I'm reading that Nelson is the sunniest place to be in the winter in New Zealand (June/July), but am also reading the the North Island is sub-tropic. So I'm wondering which to explore at this point. Which is warmer? Is there any chance of being able to actually swim in the ocean at either during this time? (We were in Scotland one summer, and the water was SO cold that we could barely wade. But it was so gorgeous that it didn't matter.) Will we be able to bike some, or will it be too cold for that, too? What about camping?

Whoops! I don't mean the whole North Island, I mean the North Island north of Auckland.

More time is spent on the Weather segment on TV than on the News itself. You will enjoy 5 seasons in one day - I doubt you will be swimming. Auckland is slightly south of Sydney and very few people swim in Sydney in the middle of winter.

The 'North Island north of Auckland' is generally called 'Northland'.

Hi Cindy,

The weather is deceptive here and so is the location. ALL of New Zealand is SOUTH of Sydney and Cape Town. Auckland's at about the same latitude as Melbourne. The top of NZ is the same as Adelaide.

Then, it's an island...

Sunny doesn't necessarily mean warm and swimming in the middle of winter is not really recommended - sort of like Scotland in summer.

Forget swimming anywhere in NZ during June/July. Or swimming in Sydney at this time. Further up the Aussie coast ie - Surfers Paradise you will find some poeple swimming but they will all be New Zealanders. If you want to swim come in Jan/Feb/March. Mind you Bluff at the bottom of the south Island is icy even in Feb.

Also forget camping. My brother and SIL went camping for 3 weeks in the top of the North Island in May this year. It started off OK but was getting pretty cold by the end.

Auckland has had a huge amount of rain this winter. Whereas down her in Kapiti we have had a really dry warm winter so far. Go figure.

Hi Kiwis2

Do not know what part of Auckland you have had the misfortune of getting rained on in. But in our bit, Ellerslie, we have had a pretty dry winter (by Auckland standards) warm too. Odd rainy day but not too bad.

We do get the odd downpour which gives a little street flooding. Alway seems to make the news. Mainly due to reporters being too lazy to hunt out stories any futher than a latte drive away from the the studio.

No frosts this year. Another sunny day today, even the smog hanging over the city was twinkling in the sun on my drive to the office.

Steve

Humble apologies Kiwi_acct. I haven't been in Auckland this winter- just picking up on my brothers comments - he lives in Titirangi and has been moaning about the rain. Today on the Kapiti Coast is awesome - 21c in the shade on my deck. 32c in the sun. Shorts, teeshirts and jandals.

I think the point to make about NZ weather is - don't assume. Last year it rained solidly all month in February and most of March and we had floods. The year before that we had no rain from January through to May and were on severe water restrictions.

No swimming in July unless you like freezing cold water. In the middle of summer Nelson is very sunny and a lovely, warm place but so is Northland. But as a lot of people in this forum also mention, weather can be unpredictable. Generally though, both places have lovely beaches.

Hey I know this is two years down the track - but couldnt resist commenting !!! I ve watched in amazement as locals in Invercargill have enjoyed a a great swim at the beach in the middle of winter.Plus I knew a middle aged woman who swam DAILY throughout the year in the ocean at Bluff. They breed em tough down there !
NB. Hawkes Bay has fantastic winter weather. Heavy frosts followed by splendid sunny days. Sorry Cindy too late for you - but may help others.