Best Time to Travel New Zealand

August 25th, 2024

Are you wondering what is the best time to travel New Zealand? Timing your visit can significantly enhance your experience, ensuring great weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. Join me as we explore the ins and outs of New Zealand’s seasons and discover the perfect time for your adventure!

Intro for Best Time to Travel to New Zealand

When is the best time to travel to New Zealand for great weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices? In this video, I’ll provide you with my insider travel tips as a New Zealand travel designer so you can get the sweet spot for your individual travel planning. My name is Michael, let’s get started!

In my job as a travel designer, I’m often asked “when is the best time to visit New Zealand?” Before I can answer that question, I usually ask the following three points: (1) Are you flexible with your travel dates or do you have to travel at specific times such as Christmas or school holidays? (2) Are you traveling for a specific occasion like a honeymoon or an anniversary? (3) What are your interests, what do you want to see and do while in New Zealand? Are you into the outdoors? Are you into hiking? Do you want family-friendly activities, or maybe you’re interested in culture, arts, food, and wine?

These are fundamentally important questions to ask when you start your New Zealand holiday planning. We are now going through key details which will make this all much more obvious so hold on and continue reading.

Overview on New Zealand Travel Seasons

Firstly, let’s have a quick overview on travel seasons. In general, New Zealand is a year-round destination but unless you want to go skiing, the winter months of June to August are NOT suitable for outdoor activities, especially if you want to explore our national parks with longer hikes. But there’s another reason why traveling in the winter might be challenging, but I’ll get to that in a minute.

So, let’s begin to talk about the seasons in New Zealand:

Summer (December to February)

The summer in New Zealand typically runs between December and February. This means long sunny days which are perfect for outdoor activities. With Christmas holidays in the northern hemisphere being the winter months, international travelers will flock to New Zealand, so it’s busy.

Autumn (March to May)

Autumn in New Zealand occurs from March to May. Temperatures at this time are getting a little cooler, daylight hours will also be shorter, but the good news is that there’s far often less wind and rain, and that’s great for outdoor activities.

Winter (June to August)

Winter in New Zealand lasts from June to August and brings colder temperatures and short days, especially in the South Island. Although some areas are still worth visiting, you’ll need to be aware that many tourism operators are closed for the winter.

Spring (September to November)

Spring is from September to November. The country comes alive with new growth and longer daylight hours, but the weather can be quite unpredictable. From November onwards, the peak summer season begins.

I’ve already produced a comprehensive video on climate and seasons if you want to dive a little deeper. See details in the playlist in the description box below. If you find this blog helpful, please hit the Subscribe button below and stay in touch for more helpful New Zealand travel videos to come.

Also, you can download my free New Zealand travel planning sheet in the description box below. This will help you greatly when setting up your New Zealand holiday.

Traveling New Zealand with Outdoors in Mind

For travelers wanting to experience the outdoors in New Zealand, my suggestions are to try to avoid traveling during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. Between the 20th of December and the 10th of January, accommodation and tours are often booked one year in advance. This is mainly because this is New Zealand’s main school holiday season. Also, this is the time when there’s a real influx of international travelers on the roads and in national parks.

A good time for outdoor activities is the last three weeks in January. This is because many Christmas travelers have returned home, but the ‘peak seasoners’ for February have not arrived yet. Avoid traveling in February if you can; even until mid-March, it’s still very busy with international travelers in New Zealand.

The best time for outdoor activities is from mid-March until mid-May. Sure, by May the temperatures will have dropped, but with far fewer people around, you’ll have much more space to yourself. If you want to embrace the great outdoors, traveling between June and August is not the right time. As mentioned before, the weather conditions are not ideal, and some of the key hikes are not accessible due to snow.

So what do you think about these suggestions? Feel free to put any questions or comments in the box below.

Suggestions for Family Travel to New Zealand

For family travelers wanting their kids to embrace tour activities and nature experiences in New Zealand, here are my key recommendations. A lovely time for family travelers is the spring season. This is when cute little lambs are born, and the landscape is lush and green. In September and October, you’ll find that prices, including rental cars and accommodation, can be lower.

