Queenstown meanwhile was on 0C while Franz Josef made it to 6C. Dunedin and Stewart Island were practically tropical in comparison on 12C and 10C respectively.
Invercargill was sitting on a chilly 6C along and the Chatham Islands were 4C.
It’s the first hint of the wintry week MetService promised with much of the country in for a mix of “biting cold winds and crisp, frosty mornings”.
The forecaster says the wave of chilly weather comes from several cold fronts sweeping out of the south, bringing rain and a noticeable drop in temperatures.
And there are more chilly starts to come with the South Island expected to have the coldest daytime temperatures on Thursday, while the North Island is in for another frigid start on Friday.