Season guide · Auckland · New Zealand

Auckland in summer

December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.

Updated 23 October 2026By the AMZBooking editorial team

Quick answer

Warm, humid and the best beach weather, with long evenings, festivals and the busiest ferries and islands during the January holidays. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 25 rainy days across December–February. February and December are among the best months of the year to visit.

Months: December–February
Temperatures: 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F)
Rainy days in the season: About 25
Sea: 19°C (66°F) to 21°C (70°F)
Crowds: Busy
Hotel prices: High

Weather in summer

Auckland in summer: month by month
Month	High	Low	Rainy days	Daylight	Crowds
January	24°C (75°F)	16°C (61°F)	8	14.4 h	5/5
February	25°C (77°F)	17°C (63°F)	7	13.5 h	4/5
December	22°C (72°F)	15°C (59°F)	10	14.7 h	4/5

Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 24°C (75°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 25 of the year's roughly 136 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.

What's on in summer

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

January: ASB Classic tennis tournament (usually early January)
January: Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta — harbour sailing (Monday nearest 29 January)
February: Waitangi Day — national day, with events around the city (6 February)
February: Auckland Lantern Festival (around Lunar New Year, usually February or March)
December: New Year's Eve fireworks from the Sky Tower (31 December)

Good choices for summer

Viewpoint · City Centre

Sky Tower

At 328 metres, the Sky Tower is one of the tallest freestanding structures in the Southern Hemisphere and the city's main viewpoint, with glass-floor panels on the observation levels and views up to about 80 km on a clear day.

Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Iconic
Views
Kids
After dark
Rainy day

Museum · Auckland Domain

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Book the Māori cultural performance for the same visit, and see the ground-floor Pacific galleries before tour groups arrive.

Time needed: 2–3 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Iconic
History
Kids
Rainy day
Architecture

Gallery · City Centre

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

New Zealand's largest art collection fills a French Renaissance-style building joined to a modern timber-canopied wing on the edge of Albert Park.

Time needed: 1.5–2 hours
Cost: Free

Art
Free
Rainy day
Architecture

Aquarium · Tamaki Drive

Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium

Combine it with the waterfront walk or bike ride along Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay.

Time needed: 1.5–2 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Rainy day

Museum · Western Springs

MOTAT – Museum of Transport and Technology

Next to Western Springs park and the zoo, MOTAT displays trams, steam engines, aircraft including a Short Solent flying boat and a Lancaster bomber, and hands-on science exhibits.

Time needed: 2–3 hours
Cost: Mid-priced

Kids
Rainy day
History

Day trips in summer

Waiheke Island (About 40 minutes by ferry) — Vineyards, olive groves and white-sand bays such as Onetangi make Waiheke Auckland's favourite escape.
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.

What to pack

Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
A packable rain jacket for showers
Comfortable walking shoes

Other times of year

Questions travellers ask

+Is summer a good time to visit Auckland?

Yes: February and December are among the best months. Warm, humid and the best beach weather, with long evenings, festivals and the busiest ferries and islands during the January holidays.

+What is the weather like in Auckland in summer?

Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 25 rainy days over the season.