November can be quite a good time for family travelers too, but I’ll talk about that time of the year in the next section. Interestingly enough, each month seems to attract a different type of traveler to New Zealand. For whatever reason, this has been the case for many years. If at all possible, try to avoid traveling during the Christmas and New Year’s period.

The first three weeks in December (so before the 20th of December) are a fantastic time for New Zealand. Temperatures are generally up, and the peak holiday season has not yet begun. As always, I urge travelers to avoid the absolute peak summer season between February and mid-March. There are too many travelers around, prices are higher, and overall far fewer accommodations are available.

For the winter season, again, I don’t recommend outdoor enthusiasts traveling to New Zealand between June and August. However, there are some regions with moderate temperatures, such as the Bay of Islands, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Abel Tasman region. So if you’re fully aware of what the winter season contains with less daylight hours and colder temperatures, it’s an option. Also, airfares and prices are generally much lower during that time of the year.

New Zealand Culture and Lifestyle Travel

For travelers with little interest in major hikes or adrenaline-pumping activities, I would recommend a different option. These travelers are generally more into local culture, arts, food, wine, golfing, and fishing. September and October are lovely travel months for this kind of group, especially with fewer fellow travelers around. The tourism operators have had their winter break and are eager to start their tourism season with renewed energy. The weather is still patchy, so if you are prepared for this, you’ll be fine.

November is traditionally the peak time for international travelers, especially for lifestylers or couples 55 years and older. This has been the case for the past 35 years that I’ve been in the tourism industry. This is when accommodation providers become extremely busy, therefore, I highly recommend that you pre-book 7 to 8 months ahead. Again, for the peak Christmas holiday season, this is the time I would try to avoid traveling. However, the last 3 weeks in general is a great travel period. Try to avoid February if you can and instead plan from mid-March onwards. The autumn season is such a beautiful time of the year with stunning colors and far more settled weather conditions. Again, in the winter season, many key accommodation and tour operators will close down for their own holiday break, especially outside the main tourism hubs.

Summary of the Best Time to Visit New Zealand

So in summary, I would say the best time to visit New Zealand depends on what you want to do and see. My personal recommendation is the beautiful autumn scenery from mid-March until May. Some people regard this as the winter season, but that’s not correct—in fact, far from it! Another lovely time of the year is the month of October. The main thing to remember is to plan your holiday with your interests in mind.

To help you with your itinerary planning, you can download my free New Zealand planning sheet, which is in the description box below. Check out my other New Zealand travel planning videos as well as the travel combination with Australia. I’ve got two listed here.

Finally, if you find this video helpful, please hit the Subscribe button below. Thumbs Up to Stay Connected for more helpful New Zealand travel tips. See you in the next video!

Key Travel Recommendations for Outdoor Enthusiasts

So what do you think about these suggestions? Feel free to put any questions or comments in the box below.

Family-Friendly Travel Recommendations

Lifestyle Travel Recommendations

Planning Your Trip Based on Interests

When planning your trip to New Zealand, it’s crucial to consider your interests to determine the best time to travel. For example, if you’re into outdoor activities like hiking, the period from mid-March to mid-May is ideal. The temperatures are cooler, and there are fewer crowds, giving you more space to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of New Zealand.

For family travelers, spring is an excellent time to visit. The landscape is lush and green, and you can experience the joy of seeing cute little lambs being born. Also, prices for rental cars and accommodation are generally lower in September and October, making it a cost-effective time for a family holiday.

If your interests lie in culture, arts, food, and wine, the months of September, October, and November are perfect for you. These months offer a vibrant cultural scene with fewer tourists, allowing you to enjoy New Zealand’s local experiences without the hustle and bustle of peak season. However, it’s essential to pre-book your accommodation well in advance for November, as it is a popular time for international travelers.

For those who prefer milder temperatures and fewer crowds, autumn (from mid-March to May) is another great option. The autumn colors are stunning, and the weather is more settled, offering an excellent backdrop for a relaxing and picturesque holiday.

In summary, the best time to travel to New Zealand depends on what you want to do and see. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, a family traveler, or a culture lover, planning your trip based on your interests will ensure you have a memorable and enjoyable experience.