Winter camping in New Zealand

Touring winter in New Zealand can be an unforgettable and satisfying experience. Although summer is the peak season for camping in New Zealand, the winter months offer you the chance to experience the magic of New Zealand’s winter activities.

Just because it’s cold outside, it doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy New Zealand’s outdoors. Winter time is an excellent time to tour New Zealand, particularly if you’re keen on taking advantage of spectacular winter scenery, not to mention some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the southern hemisphere.

Kiwi Holiday Parks are open all year round. However, if you’re considering touring New Zealand during the winter months we recommend booking into a tourist cabin or self-contained unit at a Kiwi Holiday Park, as camping outside during the NZ winter can be challenging for even the hardiest traveller.

Alternatively, a number of campervans contain insulation and built-in heating which is also something to consider if you’re traveling NZ during winter. By making use of a powered site, combined with sensible winter clothing and a good quality sleeping bag, you will be well equipped for a comfortable stay even during the coldest nights.

It’s also important to remember that traveling can take longer in winter, hence if you’re planning an itinerary it can pay to reduce your daily mileage goals during winter, particularly as there are fewer daylight hours and road/weather conditions are less favourable for driving.

Average winter temperatures in New Zealand

Region	Winter low (°C)	Winter high (°C)
Bay of Islands	8	16
Auckland	7	15
Waikato	4	14
Rotorua	3	13
Hawkes Bay	5	15
Taranaki	6	13
Wellington	6	12
Nelson	3	13
Kaikoura	5	11
Christchurch	2	11
Queenstown	0	8
Dunedin	2	9
Invercargill	1	9