Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Snow
Snow is mostly seen in the mountains, and it can snow above the bushline any time of
year. However, in the South Island there can also be snowfalls at sea level in winter, particu-
larly in the far south.
Regional variations
The South Island is a few degrees cooler than the North Island. It's
quite warm and pleasant in Northland (the far north of the North Island) at any time of year;
it's almost always a few degrees warmer than the rest of the country. Higher altitudes are al-
ways considerably cooler, and it's usually windy in Wellington, which catches winds blow-
ing through Cook Strait in a sort of wind tunnel from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Unpredictability
One of the most important things trampers need to know about NZ's cli-
mate is that it's a maritime climate, rather than the continental climate typical of larger land
masses. This means the weather can change with amazing rapidity.
