Alexandra in Central Otago is on average the driest centre, followed by South Canterbury's Timaru. Warmest Places in Turkey: 7 of the Hottest Cities, The 7 Warmest Places in Mexico: Where to Go For the Summer, Wellington or Auckland: New Zealands Biggest Cities Compared, One Week in Queenstown Itinerary: Your Locals Guide, Things to Avoid in New Zealand: 9 Big Do Nots. Worst impacted is coastal Wairarapa, and it may be dire straits for the farming community over summer, Castlepoint Station manager Jacques Reinhardt said. It really depends where youre located and your type of lifestyle. While many ski fields open in June, the highest snowfall is usually throughout July and August. Mount Maunganui is a laid-back suburb of Tauranga, one of New Zealands larger cities (albeit still small), situated on the eastern coast of the North Island. By Ian Randall. Located on the South Islands east coast, Christchurch is a story of two halves. Auckland has the most stable climate with the least seasonal variation but it's often claimed the humidity is too high. Wairarapa is the driest place in New Zealand, with some parts bordering on drought conditions. The city is also home to some other famous residents royal albatross birds, endangered yellow-eyed penguins, little blue penguins, sea lions, seals, and many native other birds also reside here. I actually use it as my primary bank now worldwide due to the multi-currency debit card. New Zealand was discovered less than 1000 years ago by the _____. Dunedin is also the gateway to iconic New Zealand destinations the ski fields and wineries of Central Otago, the mountains of Aoraki Mt Cook and the rugged Catlins coast are all no more than a few hours drive away. New Zealand is a great place to live, but it might not be the right place for everyone. Some of the best places to live in New Zealand for families include Tauranga, Hamilton, and Palmerston North. . Locals like to joke that you can experience four seasons in one day! The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of December to March. Isengard Lord of the Rings scenery near Glenorchy, Where to go in New Zealand for sun minus rain. There are a few reasons why Wanganui is not a great place to live. So pack your sunnies, lather up the sunscreen, and get ready to enjoy these nine warmest places in New Zealand. Queenstown 9. The cost of living in Devonport is similar to the cost of living in Auckland. The West Coast on the South Island of New Zealand receives the most rain in the entire country. To find cheap rental cars, I recommendDiscover Cars. So cold, in fact, the town even has an outdoor ice rink. From November through February, you can look forward to daily highs in the low to mid 20s C (low to mid-70s F), perfect for enjoying one of the many beaches in the area or wandering the esplanade lined with 1930s Art Deco architecture. The population of 400,000 supports career opportunities in most industries. Abel Tasman is all about the golden beaches, turquoise seas, and forested hiking trails. The cost of living can vary depending on your lifestyle, but you can expect to spend around $1,600 NZD on rent and $1,300 NZD on general expenses. , and there is often spring skiing available at some ski fields too. NewZealand too, making the most of the sunshine and Christmas break. The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest area of New Zealand, whereas the area to the east of the mountains, just over 100 km away, is the driest. The 2001 census figures from Statistics NZ show there are two regions New Zealanders have been the most popular to move too. Be 'SunSmart' by using these three simple steps when you go outdoors: You can check NewZealand weather conditions on theMetService website. Most areas of New Zealand have between 600 and 1600 mm of rainfall, spread throughout the year with a dry period during the summer. However, finding a place to stay here will typically be a bit more pricey so staying further from the town would be a cheaper alternative. Share your stories, get inspired, and plan your next adventure with us. 5 terms. Christchurch also has a number of hospitals and retirement homes. There are three main areas on the South Island that do not get a lot of rain: But just knowing what these locations are is not enough. Photos / Warren Buckland. Whangarei is a city located in the Northland region of New Zealand. The city is situated on a narrow isthmus, which means there are many beautiful beaches within close proximity. Wiki User. Located seemingly at the bottom of the world, next to Australia, New Zealands seasons are opposite to most. Gisborne 3. Grab your lizard goggles and climb some rocks, spy some bugs and soak up the sun at one of the driest places in New Zealand. The area around Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula. One thing to keep in mind is that public transportation isnt as readily available in Devonport as it is in other parts of Auckland, so