Queenstown

New Zealand Weather in September

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

Planning a journey to New Zealand this September and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in New Zealand in September

New Zealand offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In September, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to mild, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from cold in Mount Cook Village at 5°C (41°F) to mild in Mangonui at 18°C (64°F). At night it cools down to 11°C (52°F) in Mangonui and -3°C (27°F) in Mount Cook Village.

For a closer look at conditions across New Zealand, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In September, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 49 mm (1.9 in) to heavy rainfall in Haast with 379 mm (15 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine levels are moderate in most locations. Auckland typically sees 151 hours of sunlight, creating comfortable conditions that aren't too bright or too dim. Looking for something sunnier? Our weather planner helps you discover destinations with more reliable sunshine.

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 September

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 September for some of the most popular destinations in New Zealand?

Temperature range in New Zealand (September)

Precipitation variation in New Zealand (September)

Auckland

In September Auckland generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

August
September
October
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Monthly sun hours
147 hours
151 hours
182 hours
Monthly rainfall
116 mm (4.6 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Christchurch

In September Christchurch generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

August
September
October
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
167 hours
204 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
9 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Queenstown

In September Queenstown generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

August
September
October
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-1°C (30°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
120 hours
153 hours
200 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
111 mm (4.4 in)
138 mm (5.4 in)
152 mm (6 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
11 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Rotorua

In September Rotorua generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

August
September
October
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
155 hours
193 hours
Monthly rainfall
127 mm (5 in)
132 mm (5.2 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Taupo

In September Taupo generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

August
September
October
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
136 hours
145 hours
180 hours
Monthly rainfall
122 mm (4.8 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
119 mm (4.7 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 September

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Auckland 17°C (63°F) 10°C (50°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Christchurch 15°C (59°F) 5°C (41°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Queenstown 6°C (43°F) -1°C (30°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Nelson 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Wellington 14°C (57°F) 10°C (50°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Franz Josef 9°C (48°F) 2°C (36°F) 352 mm (14 in)

New Zealand weather in September: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New Zealand in September?

In September, New Zealand generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Auckland sees daytime temperatures near 17°C (63°F), with nights cooling to roughly 10°C (50°F).

What is the average temperature in New Zealand in September?

Average temperatures in New Zealand during September range from a nighttime low near 10°C (50°F) to a daytime high around 17°C (63°F) in Auckland.

Does New Zealand get a lot of rain in September?

New Zealand sees substantial rainfall in September. Auckland typically averages about 112 mm (4.4 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is September a Good Time to Visit New Zealand?

In our opinion, September may not be the ideal time to visit New Zealand due to the typically unpleasant weather in Auckland.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March, April and November offering mostly perfect weather in Auckland. On the other hand, the months of June, July, August and September tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

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.