New Zealand's largest city spans a narrow isthmus between two harbors, built on a volcanic field of 53 dormant volcanoes. Maori iwi (tribes) settled the area around 1350, building pa (fortifications) on many volcanic cones. Rangitoto Island, the youngest volcano at just 600 years old, dominates the harbor view. Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world.
Nights sit around 12°C and afternoons around 16°C, though some nights drop to 7°C.
The year in Auckland moves gently: summer afternoons sit around 23°C, winter ones around 15°C.
Some summer days reach 28°C, and some winter nights drop to 4°C.
Most of the rain falls in winter, least in summer. In July it rains about 17 days in 30; in January, 6.
The air stays clean through the year.
Days stretch to about 14.5 hours of light in December and shrink to 9.5 in June — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
No month in Auckland matches what you're after, so come for the place rather than the weather. Expect fast internet (280 Mbps) and a high cost of living (about €2250 a month).
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