Making travel plains to New Zealand can be tricky given its place in the Southern Hemisphere. Its seasons are literally flipped as its winter is the same time as summer in the Northern Hemisphere and so on. Yet, overall, New Zealand boasts a temperate climate that makes it a lovely destination for a vacation.
The summer takes place in December, January and February and is a perfect time to experience New Zealand's beach life and attractions. Since the island is relatively small in mass, most inland places are close to the shore and enjoy cool temperatures and plenty of sunshine. This is an ideal time for water sports, sunbathing and going out into the bush.
The months of March, April and May are the autumnal months in New Zealand. While not as hot as it is in the summer, tourists can still enjoy the water until about mid-April. At this point, the leaves began changing and create splendid sights to behold -- especially in Hawke's Bay and Central Otago.
June through August are the winter months in New Zealand. The average temperature during this period is between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. The mountain ranges will be covered in snow and offer skiing. Even winter in New Zealand is still relatively sunny, and if you are willing to deal with the cold temperatures there is plenty to do and see.
Spring in New Zealand still has remnants of the cold at first. It begins to heat up around October. The melted snow makes the water rise, which in turn makes for great white-water rafting.
Given New Zealand's position in the Pacific Ocean, it is prone to rapid weather change. Cold fronts can come out of nowhere, drastically changing temperatures. It's wise to pack for such unexpected changes in weather.
