Sunshine destinations in New Zealand

26 destinations with month-by-month sunshine data. Guides: best time to visit.

Tauranga is the sunniest place in New Zealand — 2,513 hours of sunshine a year, sunniest in January with daytime highs around 22°C / 72°F. Whakatāne (2,513 h) and Wellington (2,510 h) are next.

The sunniest places in New Zealand

• 1
  Tauranga

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,513 h sun/yrbest in January (22° / 72°F days)

• 2
  Whakatāne

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,513 h sun/yrbest in November (20° / 68°F days)

• 3
  Wellington

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,510 h sun/yrbest in February (20° / 68°F days)

• 4
  Blenheim

  New Zealandsmall town

  2,486 h sun/yrbest in February (24° / 75°F days)

• 5
  Nelson

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,486 h sun/yrbest in February (25° / 77°F days)

• 6
  Picton

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,486 h sun/yrbest in February (24° / 75°F days)

• 7
  Auckland

  New Zealandcity break

  2,479 h sun/yrbest in January (23° / 73°F days)

• 8
  Claris

  New Zealandcoastal city break

  2,462 h sun/yrbest in January (20° / 68°F days)

• 9
  Wanaka

  New Zealandsmall town

  2,430 h sun/yrbest in February (21° / 70°F days)

• 10
  Whangarei

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,389 h sun/yrbest in February (24° / 75°F days)

• 11
  Christchurch

  New Zealandcity break

  2,377 h sun/yrbest in February (23° / 73°F days)

• 12
  Awanui

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,363 h sun/yrbest in February (22° / 72°F days)

• 13
  Kerikeri

  New Zealandsmall town

  2,363 h sun/yrbest in February (24° / 75°F days)

• 14
  New Plymouth

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,321 h sun/yrbest in January (21° / 70°F days)

• 15
  Queenstown

  New Zealandalpine / mountain town

  2,268 h sun/yrbest in February (20° / 68°F days)

• 16
  Napier

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,256 h sun/yrbest in February (24° / 75°F days)

• 17
  Hamilton (New Zealand)

  New Zealandregional city

  2,216 h sun/yrbest in November (21° / 70°F days)

• 18
  Gisborne

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,202 h sun/yrbest in November (20° / 68°F days)

• 19
  Palmerston North

  New Zealandsmall town

  2,196 h sun/yrbest in January (23° / 73°F days)

• 20
  Taupo

  New Zealandsmall town

  2,194 h sun/yrbest in February (24° / 75°F days)

• 21
  Rotorua

  New Zealandsmall town

  2,193 h sun/yrbest in January (23° / 73°F days)

• 22
  Wanganui

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,180 h sun/yrbest in January (22° / 72°F days)

• 23
  Westport

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,175 h sun/yrbest in February (19° / 66°F days)

• 24
  Dunedin

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,093 h sun/yrbest in February (20° / 68°F days)

• 25
  Te One

  New Zealandseaside town

  2,020 h sun/yrbest in January (16° / 61°F days)

All New Zealand destinations

• 1
  Tauranga

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in January (81/100)22° / 72°F

• 2
  Whakatāne

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in November (83/100)20° / 68°F

• 3
  Wellington

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (83/100)20° / 68°F

• 4
  Blenheim

  New Zealandsmall town

  Best in February (84/100)24° / 75°F

• 5
  Nelson

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (82/100)25° / 77°F

• 6
  Picton

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (84/100)24° / 75°F

• 7
  Auckland

  New Zealandcity break

  Best in January (83/100)23° / 73°F

• 8
  Claris

  New Zealandcoastal city break

  Best in January (83/100)20° / 68°F

• 9
  Wanaka

  New Zealandsmall town

  Best in February (75/100)21° / 70°F

• 10
  Whangarei

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (82/100)24° / 75°F

• 11
  Christchurch

  New Zealandcity break

  Best in February (82/100)23° / 73°F

• 12
  Awanui

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (81/100)22° / 72°F

• 13
  Kerikeri

  New Zealandsmall town

  Best in February (80/100)24° / 75°F

• 14
  New Plymouth

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in January (80/100)21° / 70°F

• 15
  Queenstown

  New Zealandalpine / mountain town

  Best in February (74/100)20° / 68°F

• 16
  Napier

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (82/100)24° / 75°F

• 17
  Hamilton (New Zealand)

  New Zealandregional city

  Best in November (81/100)21° / 70°F

• 18
  Gisborne

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in November (80/100)20° / 68°F

• 19
  Palmerston North

  New Zealandsmall town

  Best in January (81/100)23° / 73°F

• 20
  Taupo

  New Zealandsmall town

  Best in February (80/100)24° / 75°F

• 21
  Rotorua

  New Zealandsmall town

  Best in January (78/100)23° / 73°F

• 22
  Wanganui

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in January (81/100)22° / 72°F

• 23
  Westport

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (67/100)19° / 66°F

• 24
  Dunedin

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (79/100)20° / 68°F

• 25
  Te One

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in January (53/100)16° / 61°F

• 26
  Invercargill

  New Zealandseaside town

  Best in February (54/100)17° / 63°F