New Zealand Weather in April© Unsplash
New Zealand Weather in April

New Zealand Weather in April

© Unsplash

What is the Weather Like in New Zealand in April?

Wanting to explore the incredible landscapes of New Zealand in April? Then you’ve picked a great time to do it. With mild weather, uncrowded destinations and plenty of things to do, travelling New Zealand in April will no doubt be a rewarding experience. Nevertheless, it’s always good to be prepared for the weather, so here’s a quick guide to the New Zealand weather in April.

Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, April is during mid-autumn in New Zealand. This means you’re likely to experience a mix of weather as the country goes from summer into winter. To learn more about the weather in New Zealand, check out our guide to The New Zealand Seasons and Climate, as well as What is the Weather Like in New Zealand?

Tips for Visiting New Zealand in April

Here are some helpful tips to make travelling in New Zealand in April all the easier.

  • April is an unpredictable month to visit New Zealand in terms of the weather. Make sure you’re prepared with warm clothing, lighter clothing and wet weather gear
  • Wear high-factor sunscreen. Even in April, the UV rays are pretty intense in New Zealand so don’t get caught out!
  • As April is a quieter tourist season in New Zealand, you don’t need to worry too much about booking your accommodation, transport or activities way too far in advance. It’s a good time to travel more spontaneously
  • On a similar note, be aware that New Zealand school holidays fall in April so some areas where parents take their children might be busy
  • While April is usually a great time to explore the less crowded hiking trails, make sure you read track reports on the Department of Conservation website before you set off, just in case some bad weather has damaged the tracks.

For more tips, just check out these the 10 Essential New Zealand Travel Tips.

New Zealand Weather in April© Pexels

Typical Temperatures in April

With mild temperatures, April is considered a favourable time to visit New Zealand outside of the busy tourist seasons. Nevertheless, you should still be prepared with some warm clothing for times when the temperatures can reach as low as -1ºC (30ºF) on some nights in the South Island. Some sunny days can be as high as 21ºC (70ºF) even in April. Because regions of New Zealand experience slightly different climates, here are some average temperatures for New Zealand in April.

Northern New Zealand (Northland, Auckland and Tauranga) – 15ºC (59ºF)
Central North Island (Hamilton, Taupo and Rotorua) – 13ºC (55ºF)
South-West North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington) – 14ºC (57ºF)
Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Napier and Wairarapa) – 12ºC (54ºF)
Northern South Island (Blenheim and Nelson) – 14ºC (57ºF)
Western South Island (Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound) – 11-13ºC (52-55ºF)
Eastern South Island (Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru) – 13ºC (55ºF)
Inland South Island (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and Alexandra) – 9-12ºC (48-54ºF)
Southern New Zealand (Dunedin and Invercargill) – 12ºC (54ºF)

Pxhere© Pxhere

Other Weather Patterns in April

The autumn colours are at their best during April. April is also a popular month for hiking on uncrowded trails while the country experiences plenty of crisp sunny days. However, like any month of the year in New Zealand, be prepared for rain by packing a rain jacket and other waterproof hiking gear.

Rainfall in April

As some regions have a wetter climate than others, here’s a list of the average rainfall in April throughout New Zealand.

Northern New Zealand (Northland, Auckland and Tauranga) – 130mm (5″)
Central North Island (Hamilton, Taupo and Rotorua) – 70mm (2.7″)
South-West North Island (New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington) – 100mm (4″)
Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Napier and Wairarapa) – 70mm (2.7″)
Northern South Island (Blenheim and Nelson) – 60mm (2″)
Western South Island (Westport, Hokitika and Milford Sound) – 250-600mm (10-24″)
Eastern South Island (Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru) – 50mm (2″)
Inland South Island (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and Alexandra) – 50mm (2″)
Southern New Zealand (Dunedin and Invercargill) – 60mm (2.4″)

pixabay© pixabay

The Best Places to Visit in April

Here are some destinations to add to your New Zealand itinerary when travelling in April!

Wanaka – the shores of Lake Wanaka are lined with trees rich in autumn colours during this time of the year. It’s the perfect photo opportunity!

Gisborne – wine tasting, surfing and the Eastwoodhill Arboretum are all worth doing in Gisborne during April. See the array of autumn colours at Eastwoodhill, which holds the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere.

Marlborough – hire a bike and do a vineyard and winery crawl of New Zealand’s largest wine region. The region looks amazing at this time of year. Plus, nothing warms you up quite like a good glass of wine.

Milford Sound – see one of New Zealand’s busiest tourist attractions during one of its quietest times. Rain or shine, Milford Sound always looks breathtaking.

Taranaki – Hike inside the forests of the Egmont National Park, circumvent the volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki and relax in the artsy city of New Plymouth. Taranaki is well worth getting off the beaten track for.

For April events to add to your itinerary, check out our guide to New Zealand in April.

pixabay© pixabay

April Packing List

Make sure you add these essentials to your packing list when visiting New Zealand in April!

  • Rainjacket
  • Warm mid-layers
  • Thermal underlayers
  • Light summer top (for those warmer days)
  • Waterproof hiking shoes
  • High factor sunscreen (even in April the New Zealand sun can be pretty intense)

For more things to pack, see our Packing List for Autumn or Spring in New Zealand and 15 Essentials to Pack for New Zealand. Most important of all, check out our complete New Zealand Packing List.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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