World Guide

New Zealand

Country · Oceania, Australia and New Zealand

New Zealand
Photo: NASA/JPL/NIMA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

New Zealand is a country in Oceania with neighbours by land or sea including Australia. Its capital is Wellington, and it has a population of about 5.3 million across an area of 268,021 square kilometers. The country offers travellers natural landscapes, cities, and national parks.

Highlights

The site covers 25 sights, featuring cities like Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland. Natural sights include Aoraki / Mount Cook, Tāne Mahuta, Milford Sound, Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe, Franz Josef Glacier, Moeraki Boulders, Cape Reinga, Ninety Mile Beach, and the Auckland Islands, Antipodes Islands, and Tongariro National Park. Other sights comprise the Sky Tower, Baldwin Street, Hobbiton Movie Set, Christ Church Cathedral, CTV Building, Cardboard Cathedral, Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill, and Fiordland National Park.

Food and drink

Local dishes include Pavlova, Mānuka honey, Afghan, Meat pie, Hokey pokey, Rēwena bread, and Colonial goose.

When to go

This covers the capital's weather using averages only for temperatures. January, February, and March have average temperatures of 16 °C with monthly rain between 68 mm and 86 mm. April sees average temperatures of 14 °C and 87 mm of rain. May has an average of 12 °C and 118 mm of rain. June, July, and August have average temperatures between 10 °C and 11 °C, with rainfall reaching up to 142 mm in July across about 15 days. September and October average 11 °C to 12 °C with rain around 99 mm to 114 mm. November averages 13 °C with 92 mm of rain, and December averages 15 °C with 86 mm of rain.

Practical notes

The currency is the New Zealand dollar. Official languages are Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, and English. Driving is on the left side of the road. Time zones used are UTC+12:00 and UTC+12:45. Plugs are type I with a voltage of 230.0.

Cities

Food and drink to try in New Zealand

  • Pavlova
  • Mānuka honey
  • Afghan
  • Meat pie
  • Hokey pokey
  • Rēwena bread
  • Colonial goose

Top sights in New Zealand

  1. Aoraki / Mount CookAoraki / Mount Cook
  2. Tāne MahutaTāne Mahuta
  3. Milford SoundMilford Sound
  4. Auckland IslandsUNESCOAuckland Islands
  5. Mount RuapehuMount RuapehuRaetihi
  6. Sky TowerSky TowerAuckland
  7. Baldwin StreetBaldwin StreetDunedin
  8. Hobbiton Movie SetHobbiton Movie Set
  9. Antipodes IslandsUNESCOAntipodes Islands
  10. Mount NgauruhoeMount Ngauruhoe
  11. Franz Josef GlacierFranz Josef GlacierFranz Josef
  12. Moeraki BouldersMoeraki BouldersOamaru
  1. Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch · Christchurch
  2. CTV Building · Christchurch
  3. Cardboard Cathedral · Christchurch
  4. Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill · Auckland
  5. Tongariro National ParkUNESCO
  6. Fiordland National Park
  7. Cape Reinga
  8. Ninety Mile Beach
  9. Larnach Castle · Dunedin
  10. New Zealand Subantarctic IslandsUNESCO
  11. Bounty IslandsUNESCO
  12. Te WahipounamuUNESCO
  13. Dunedin railway station · Dunedin

UNESCO sites in New Zealand →

Weather by month

The warmest month is February, averaging 17 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average temperature, °C161716141211101011121315
Rainfall, mm68678687118138142126991149286
Rainy days881091213151414111113

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Wellington (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

Neighbouring countries and territories