When is the Best Time to Visit Auckland?
On New Zealand’s North Island, Auckland is renowned for its nature and green spaces that can be accessed easily from the heart of the city. With a subtropical climate, the city’s weather is temperate throughout the year, which means there’s no wrong time for planning a trip. Here’s when to visit Auckland.
From dining at the best restaurants to walking the black sands of Piha Beach or embarking on a wine tour, there are plenty of incredible things to do in Auckland and its surrounding region. In the more humid summer months, expect an average maximum temperature of 24°C, while damp winters dip to an average of 7°C at their coldest.
The peak tourism season for Auckland is during the summer, when locals and visitors alike bask in beautiful sunny days. Follow a scenic cycling trail to see beyond the city limits or explore the harbourside Britomart precinct with its cool cafes and trendy boutiques. In the winter, be sure to take a luxurious soak in a hot spring or onsen. For snow bunnies, the ski fields of Mount Ruapehu are four hours away by car.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at the incredible events that are coming up soon in Auckland…
Spring
Auckland Marathon is celebrating its 30th anniversary on 31 October and there are five options on offer, from a 2.2-kilometre Kids Marathon to the complete 42-kilometre course.
Get in the fast lane as the annual ITM Auckland SuperSprint returns to the historic Pukekohe Park race track on 6 and 7 November. New York has the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Auckland has Farmers Santa Parade on 28 November, when floats sashay around the city to herald the festive season.
Summer
Follow the crowds to ASB Tennis Centre in Parnell as global stars descend on the Land of the Long White Cloud for the Auckland Open, also known as the ASB Classic, next January.
Entry tickets for one of New Zealand’s most popular events, the Splore music and arts festival at Orere Point, sell out as soon as they are released so plan and book well ahead of time (25 to 27 February). Witness the intensity of the haka, laced with magical musical moments, at Te Matatini, a biennial festival of Māori performing arts that will take place from 23 to 26 February.
Autumn
With hundreds of artworks, open-air sculpture galleries, guided tours and artist talks, Auckland Art Fair, from 2 to 6 March, is one of New Zealand’s premier contemporary art events.
Dust off your fascinator! Auckland Cup – the race that stops our Tasman neighbour – on 12 March will again provide a fitting finale to Auckland Cup Week from 5 to 12 March.
Booker Prizewinner Kazuo Ishiguro and artist Ai Weiwei were among the special guests who livestreamed at this year’s Auckland Writers Festival. Who will be the headliners next time round? Keep an eye on the website for details of the 10 to 15 May program.
Winter
More than 100 eateries have created special $25, $40 and $55+ dinners to mark Auckland Restaurant Month, currently taking place all over the city. Elemental AKL offers a taste of the best art, food and music Auckland has to offer with live performances cultural trails and cooking demonstrations over a two-week period. To see what’s planned for 2022, visit aucklandnz.com.
Celebrate Matariki – the start of the Māori New Year – with events from art exhibitions to talks on the night skies as part of the Matariki Festival. Check matarikifestival.org.nz for updates on the 2022 program.
