Four Seasons in one day
New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, it has opposite seasons to those living in the northern half of the world. The weather can change unexpectedly so you may want to pack accordingly while vacationing there. The far north has subtropical weather during summer, and the inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10°C (14°F) in winter. Most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures. The average New Zealand temperature decreases as you travel south. January and February are the warmest months, and July is the coldest month of the year. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC (70-90°F) and in winter between 10-15ºC (50-60°F).
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Most places in New Zealand receive over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. New Zealand experiences relatively little air pollution compared to many other countries, which makes the UV rays in our sunlight very strong. Summer in New Zealand is moderate to hot, with temperatures hovering around 20-30 degrees celsius. For New Zealanders summer occurs in December through February.
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Winter in New Zealand brings colder weather to much of the country, with snow in the south and rain in the north. Snow typically appears during the months of June through October, though cold snaps can occur outside these months. Most snow in New Zealand falls in the mountainous areas, like the Central Plateau in the north, and the Southern Alps in the south.
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Spring brings weather of all types – expect everything from cold, frosty, clear days to sunny and hot. Over the northern and central areas of New Zealand more rain falls in winter than in summer, whereas for much of the southern part of New Zealand, winter is the season of least rainfall. As well as producing areas of stunning native forest, the high rainfall makes New Zealand an ideal place for farming and horticulture.
Sources:
"New Regional Weather maps." 2009. Throng. May 2015.
"East Coast Region." 2009. Teara.gov.nz. May 2015.
"New Zealand south island snow tour." 2015. Planitnz. May 2015.
"May as well stay in bed." 2014. TVNZ One News. May 2015.
"New Regional Weather maps." 2009. Throng. May 2015.
"East Coast Region." 2009. Teara.gov.nz. May 2015.
"New Zealand south island snow tour." 2015. Planitnz. May 2015.
"May as well stay in bed." 2014. TVNZ One News. May 2015.