New Zealand consists of two main islands - North and South - together with some small offshore islands. It is situated between 34° and 47°S in the South Pacific and has an area a little larger than the United Kingdom. North Island has a warm mild climate, almost sub-tropical in the extreme north. Auckland average summer temperature (January) is about 21C / 70F and winter is 11C / 52F. Annual rainfall in North Island is around 125-150cm / 50-60ins, the west receiving slightly more rain than the east. South island is colder; Dunedin has average summer temperatures of about 15C / 59F and winter 6C / 43F. The contrast in rainfall across South Island is much greater due to the Southern Alps and varies from 300cm / 120ins on the west coast to 65cm / 25ins on the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch.

In New Zealand, the weather is dominated by the passage of high-pressure systems (anti-cyclones and ridges) and low pressure systems (depressions and troughs). These usually move from west to east across the country. New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, which of course means mid summer is at Christmas time while mid winter is June/July. The climate is oceanic temperate. Given the small land mass relative to the expanse of ocean around New Zealand, the seasonal variations in New Zealand weather are smaller than continental North America or mainland Europe. Weather in New Zealand is very changeable throughout the year and all months are moderately wet. Fine sunny spells of weather can occur at any time of year, however, and the country has more sunshine than might be expected in such a variable climate.

Wind: The strength and general direction of the wind can be determined from the weather map. The prevailing wind in New Zealand is generally from the Northwest.

Temperature: As a general rule, air temperature drops by between 6.5 degrees and 10 degrees Celsius per 1000m increase in altitude. A hike above the bush-line (usually between 1000m and 1300m) can therefore result in conditions where the temperature is about 8 to 10 degrees less than that at sea level. Stronger winds at the higher altitude can increase the cooling effect of the wind.

New Zealand as a whole has a very healthy and pleasant climate with few weather hazards. The combination of weather, altitude, and scenery provide excellent opportunities for a range of sport and outdoor activities.