Frost Dates by Region
Average last frost in spring and first frost in autumn for every region we cover in New Zealand, and the growing season each one gives you.
Frost dates are what actually schedule a vegetable garden. They tell you when it is safe to sow and how long you have before the cold comes back. For fruit trees there is a second number that matters just as much, winter chill, which decides whether a variety will set fruit at all. Check your chill hours.
| Region | Climate | Frost window | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Warm temperate | effectively frost free | year round |
| Canterbury | Cool temperate | 10 October to 20 April | about 192 days |
| Central North Island | Cool temperate highland | 15 October to 15 April | about 182 days |
| Central Otago | Semi-continental | 5 November to 25 March | about 140 days |
| Nelson & Marlborough | Sunny temperate | 20 September to 10 May | about 232 days |
| Northland | Subtropical | effectively frost free | year round |
| Otago & Southland | Cold temperate | 25 October to 5 April | about 162 days |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | Warm temperate | 25 September to 5 May | about 222 days |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | Temperate | 30 August to 10 June | about 284 days |
These are regional midpoints. A region covers a lot of ground, and a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall will shift your own dates by weeks. Treat them as a starting point, then watch your own garden.
Find your region, or open the free app for a local forecast with frost alerts.