Climate snapshot for alpacas
93/100Alpaca climate comfort score
22°CAverage high, Jan
3°CAverage low, Jul
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~28Frost nights per year
970 mmAnnual precipitation
4Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 93/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb). GBIF holds 1 alpaca occurrence records for New Zealand.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°C | 12°C | 75 mm | 144 · ok | worms, grass |
| Feb | 21°C | 12°C | 78 mm | 143 · ok | worms, grass |
| Mar | 19°C | 9°C | 106 mm | 138 · ok | worms, grass |
| Apr | 17°C | 8°C | 64 mm | 140 · ok | grass |
| May | 13°C | 5°C | 56 mm | 136 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 11°C | 4°C | 64 mm | 135 · ok | — |
| Jul | 10°C | 3°C | 120 mm | 130 · ok | — |
| Aug | 12°C | 3°C | 68 mm | 128 · ok | — |
| Sep | 14°C | 5°C | 78 mm | 129 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 16°C | 6°C | 118 mm | 134 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 17°C | 8°C | 65 mm | 138 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 20°C | 11°C | 79 mm | 143 · ok | worms, grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at -43.6°, 171.9°, elevation 219 m.
Alpaca care calendar for South Island, New Zealand
January 22° / 12°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 21° / 12°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
March 19° / 9°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 17° / 8°C
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
May 13° / 5°C
- Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 11° / 4°C
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
July 10° / 3°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 12° / 3°C
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
September 14° / 5°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
October 16° / 6°C
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
November 17° / 8°C
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 20° / 11°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: September.
- Best months for crias to be born: Sep–Dec (breed in Oct–Jan).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Dec–Mar — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Apr–Sep.
- Grazing season: Sep–May (about 9 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 250 km. Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Dos Cadena Alpaca Farm Park · Swannanoa | activity | 55 km | — |
| Shamarra Alpacas Farm | visitor farm | 84 km | — |
| Alpaca Stud | visitor farm | 102 km | — |
| The paca shack at Gem Alpacas | visitor farm | 103 km | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in South Island, New Zealand?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. South Island, New Zealand scores 93/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in South Island, New Zealand?
Plan shearing for September, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in South Island, New Zealand?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Sep–Dec. For births then, breed females in Oct–Jan (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in South Island, New Zealand?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Coordinates -43.600, 171.900. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.