Season guide · Auckland · New Zealand
Auckland in autumn
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingolfson, Public domain
Quick answer
Often the most settled weather of the year in March and April, with warm seas and quieter islands; cooler and wetter by May. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 30 rainy days across March–May. March–April are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 11°C (52°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Sea
- 17°C (63°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 23°C (73°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 8 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| April | 21°C (70°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 10 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 12 | 10.2 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 136 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Auckland Arts Festival (usually March)
- March: Pasifika Festival — Pacific culture and food (usually March, in most years)
- April: ANZAC Day dawn service at Auckland Museum (25 April)
- May: Auckland Writers Festival (usually May)
Good choices for autumn
Gallery · City Centre
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Combine it with a walk through Albert Park and the University of Auckland's old Clock Tower next door.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Aquarium · Tamaki Drive
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
Built into old sewage storage tanks on Tamaki Drive, this aquarium pioneered the moving walk-through underwater tunnel when it opened in 1985.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Museum · Western Springs
MOTAT – Museum of Transport and Technology
Pair it with the zoo or a walk around the eels and swans of Western Springs Lakeside Park next door.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · City Centre
New Zealand Maritime Museum
On Hobson Wharf at the Viaduct, the museum traces New Zealand's seafaring story from Polynesian voyaging canoes and early immigrant ships to the America's Cup, including the yacht KZ1 and a re-creation of a cramped 19th-century settler cabin.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
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Viewpoint · City Centre
Sky Tower
Go up an hour before sunset to see the city by day and lit up at night on one ticket.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- Muriwai gannet colony (About 45 minutes by car) — On a headland above Muriwai's long black-sand surf beach, thousands of Australasian gannets nest from about August to March, close enough to watch from viewing platforms.
- Tiritiri Matangi Island (About 75 minutes by ferry) — An open bird sanctuary cleared of predators and replanted by volunteers, where takahē, kōkako, saddleback and other rare native birds live in the wild.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Auckland?
Yes: March–April are among the best months. Often the most settled weather of the year in March and April, with warm seas and quieter islands; cooler and wetter by May.
+What is the weather like in Auckland in autumn?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 11°C (52°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.