North Island New Zealand Weather in August

Average Temperatures in the North Island in August

August is peak winter in New Zealand, and so average temperatures across the North Island are cold compared with the rest of the year. Having said that, daytime temperatures still reach above 15°C (59°F), and there’s a big variation from place to place across the North Island. For example, the volcanic plateau and mountainous interior of the North Island – the North Island skiing and snowboarding hub – is a lot colder than coastal areas, due to its subalpine terrain, and so nighttime temperatures drop to freezing. 

Take a closer look at what average temperatures to expect around the North Island in August:

Average Sunshine Hours Per day in the North Island in August

August is typically a much sunnier month than earlier in the winter, and so it’s a great time to target for a ski trip or other outdoor winter activity. With daylight length also trending back in the right direction following the winter equinox in June, days are getting longer and longer throughout the month. This means you can expect roughly 5 hours of sunshine per day in August, depending where you are.

Average rainfall in the North Island in August

August is still in the thick of the northern North Island’s rainy season, although there is significantly less rainfall in most areas than in the previous few months. Regions further south, such as Napier and Hawke’s Bay, have substantially less rainfall. A lot of precipitation in interior regions, like Taupo, also falls as snow.

Best Things to do in the North Island in August 

Hit the slopes

August’s relatively chilly temperatures around the North Island are music to the ears of keen skiers and snowboarders, since this usually marks the arrival of the North Island ski season. Mt. Ruapehu, in the middle of the North Island, is home to New Zealand’s two largest ski areas, Turoa and Whakapapa, which between them boast a large number of long, sweeping trails taking in breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanic landscapes and Tongariro National Park. There are also plenty of facilities for beginner and intermediate skiers, and a range of trails to suit skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. 

Eat your way around Wellington

It’s hard to imagine a festival anywhere that combines such singular purpose and wide-reaching popularity as the capital city’s extremely successful Wellington on a Plate (W.O.A.P.) event. The defining feature of W.O.A.P. is that Wellington’s incredibly diverse dining, drinking and entertainment scene is squeezed into one surprisingly narrow-but-broad item: the burger. From high-end chefs to small cafes, or even local citizens and national politicians, Wellington’s wonderfully weird side comes out through an array of quirky burger creations throughout August every year. It’s not only about the burgers, though, with a whole host of associated food and drink events like degustation dinners, public cooking classes, and the ever-popular Beervana event, which brings together brilliant craft beer, weird and wacky street performances, live music, and mouth-watering culinary bites to Wellington’s iconic waterfront “Cake Tin” stadium.  

Ready to start planning your trip?

Like the sound of a North Island holiday in August? Take a look at the different North Island tour packages and self-drive itinerary options provided by First Light Travel. 

Contact FLT’s travel advisers directly, online, to customise your own version. If you still have questions, the many articles on FLT’s dedicated New Zealand travel blog could help to answer

Read our Google Reviews to see what our guests have to say about us!