Australia and New Zealand are known for their warm weather and great outdoors, when you picture them you think of beaches, mountains, and sitting outside drinking wine. But what is winter like in Australia and New Zealand? And which country is the best to visit in winter?
Bear in mind these two countries are very different from Europe and the USA in their seasons, the polar opposite actually. Winter months in Australia and New Zealand are June, July, and August. Many people find themselves only able to go to Australasia during these months due to different reasons, Summer time off and school holidays are big ones so many don’t get the choice of when they want to go down under. While both destinations have their own distinct appeal, let’s delve into the comparisons of visiting Australia or New Zealand in winter.
1. Climate and Weather
Australia
Australia and New Zealand experience contrasting climates during their winter months. In Australia, winter months fall between June and August, with temperatures varying across the country. The northern regions such as Queensland and the Northern Territory remain relatively warm, with temperatures averaging around 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77 degrees Fahrenheit).
However, in the southern regions like Melbourne and Sydney, temperatures can drop to around 10-15 degrees Celsius (50-59 degrees Fahrenheit), providing a cool but mild climate for winter months in comparison to northern Europe and northern USA.
Is New Zealand colder than Australia? In general yes, most places in New Zealand are colder than even southern, colder parts of Australia
New Zealand
On the other hand, New Zealand’s winter, which spans from June to August, offers cooler temperatures throughout the country, which is split into two islands. The South Island tends to be much colder, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius (32-50 degrees Fahrenheit), while the North Island experiences milder temperatures similar to Melbourne between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius (50-59 degrees Fahrenheit).
New Zealand is definitely the colder of the two countries but that can create more opportunity as its mountainous regions receive more snowfall, which is ideal for winter sports enthusiasts.
2. Winter Activities and Landscapes
Both Australia and New Zealand boast stunning landscapes and offer a range of winter activities for travellers to get stuck into.
Australia
Australia’s more diverse natural beauty is still clear even in winter. The Great Barrier Reef, located in the tropical north, is a very popular destination for snorkelling and diving in the underwater world. I’ve been there in winter months and as a Brit, it felt like summer to me.
The winter months are also an ideal time to visit Australia’s famous national parks, such as the Blue Mountains near Sydney, NSW, or the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, as the cooler temperatures make outdoor activities less brutal for long hikes but you will likely get a few more grey skies or wet weather. I would describe the general winter landscape as green in winter in contrast to a dry golden brown in summer.
New Zealand
In contrast, New Zealand’s winter landscapes are synonymous with snow-covered mountains, making it a haven for winter sports enthusiasts. The country offers world-class ski resorts such as Queenstown and Wanaka on the South Island, where visitors flock for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. The stunning fjords and glaciers, like Milford Sound and Franz Josef Glacier, are stunning during the winter months, providing breathtaking sights for nature lovers that could compare to Scandinavia or Canada. The landscape in general is green, potentially foggy with white snow cover and it reminded me of a UK winter.
3. Wildlife Encounters
Australia and New Zealand are both known for their unique and diverse wildlife. While winter is not the peak season for wildlife encounters, there are still opportunities to see some fascinating animals and you don’t even need to visit the zoo’s.
Australia
Australia’s winter is a great time to witness the annual whale migration along the country’s coastlines. Places like Hervey Bay in Queensland or Sydney’s coastline offer ideal viewpoints to spot humpback whales as they make their journey. Additionally, the cooler temperatures in Australia’s national parks make it easier to spot native wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. In Victoria, the penguin’s sunset homecoming on to the beach is a fascinating sight on Phillip Island.
New Zealand
Winter provides a chance to encounter marine wildlife like seals and penguins. The Otago Peninsula near Dunedin is a prime spot for observing the rare yellow-eyed penguins, while the coastal town of Kaikoura offers opportunities for whale watching throughout the year. New Zealand’s native birdlife, including the kiwi, can also be spotted in sanctuaries and conservation areas.
4. Cities and food experiences
Both countries have several big and small cities with Australia’s being much higher in population and diversity but you can find highlights to enjoy in both during Winter.
Australia
In winter you can enjoy the warmth in Brisbane, Perth, and Darwin and still get sunburnt. There’s a great range of things to do and city activities to enjoy across these cities even in winter, they’re certainly not ghost towns. The first 2 are busy metropolis cities with a great range of food experience taking influences from around the world.
Melbourne and Sydney are bigger again and all Australian cities generally take heavy influence from Mediterranean and Asian foods so there are always restaurants offering a good quality of food across these areas but you’ll find almost any international cuisine around the CBDs (Central Business Districts) even if you should only eat outside in half of them due to colder temperatures – anywhere above Brisbane is likely warm enough to eat outside at night.
New Zealand
While New Zealand’s cities are mostly smaller than Australia’s in comparison you would certainly consider Wellington and Auckland large cities. There are plenty of high-rise buildings, buzzing waterfronts and ethnically diverse populations that come with most big cities.
Wellington is known as New Zealand’s coffee and craft beer capital and is great for foodies with a vibrant restaurant, bar and cocktail scene. Auckland’s city has a buzzing waterfront for shopping, restaurants and bars, and theatre shows. These two cities offer the largest international variety on the food and drink front with great quality restaurant experiences to be had. Other cities like Hamilton and Christchurch start to feel like large towns but with a local charm and still have plenty of restaurants and nightlife good options.
5. Cultural Experiences
While they may not seem like cultural capitals of the world, both Australia and New Zealand offer rich cultural experiences that are worth exploring during winter.
Australia
In Australia, winter coincides with various cultural festivals and events. The vibrant Vivid Sydney Festival lights up the city with stunning light installations and projections. Melbourne hosts the Winter Night Market, where visitors can savour delicious street food and browse unique handicrafts. Sydney in the winter months isn’t as cold as Melbourne or New Zealand so offers a milder climate escape.
Since the country is filled with expats from Europe Christmas in July is actually a thing here too, especially in Canberra, ACT. It’s not the full Christmas time celebration as such but many cities have introduced the vibe with Christmas markets, mulled wine, and raclette cheese.
New Zealand
Matariki is the Maori New Year that begins when the Matariki star cluster becomes visible at night. Auckland hosts the biggest Matariki Festival with performances, light shows, Maori art workshops, and stargazing, but most cities in New Zealand have their own Matariki event too. The kiwi’s love a party so you will find other festivals such as Mardi Gras in Queenstown and Ohakune centred around the ski hubs. Taupo winter festival and the Dunedin winter carnival are other prominent winter events to attend if you’re in town.
Summary of which is better in winter – Australia or New Zealand?
You can still have a fantastic time during Winter in Australia and New Zealand. I would say if you want warmth, bustling cities, nice beaches, and tropical wildlife then Australia should be your go-to. If you’re after cooler climates, winter sports, extreme sports and mountainous, fresh landscapes then New Zealand should be your destination. It’s Australia for me 😉