Christchurch

New Zealand Weather in August

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in New Zealand in August.

Thinking about venturing to New Zealand this August and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in New Zealand in August

In August, New Zealand experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from cold to mild and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is cold in Mount Cook Village at 3°C (37°F) and mild in Mangonui at 17°C (63°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 10°C (50°F) in Mangonui and -4°C (25°F) in Mount Cook Village.

For specific regional insights in New Zealand, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In August, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Waitati with an average of 48 mm (1.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 293 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Auckland gets around 147 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore New Zealand by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in New Zealand — and find the best time to visit. (based on Auckland)

Best Places to Visit in New Zealand in August

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across New Zealand.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in New Zealand

What is the weather like in August for some of the most popular destinations in New Zealand?

Temperature range in New Zealand (August)

Precipitation variation in New Zealand (August)

Auckland

In August Auckland generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly sun hours
130 hours
147 hours
151 hours
Monthly rainfall
123 mm (4.8 in)
116 mm (4.6 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
20 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Christchurch

In August Christchurch generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
153 hours
167 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Queenstown

In August Queenstown generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
88 hours
120 hours
153 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
107 mm (4.2 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Rotorua

In August Rotorua generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
133 hours
153 hours
155 hours
Monthly rainfall
129 mm (5.1 in)
127 mm (5 in)
132 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Taupo

In August Taupo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
14°C (57°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
120 hours
136 hours
145 hours
Monthly rainfall
125 mm (4.9 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in New Zealand.

Popular cities in August

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in New Zealand in August.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Auckland 16°C (61°F) 9°C (48°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Christchurch 13°C (55°F) 4°C (39°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Queenstown 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Nelson 12°C (54°F) 5°C (41°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Wellington 13°C (55°F) 9°C (48°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Franz Josef 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 271 mm (11 in)

New Zealand weather in August: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New Zealand in August?

In August, New Zealand generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Auckland sees daytime temperatures near 16°C (61°F), with nights cooling to roughly 9°C (48°F).

What is the average temperature in New Zealand in August?

In Auckland, the average daytime high in August is 16°C (61°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 9°C (48°F).

Does New Zealand get a lot of rain in August?

New Zealand sees substantial rainfall in August. Auckland typically averages about 116 mm (4.6 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is August a Good Time to Visit New Zealand?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Auckland, August may not be the ideal time to visit New Zealand.

Generally speaking, January, February, March, April and November provide perfect weather in Auckland. On the other hand, the weather in June, July, August and September tend to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New Zealand.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.