Whakatane21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days
  • Whangamata20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days
  • Whanganui19 °C (66 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 9 rain days
  • Whangarei21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 10 rain days
  • Whangaroa20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 11 rain days
  • Whataroa15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Whitianga20 °C (68 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days

Crowds and prices

Crowds · New Zealand
Medium
Prices · New Zealand
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in New Zealand, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Nov: Good

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Nov: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Nov: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Nov: 0

    Jan: 5

November: Long days before the rush; the best value month for a summer-type trip.

January: Peak summer and local holidays: long days, warm lakes; book cars, ferries and huts well ahead.

New Zealand: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in November

Rated best or good this month

  • Auckland

    Warm, long days.

  • Akaroa

    Best months: Nov–Apr; Dec–Feb is warmest but busiest

  • Blenheim

    Best months: Nov–Apr (warm, dry, long days); Feb–Apr for harvest

  • Bluff

    Best months: Nov–Apr; Mar–Aug for oysters

  • Browns Bay

    Best months: Nov–Apr (warm, sunny)

  • Cambridge

    Best months: Nov–Apr; Mar–Apr for settled weather and fewer crowds

  • Charleston

    Best months: Nov–Apr; Feb–Apr for the driest stretch

  • Christchurch

    Best months: Nov–Apr; Dec–Feb for long days, Mar–Apr for settled weather

  • Coromandel

    Best months: Nov–Apr

  • Cromwell

    Best months: Nov–Apr

  • Dannevirke

    Best months: Oct–Apr

  • Devonport

    Best months: Nov–Apr (warm, long days); Mar–Apr is quieter