Warm Vacation Spots In December, January, And February
Written on Saturday, 4 December 2010 by NZTravelInsider
Learn whether New Zealand can provide you with warm vacation spots in December, January, and February, and how summer is currently progressing.
Just 4 days into summer and things are already heating up.
As you may or may not know, December 1st marks the start of summer in New Zealand. Summer in New Zealand lasts until the end of February.
While the temperatures in New Zealand are nothing compared to the temperatures on a sunny Caribbean island in the tropics if you are looking for warm vacation spots to go to in December, January, or February, this year is turning out to be quite a good and hot summer in New Zealand.
A few places in New Zealand have already managed to hit and pass the 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), which is quite unusual.
To give you an idea about summer temperatures in New Zealand: Temperatures in Auckland tend to vary between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius, Christchurch hovers between 11 and 21, Dunedin between 10 and 19, Queenstown between 9 and 22, and Wellington between 12 and 21.
The warmest places in New Zealand tend to be almost always located in Central Otago (for example Alexandra), Canterbury (for example Ashburton), and on the North Island, Northland seems to lead the pack (for example Kaitaia) and the East Coast (Gisborne and Hastings).
What you won’t get much of compared to warm vacation spots in December, January, and February in the tropics is the humidity. The humidity, especially on the South Island of New Zealand, tends to be low, although this is not the case if you head out to places like Northland and Auckland, which feel subtropical.
And most of New Zealand enjoys clear and clean air. In fact, the air is sometimes so clear that it lets too much bright sunlight through, which often causes sunburns – I speak from experience…
Warm vacation spots almost always mean heading to the beach. For beaches, I’d recommend visiting the North Island and the upper South Island.
Beaches in the Coromandel and in Northland are sure not to disappoint. Also try going around East Cape and then visiting Gisborne. Then catch a ferry from Wellington to Picton, rent a car, and drive to Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay for a few of the most scenic beaches in New Zealand.
And if you are not a beach goer, there are tons of other places you could visit in December and the other summer months.
If you have not already booked your trip, you are not too late. Depending on where you live in the world, you might still be able to catch the tail end of what is turning out to be a great summer in New Zealand, at least for the beach goers; not the farmers.
However, it might be more difficult to find accommodation and such since December, January, and February is peak tourist season in New Zealand.
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