Season guide · Auckland · New Zealand
Auckland in winter
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingolfson at English Wikipedia ( Original text: Uploader. ), Public domain
Quick answer
Mild but wet and windy, with rare frosts; museums, food and lower hotel rates make up for shorter days. Expect highs up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 46 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 46
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 16°C (61°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 15 | 9.6 h | 2/5 |
| July | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 16 | 9.9 h | 2/5 |
| August | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 | 10.7 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 15°C (59°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 46 of the year's roughly 136 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Matariki — Māori New Year public holiday (date varies, June or July)
- July: New Zealand International Film Festival (usually July–August)
Good choices for winter
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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
Museum · City Centre
New Zealand Maritime Museum
Check whether a heritage harbour sailing is running on the day; it is a cheap way onto the water.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
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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
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- 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.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Auckland?
It is a trade-off: Mild but wet and windy, with rare frosts; museums, food and lower hotel rates make up for shorter days. The best months overall are February–April and December.
+What is the weather like in Auckland in winter?
Highs of up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 46 rainy days over the season.