The short answer
- Month
- April
- Verdict
- Very good
- Season
- Autumn
- North Island
- Mild, about 21°C
- South Island
- Crisp, golden autumn
- Crowds
- Quieter
April is autumn at its most beautiful in the south, when poplars and willows turn gold around the lakes. Nights get colder, but days are often clear and still.
New Zealand in April at a glance
The map opens on April; tap another month to compare.
Choose your month
April
Autumn colours around Queenstown and Arrowtown. Cooler, quieter and good value; Great Walks huts change to off season rates from May.
- Rotorua and Taupo (best)geysers, Hobbiton, Waitomo
- Mount Cook and Tekapo (best)clear skies, cold winter nights
- Queenstown and Wanaka (best)great in summer, skiing in winter
- Northland (mixed)Bay of Islands, beaches
- Tongariro (mixed)the Alpine Crossing, hikers' conditions
- Abel Tasman (mixed)beaches and coastal walking
- West Coast (mixed)Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, wet all year
- Fiordland (mixed)Milford Sound, Great Walks season October to April
April across the year
How April compares with the rest of the year. The ringed column is April.
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Island touringRotorua, Waitomo, Hobbiton | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best |
| Tongariro Crossingfor hikers without alpine skills | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best |
| Great Walksfull hut service late October to April | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best |
| Queenstown and Mount Cooktouring and day walks | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best |
| Fiordland and Milfordwet all year, best in summer | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best |
| SkiingQueenstown, Wanaka, Ruapehu | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
Where to go in April
- Arrowtown and Queenstown: Autumn colours peak around mid to late April.
- Mount Cook and Tekapo: Clear skies and quiet tracks.
- Rotorua: Pleasant weather for geothermal parks.
What to avoid in April
- Planning a Great Walk late in the month: hut services wind down at the end of April.
Events and holidays in April
- Anzac Day (25 April): A public holiday with dawn services across the country.
- Easter: Often falls in April, with school holidays nearby.
Weather in April
Average highs, lows and rainfall, with April highlighted.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | AucklandBay of Islands and Rotorua are similar | ChristchurchCanterbury plains, Lake Tekapo is colder | QueenstownWanaka is similar | Milford Soundone of the wettest places on Earth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24° / 16°75 mm | 23° / 12°45 mm | 22° / 10°75 mm | 19° / 10°720 mm |
| Feb | 25° / 17°65 mm | 22° / 12°45 mm | 22° / 10°60 mm | 19° / 10°500 mm |
| Mar | 23° / 15°90 mm | 20° / 10°50 mm | 19° / 8°65 mm | 18° / 9°580 mm |
| Apr | 21° / 13°100 mm | 17° / 7°50 mm | 15° / 5°65 mm | 15° / 7°520 mm |
| May | 18° / 11°115 mm | 14° / 4°65 mm | 11° / 2°75 mm | 12° / 4°560 mm |
| Jun | 16° / 9°130 mm | 11° / 2°60 mm | 8° / 0°65 mm | 10° / 2°480 mm |
| Jul | 15° / 8°140 mm | 11° / 1°65 mm | 7° / -1°60 mm | 9° / 1°420 mm |
| Aug | 16° / 8°120 mm | 12° / 2°60 mm | 9° / 0°60 mm | 10° / 2°450 mm |
| Sep | 17° / 10°100 mm | 15° / 4°45 mm | 12° / 2°60 mm | 12° / 4°520 mm |
| Oct | 19° / 11°90 mm | 17° / 6°45 mm | 15° / 4°75 mm | 14° / 5°600 mm |
| Nov | 20° / 13°80 mm | 19° / 8°50 mm | 18° / 6°70 mm | 16° / 7°560 mm |
| Dec | 22° / 15°90 mm | 21° / 11°55 mm | 20° / 8°85 mm | 18° / 9°650 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
A 10 day trip for April
Our suggestion for April: the South Island: Christchurch, Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Queenstown and Milford Sound. Every trip can be made private, or try your own route in our New Zealand trip planner.
Tip: Arrowtown's autumn festival is usually in April: book Queenstown accommodation early for that week.
Want a April trip made for you?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 10 days, built around your dates.
Other months
Thinking about March or May? See New Zealand in March and New Zealand in May, or compare every season in our guide to the best time to visit New Zealand.
Rather have a trip to New Zealand made just for you?
Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.
Frequently asked questions
Is April a good time to visit New Zealand?
Yes, especially the South Island for autumn colours, with fewer visitors and lower prices.
Sources we checked
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