Best time to visit Hanmer Springs Ski Area

The climate in Hanmer Springs Ski Area through the year

When to go

Hanmer Springs Ski Area scores highest on Eddigo’s travel score in January and February, peaking at 73 out of 100 in February. A typical February day reaches 19°C and the night falls to 6°C, with rain on about 10 days and clear sky 41 % of the time. March and December are a fair alternative, with scores of 52–60. The lowest score is in August (27), when days are cool at around 7°C.

Seasons and rain

The seasons are moderate: daytime highs go from 6°C in July to 19°C in January. Nights typically drop below freezing in May–September. Precipitation is spread evenly over the year, from 81 mm in February to 141 mm in October (about 1,340 mm in all).

Sea and daylight

The sea stays cool all year: it peaks at 17°C in February and falls to 10°C in August. Daylight lasts from about 9 hours in June to 15.5 hours in December. Hanmer Springs Ski Area lies about 1,000 m above sea level, which makes it roughly 7 degrees cooler than the lowlands around it.

By type of trip

The best months change with what you want to do. Each of Eddigo’s trip types has its own preferred daytime temperature and its own weights for rain, humidity and sun. Hanmer Springs Ski Area scores 65 or more in these months:

• City break (15–25 °C): November–April, up to 78
• Hiking (10–22 °C): January–April, up to 70
• Cooler weather (10–20 °C): August–June, up to 88

How it compares

Of the 37 destinations Eddigo covers in New Zealand, Hanmer Springs Ski Area is the 18th coolest over the year and the 14th driest. In February, when Hanmer Springs Ski Area scores 73, Rainbow Ski Area (64 km away) scores 69 and Temple Basin (108 km away) scores 55. See where to go in February for the best destinations that month.