When to go
New Zealand in the Singapore year-end school holidays: weather, what is open and what it costs
Singapore’s year-end school holidays, 21 November to 31 December 2026, fall in New Zealand’s late spring and early summer. Days are mostly 17 to 22°C, nights cooler than anything at home (5 to 10°C in the south), and the evenings are long: in Queenstown the sun sets at 9.34pm on the longest day. It is one of the best times to visit, and the walking tracks, gardens and lakes are at their greenest.
Two things to plan around. The weather changes fast, so pack layers and a rain jacket even in December. And New Zealand’s own summer holidays start in mid-December, so the weeks either side of Christmas are the busiest of the year. Below is the weather by region, what opens when, how Christmas works here, and the tours leaving during the holidays, with this week’s availability.
The weather in November and December
Averages from NIWA’s climate tables, 1991 to 2020: daily high and low in °C, and the average number of wet days in the month.
| Place | November | Wet days | December | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 20 / 13 | 9 | 22 / 15 | 9 |
| Rotorua | 19 / 9 | 10 | 21 / 12 | 11 |
| Wellington | 17 / 10 | 10 | 19 / 12 | 10 |
| Christchurch | 19 / 8 | 7 | 21 / 10 | 7 |
| Lake Tekapo | 17 / 5 | 6 | 20 / 7 | 6 |
| Queenstown | 18 / 6 | 8 | 20 / 9 | 9 |
| Te Anau area (Manapouri) | 17 / 5 | 11 | 19 / 7 | 11 |
| Milford Sound | 16 / 8 | 15 | 19 / 10 | 17 |
Milford Sound averages about 560 mm of rain in November and 585 mm in December, more than ten times Christchurch’s December rainfall. It is also why the waterfalls are spectacular; go anyway, and keep a spare day in Te Anau so a washed-out cruise can move.
The sun is the other surprise. NIWA puts New Zealand’s summer UV index at around 12, which it rates extreme, with sunburn possible in about 12 minutes. Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses every day, even when it feels cool.
Long days: daylight in December
The further south you go, the later it gets dark. Times are for New Zealand summer time.
| Place and date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland, 1 December | 5.54am | 8.26pm | 14 h 32 min |
| Auckland, 21 December | 5.57am | 8.41pm | 14 h 44 min |
| Queenstown, 1 December | 5.53am | 9.16pm | 15 h 23 min |
| Queenstown, 21 December | 5.53am | 9.34pm | 15 h 41 min |
For children used to dark at 7pm, light until half past nine takes some adjusting. It also means a full day of sightseeing still leaves time for dinner by the lake in daylight.
What opens during the holidays
- Great Walks: the Milford and Routeburn tracks’ booked season runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, the Kepler from 27 October. Huts must be booked and fill early; day walks such as Key Summit on the Routeburn need no booking.
- Hooker Valley Track at Aoraki/Mount Cook: open all the way to Hooker Lake again over a new 189 m suspension bridge, the longest in the country.
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing: in summer there is no parking at the start for the full crossing, so book a shuttle, about NZ$40, from Taupō or the nearby towns.
- Lupins: in the Mackenzie Basin around Lake Tekapo they usually flower from mid-November into late December, varying year to year. They are an introduced weed, but a photogenic one.
Christmas and New Year in New Zealand
| Day | 2026/27 | What it means for visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Most shops closed by law; cafés, bars and tourist towns such as Queenstown can open |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December, observed Monday 28 December | Shops open; some businesses add a holiday surcharge on the Monday |
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January | Public holiday |
| Day after New Year | Saturday 2 January, observed Monday 4 January | Public holiday for most businesses |
Cafés and restaurants may add a public holiday surcharge, but New Zealand’s fair trading rules require them to tell you before you order. New Zealand schools finish for the summer by 18 December and go back in late January, so from mid-December the beaches, campgrounds and holiday towns fill with local families. Book accommodation and activities for those weeks as early as you can. Our guide to Christmas in New Zealand covers the season in more detail.
Guided tours leaving during the holidays
These guided and small group tours have departures between 21 November and 31 December, with the availability the operator reported at our last weekly check. Prices are per person sharing, from this week’s lowest departure in the window, in Singapore dollars.
| Tour | Starts | Days | Departures in the holidays | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pohutukawa Tour | Auckland | 20 | 21 Nov (guaranteed) | S$13,052 |
| Rimu Tour | Auckland | 17 | 21 Nov (guaranteed) | S$11,764 |
| Signature Inspirational Alps Tour | Christchurch | 6 | 22 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us), 13 Dec (guaranteed), 20 Dec (guaranteed) | S$4,997 |
| 19 Day Signature Showcase | Auckland | 19 | 23 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us), 10 Dec (guaranteed) | S$8,434 |
| Southern Spectacular 26/27 | Christchurch | 10 | 24 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us), 8 Dec (3 seats or fewer, check with us), 22 Dec (3 seats or fewer, check with us) | S$4,832 |
| Northern Wonders 26/27 | Wellington | 8 | 25 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us) | S$3,082 |
| Essence of New Zealand - Small Group Tour 26/27 | Christchurch | 18 | 26 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us) | S$9,271 |
| Southern Spirit - Small Group Tour 26/27 | Christchurch | 13 | 26 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us) | S$6,830 |
| Spirit of New Zealand - Small Group Tour 26/27 | Christchurch | 21 | 26 Nov (3 seats or fewer, check with us) | S$10,144 |
| Enchanting Northland | Auckland | 5 | 27 Nov, 4 Dec | S$2,115 |
That is 50 guided tours with dates in the window this week. Self drive and scheduled coach trips leave most days, so they are not listed. See every tour with a departure in the holidays, or read our guide to the flights from Singapore.
Quick answers
Trips that fit
Pohutukawa Tour
20 days across both islands, from Auckland through to Christchurch, in a smaller group, with a driver guide throughout. Strong on national parks.
Rimu Tour
17 days across both islands, Auckland to Queenstown, guided the whole way, in a small group. Strong on adventure.
Signature Inspirational Alps Tour
6 days across the South Island, from Christchurch through to Queenstown, fully escorted, so every day just happens. Strong on scenic trains.
