Season guide · Auckland · New Zealand
Auckland in spring
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Techno246, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Blossom, lambs and lengthening days with changeable weather; pōhutukawa start flowering red in November. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 35 rainy days across September–November.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 35
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 17°C (63°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 13 | 11.9 h | 2/5 |
| October | 18°C (64°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 12 | 13.1 h | 3/5 |
| November | 20°C (68°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 10 | 14.2 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 35 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 spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Auckland Diwali Festival (usually October or November)
- October: Auckland Marathon (usually late October or early November)
- November: Santa Parade on Queen Street (usually late November or early December)
Good choices for spring
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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
Museum · Auckland Domain
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The neoclassical museum on Pukekawa hill in the Domain houses major Māori and Pacific collections, including the carved meeting house Hotunui and the war canoe Te Toki a Tapiri, alongside natural history galleries with moa skeletons and a volcano gallery, and New Zealand's war memorial halls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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
Day trips in spring
- Matakana and Goat Island (About 1 hour by car) — Matakana village has a Saturday farmers' market, wineries and cafés, and nearby Goat Island became New Zealand's first marine reserve in 1975, where snapper and other fish swim close to shore for snorkellers.
- Hobbiton Movie Set (About 2 hours by car) — The Shire set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films sits on a working farm near Matamata, with 44 hobbit holes, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn on guided tours.
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 spring a good time to visit Auckland?
It is a trade-off: Blossom, lambs and lengthening days with changeable weather; pōhutukawa start flowering red in November. The best months overall are February–April and December.
+What is the weather like in Auckland in spring?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 35 rainy days over the season.