you may need to factor in the cost of a car when budgeting. The city has a low cost of living, and its a good place to live if youre on a budget. need to carry chains and take extra care on the roads. New Zealand Average Temperatures in January. Image 1 of 36: Lake Kiwitahi the water reservoir at Kiwitahi, that supplies water to Morrinsville is drying up with a drought about to be announced in the Waikato. You can expect to spend around $1,600 NZD on rent and $1,300 NZD on general expenses. Can I still live abroad? Antartica. A brief description of each climate zone illustrating the average rainfall and temperature can be reached by clicking on the links below: The data are monthly averages for the period 19712000, for locations with at least 5 years of complete data. Copyright, NIWA. Rotorua is a great place to live if you want to experience the true Kiwi lifestyle. Due Drop Hope Challenge participants fundraising for I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, raising awareness for youth mental health in Aotearoa. Mount Maunganui 7. The National Hydrometric Database, EDENZ, with all data from mainland New Zealand stations included. Aprilbrings the least amount of rain toQueenstownandJunethe most. The Southern Alps run down the length of the South Island and provide excellent skiing and snowboarding opportunities. Napier is a great place to live if you are looking for a relaxed lifestyle with plenty of things to do. With miles of sandy beaches and an abundance of nearby hikes, youll always be able to find your personal slice of paradise. Cost of living for a family in Hamilton is $4,000 per month, roughly based on the cost of the average family home ($500-700 per week) or an executive home ($700-800 per week), groceries ($250-350), and eating out once in a while (meals costing $25-35 per meal). The driest areas of New Zealand are parts of inland Otago and Canterbury. I recommend this platform to find jobs as a foreigner. Over the northern and central areas of New Zealand more rainfall falls in winter than in summer, whereas for much of the southern part of New Zealand, winter is the season of least rainfall. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Located on the east cape of the North Island and protected by high country, the entire year sees pleasant temperatures with minimal rainfall. The climate here is mild and sunny, making it perfect for outdoor activities. What is the best place to live in New Zealand for retirees? Instead of June through August being the summer months, New Zealand enjoys summer in December through February. For millennia, Mori have been the tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Referred to by the locals as The Mount, Tauranga is New Zealands ultimate beach destination. Photo / CyldeServices, The long, hard work to clean up after the cyclone's destruction starts in the hardest-hit area of Hawke's Bay, Looking like the aftermath of a battle-zone, Esk Valley, known for it's productive land and outstanding beauty, has been smashed in cyclone Gabrielle's path. here is beautiful scenery as the autumn colours spread through the countryside. Dairy farmers will have to bring in supplements, well start to see irrigation restrictions, and we will also see sheep and beef farmers struggling to shift stock and crops just wont grow. However, the city has a very high crime rate, and its not a particularly safe place to live. Rainfall data used were near-instantaneous. Lives in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Author has 2.3K answers and 824.3K answer views 2 y It depends on what you mean by best. Photo / Christine Cornege, New Zealand beat England by one run in the final day of the Basin Reserve Test in Wellington. Bush walks and hiking are great options now as the days are not as hot. Outside the city, endless stretches of beautiful landscapes beg to be explored. Also opposite to much of the world, the further north you head in New Zealand, the warmer it gets albeit a few exceptions. Jeff Fitlow/Rice University; (inset) Hans Hillewaert. Temperatures also drop about 0.7C for every 100 m of altitude. Cropp River in New Zealand may only be 9 kilometers in length, but it gets so huge precipitation annually. Kaitaia and Whangarei top the list with an. On the edge of the South Island, Fiordland National Park is home to one of New Zealand's most famous attractions, the majestic Milford Sound. Expect long, bright, sunny days and temperatures between 61F and 75F. Resource prepared by Lesley Mackintosh RSNZ Teacher Fellow 2001, NIWA, Copyright, NIWA. Christchurch was the driest main centre in New Zealand over 2020. The landscape is so arid, that NASA 's astrobiologists travel to the Atacama Desert hoping it will lead them to clues about life on other planets. You can expect to spend around $1,500 NZD on rent and $1,200 NZD on general expenses. Whether youre looking for outdoor adventure, NewZealands busy high season'is