Weather in Hawke's Bay

The climate in Hawke's Bay is considered to be a mild Mediterranean one, with sunnier and warmer than usual summers (compared to the rest of New Zealand) and little to no rainfall throughout the year. This can be attributed to the mountain ranges to the west of Hawke's Bay as they shield the region from harsh weather patterns.

Due to long periods of time without rain, Hawke's Bay experiences droughts often, with showers only likely to come in certain months during spring and summer. This can mean that the plants in Hawke's Bay stop growing until there is sufficient moisture.

While Hawke's Bay is located on the coast, the region doesn't see a lot of high-impact wind. Instead, it experiences a high frequency of lighter winds which is slightly unusual for a coastal location. 

As Hawke's Bay sees upwards of 2,000 hours of sunlight per year on average, winter can also be a sunny affair with cool temperatures but clear, sunny days. During winter it's also likely to see a light dusting of snow on the mountain ranges but not in the Hawke's Bay region itself.

Because of its fairly mild weather and temperatures all year round, there really isn't a 'best' time to visit this stunning region. Due to the warm temperatures and little to no rainfall experiences in summer, the months of December, January, and February are popular times to travel to Hawke's Bay with swimming and other water sports, hiking and bike riding great activities to keep occupied. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can also visit Hawke's Bay in spring as the temperatures are still warm (sitting at around 18°C) and the landscapes of this region come to life with rolling green fields, abundant vineyards, and blooming flowers on display.

Autumn is also a popular time to travel to the area as the temperatures are surprisingly higher than those in spring, averaging around 19°C. March, April, and May are also a good time to explore the great outdoors as the colours of the landscape turn from green to shades of red, orange, and brown.

Winter is also a nice time to travel to Hawke's Bay as the temperatures don't get down to freezing levels like elsewhere in New Zealand. Most mornings are clear and crisp, allowing you to spend the majority of your time soaking up the beautiful winter sunshine.