Best Time To Go To New Zealand

Best time to go to New Zealand: Wild Lupine blooming in Burkes Pass on the South Island in December.

The best time to go to New Zealand depends on what you want to do and how fussy you are about the weather. Having said that, there’s really no bad time to visit this beautiful country.

Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite of those in North America, Asia, and Europe. Likewise, the warmer weather is in the north and places in the southern part of the South Island can get mighty chilly outside of their notoriously short summer season.

The “high season” is November to March, late spring through early fall. That’s when the weather is best and the days are longest, but the down side is that accommodation during these months can be in short supply in the most popular areas.

Best time to go to New Zealand: freshly shorn sheep on a Banks Peninsula sheep station. Shearing takes place between December and March

Personally, I’d rather sacrifice a little sunshine and not have to pre-book lodging. I love wandering around New Zealand with the flexibility of stopping for the night whenever I happen upon a place that looks interesting. This is a great way to experience the joy of authentic travel. Outside of the busiest time of year, B&B hosts and many other folks have more time to interact with visitors, and you are more likely to feel like a welcome traveler (vs. a tourist).

When I was researching and writing guidebooks to New Zealand, I always traveled outside of the high season (hosts don’t appreciate being bugged by journalists when they are swamped with guests) and I did just fine.

Best time to go to New Zealand to see gardens, lambs, and lush green pastures

Spring: September, October, November. This is one of the best times to visit, when the countryside is bright with blossoming fruit trees and brand-new lambs. Springtime is also great for photography because pastures – lush and green from winter rain – are often framed by snow-capped mountain peaks. Gardens throughout New Zealand are blooming with bright colors, especially rhododendrons. Click here to read about the best scenery.

Best time to go to New Zealand: Calves are born in early spring – September – in New Zealand.

Best time to go to New Zealand for beaches and boating

Summer: December, January, February. New Zealanders enjoy their summer holidays from mid-December to the end January, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hang out with them at resorts around the country during this time.

“Mucking around in boats” is truly a national pastime here (note New Zealand’s impressive America’s Cup record). You’ll need to pre-book lodging and be prepared to stand in a few queues, but you’ll probably have great weather. (My husband always smirks when I say that, remembering the Bugatti Rally he did in pouring rain during January 2000).

Walking tracks are also very busy during the summer months, but with enough advance planning, you can happily share these sunny days with the locals. Just don’t expect any bargains. Having said that, the thought of summer berries – especially raspberries – makes this season very tempting. (You can pick your own at farms around Nelson.)

Some of New Zealand’s prettiest beaches are in Abel Tasman National Park, South Island.

Best time to go to New Zealand for good values and “stone fruit”

Fall: March, April, May. During the “shoulder season” that starts in April and ends in August, airfares are at their lowest and hotels and other lodging are in good supply. In the south, autumn colors and cooler weather are gentle reminders that winter is on its way. In Auckland, the Bay of Islands and elsewhere in the north, it’s still shirtsleeve weather.

One of the things I like best about traveling during March is buying fresh fruit from the side of the road. Around Cromwell in the South Island, you can buy bags of delicious stone fruit – peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, nectarines – for a fraction of what they’d cost elsewhere in the world. In the North Island, look for kiwifruit and apples.

Best time to go to New Zealand: Rotorua thermal activity takes place year round.

Best time to go to New Zealand for skiing and pumpkin soup

Winter: June, July, August. While the weather isn’t the best, the off-season prices are heartwarming – except in ski areas. When I think of winter in New Zealand, I am reminded of wonderful bowls of piping hot pumpkin soup, sitting in front of cozy fires, and shopping for hand-knit woolen sweaters. These items are sold year round, but the best selection is available during the cool months when locals, as well as visitors, are buying them.

Best time to go to New Zealand: considering local holidays

Holidays in New Zealand include January 1, 2; Waitangi Day, February 6; Good Friday though the Tuesday after Easter; ANZAC Day, April 25; Sovereign’s Day, the first Monday in June; Labour Day, the fourth Monday in October; and December 25, 26.

Even more important are the school holidays when New Zealand families are on the road. These occur approximately mid-December to the end January, the first two weeks in April, the first two weeks in July, and the last week in September and first week in October.

Before you plan your trip, check out this info on school holidays and New Zealand weather.

Have a great trip!

Cheers,

Elizabeth Hansen

Tags: advice, ANZAC Day, autumn, beaches, best time to go, Easter, fall, flexible itinerary, holidays, New Zealand, school holidays, seasons, Southern Hemisphere, Sovereign's Day, spring, summer, tips, vacations, Waitangi Day, weather, when to go, winter

Category: national holidays, New Zealand