summer, while the quieter shoulder seasons are spring and autumn. The region is one of the world's most extreme deserts, and includes many features . Alexis_Hagedorn. the transformation of land from green to desert. Located on the east coast of the North Island, its so well known for its fabulous coastlines and laidback but full of life atmosphere, its been voted as New Zealands best beach. If you prefer peace and quiet, dont worry. Photos / Alex Burton, Competitors battle wet conditions for this year's event/ Photographs by Alex Burton, Winning entries from the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2022, The top 13 designs for the Resene Colour of Fashion competition open to final year fashion students at Whitecliffe College in Auckland, Former policeman John Purkis was swept down a culvert during Aucklands January floods and managed to survive. For an individual, your costs would be about half of this. He said westerly wind flow predicted for December and January would result in further dry conditions, but that there would be a northeasterly turn from the middle of January which would likely mean some good news in terms of getting rainfall. Wairarapa is the driest place in New Zealand, with some parts bordering on drought conditions. NewZealands climate is diverse the north of the North Island can have warm subtropical weather in summer, while inland alpine areas of the South Island can have heavy snow and temperatures as low as -10C (14F) in winter. Summer seems to stretch for a good portion of the year, with temperatures in the high teens to mid 20s (high 60s low 70s) from October through May. It is also one of the most expensive places to live in New Zealand. Take particular care from September to April, especially between 10am and 4pm, even on cloudy days. Actual data recorded at Reefton can be accessed for use in statistical analyses (see CliFlo). So winter would be the best time to visit this region because neighboring areas also get rain inspring. If you are looking for the best places to live in New Zealand, here are 13 of the top contenders: Book cheap airline tickets and accommodations withBooking.com to save money when youre moving abroad! These cities offer a great lifestyle, plenty of work opportunities, and a vibrant nightlife. is the most popular time to visit NewZealand. A large proportion of Wellingtonians work for the public service as most government ministries are based in Wellington, but the city also offers lots of hospitality jobs in the many cafes and bars and creative jobs in the Wellywood film industry. As the main centre in the region, it has many major facilities, such as a covered stadium that attracts the likes of Elton John and Ed Sheeran. It comes as Niwa's freshly-released 2020 summary showed New Zealand just saw its seventh warmest year on record - continuing a dire climate change trend that's put six of our last eight years among the hottest ever recorded. NZ temperature 1981-2010 (click to enlarge), Climate - NZ annual sunshine hours 1981-2010 (click to enlarge), Air quality monitoring with low-cost sensors, Science to respond to our changing climate: teaching climate adaptation, Rangi - weather and climate lessons for teachers, Using trigonometric functions to model climate, Weather plots: temperature and relative humidity. Coastal Wairarapa is the only place in New Zealand currently labelled extremely dry. advantageous or favorable toward something. Mix these pleasant temperatures with large stretches of coastline and white sand beaches, and you have the perfect location to spend your days between the beach and the water. Basic groceries cost $500 pp/month. Similar scales have been used for each graph to allow comparison between locations. Yet, Alexandras location in Central Otago (in the middle of the bottom half of the South Island) gives it the perfect recipe for hot summers. However, the city has a high crime rate, and its not a particularly safe place to live. Mean annual temperatures range from 10C in the south to 16C in the north of New Zealand. Where is the warmest place in New Zealand? Yes! Its my favourite place to live in the world and Ive lived in many countries! The city of 165,000 has all the benefits of a larger city without the crazy traffic, making it a comfortable place to live. While not a large country exactly, New Zealand spreads about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the top of North Island to the bottom of South Island - the two main islands. Plus, opposite to the northern hemisphere, the more north you go, the warmer temperatures tend to be. In towns like Queenstown, Tekapo, and Alexandra, it will snow in town a few times a year. I developed this free quiz to help you figure out where is right for you! One thing to keep in mind is that public transportation isnt as readily available in Rotorua as it is in other parts of New Zealand, so you may need to factor in the cost of a car when budgeting.