January is during the middle of New Zealand’s summer season, which makes it one of the most popular months to travel in New Zealand. Location: All over New Zealand. 17. Spring is a beautiful time to explore New Zealand without the crowds of Summer. Go adventuring from Queenstown to Auckland, enjoying the beautiful sights Te Anau, Wellington , and more along the way. Months: March, April and May Tourist Season: High to Shoulder Season What to pack: Packing List for Autumn in New Zealand. Beyond the public sporting display, New Zealand celebrates its Māori culture in daily life and there are numerous places to experience it. Luckily there are still plenty of wide-open spaces and opportunities to get off the. Experience bright and sunny days with temperatures ranging between 20°C and 25°C, making it the perfect time for outdoor activities such as hiking, beach sports, and biking. Our team of NZ based travel experts can quickly create the perfect New Zealand holiday for you. Head up to the top of Mount Victoria for stunning panoramic views. Best Time to Visit Best. Best Time to Visit New Zealand. Expect long, bright, sunny days and temperatures between 61°F and 75°F. However, despite the smell, Rotorua is a great location. 3. Get official travel information, maps, itineraries, best time to travel & things to do to help you plan your next holiday to New Zealand. Explore the North Island Explore the South Island Visit cities and towns Discover other islands you can visit Popular places Things to see and do in New Zealand Diverse scenery and unique culture mean there is a wide range of things to see and do while travelling around New Zealand. It can be 0 if you are only doing hikes or it can go up to $300-$400 NZD for a helicopter tour per person. Many people flock here to take a cruise in Milford Sound to get up close to this gorgeous fiord. Begin your journey to the beautiful game in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand's largest city with a vibrant waterfront, beaches and islands. New Zealand, or Aotearoa in Māori, benefits from a diverse landscape of golden beaches, rainforests, fiords, wineries and snow-topped mountains. Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in New Zealand. Visit one of Waiheke Island's vineyards. Few destinations boast so many staggering natural wonders packed into such a small area. Find out how to get to New Zealand and how to book your trip. Marvel at Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel. What to Do in Northland. Southern Alps. This crossover journey starts in New Zealand with sightseeing in Auckland, geothermal sights in Rotorua, and wine tasting in Queenstown. Then spend a day (or more) in Wānaka, known for its low-key vibes and Instagram-famous tree. 1. However, New Zealand is renowned for having “four seasons in a day” even in summer so don’t be. From north to south, these are our favourite autumnal spots in Aotearoa. Learn about the COVID-19 requirements for travelling to New Zealand, visa and entry requirements and what sort of travel visa you might need. Tue 21 November 2023 - Wed 27 March 2024. The Hobbiton Movie Set is probably one of the most famous places to visit in New Zealand’s North Island. Continue to 3 of 15 below. Wellington Museum and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. There are plenty of places to visit on New Zealand’s North Island, which contains all of the above. January is the height of summer and is considered by many as the best month to visit New Zealand. End of trip: Leaving Auckland in time to start work in London on Monday: - Fastest flight time: 25 hours time Difference: UK up to 13 hours behind. The NZeTA is valid for up to 2 years and allows multiple entries. On the hike, visitors might even catch a. Many families also visit in this season as the New Zealand and Australian long school holidays fall in summer. Auckland Summer. However, this also makes the South Island the most crowded time of the year to visit. Welcome to the NZ Forum. The Best Time to Visit New Zealand. 14 Freedom camping – the do’s and don’ts. The road is unsealed over 74 km. Cook. Experience the beauty of New Zealand’s highest peak by heading on an inland road-trip to Mt. A quick guide to money in New Zealand. A. Our New Zealand travel itinerary involves a week on the South Island, home to some truly stunning natural scenes and a mecca for outdoorsy travelers. In fact, some of the best weather days I’ve experienced in Queenstown have been at the start of fall (in March). When listing out the most beautiful places to visit in New Zealand, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is a no-brainer. For price, you could expect a short-distance journey, such as between Auckland and Hamilton to cost approximately $40 NZD. Queenstown is one of the best places to visit in New Zealand when it comes to adrenaline-pumping attractions and a world-class skiing experience. Auckland, in New Zealand's North Island, is a multi-cultural hub of food and wine, music, art and culture. The highlights of the trail are two spectacular swing bridges that hang above a long drop to the ground below. ) The glow worm caves are one of the best in New Zealand and remain off the beaten path compared to others. 1. New Zealand is known for its extreme sports, adventure tourism and strong mountaineering tradition, as seen in the success of notable New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary. Go bungy jumping in Queenstown. January is a great time to visit New Zealand, as the country experiences a summer season from December to January. I’d also recommend reading this excellent post on places to visit in New Zealand for more tips and planning advice. 82 NZD (53. ; Lake Pukaki: Vibrant glacial water on the doorstep of Mt Cook. Weather New Zealand ranges from a sub. Rachael Hood. The fastest and easiest way to apply for a visitor visa is online. If you are on a tight budget and watch your spending closely, you could get by with a daily budget of $60 – $90 per person. 5mi) outside the town of Hokitika will bring you to the shimmering turquoise waters and densely forested surrounds. Spring (September, October, November) is the best time to visit New Zealand if you are looking for mild temperatures ( great for hiking!) and fewer crowds. The country accounts for more than half of the world’s production of king salmon and offers a. On a backpacker budget, prepare to spend at least 75-85 NZD per day. Hotel prices are significantly lower than summer and availability. Because of the hole in the O-zone layer between New Zealand and Australia, the sun is intense and can burn you within seven minutes of exposure even in winter. A unique culture. In winter, when the days are short and the nights are long, New Zealand offers the perfect conditions to see the Aurora Australis which can sometimes be seen as far north as Wellington. If you decide to travel to New Zealand: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. However, you’ll need a significant solar wind activity to see it from that far North. Push your adventure limits. Driving through, you see only a glimpse of this vast, rugged and wild part of the Alps making this. Located on the Southern Hemisphere, weather patterns are the opposite of what we are used to in the northern hemisphere. Re: best time to visit. Before they hit the court at the ASB Classic this week, top seeds Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton studied up on another of New Zealand's most iconic sports: the famous All Blacks rugby team. A 1-Week South Island Itinerary: 6-8 Days. DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre. Take a stroll through the heart of the city on Te Ara I Whiti/The Light path or Pink Light Path which stretches from Upper Queen. The majority of cruise lines visit New Zealand during the October – April summer cruise season. New Zealand Weather in March. North Island Weather in Summer. You can still visit Mount Cook village and admire the mountain peaks of the Southern Alps or go for a hike on the numerous trails in the area such as the Hooker Valley track. 6 Franz Josef. Both months are considered "Autumn", but April will be warmer & have longer days than May. There's lots to see here so dedicate at least half a day to exploring Te Whare Runanga, the Treaty House, the ceremonial waka, the artisan workshops and the forest and lawns at Waitangi. You can start the day by visiting the Te Puia Geothermal Reserve & view the boiling mud pools & cascading Pohutu geyser, that make Rotorua famous as New Zealand’s “ thermal city “. Before you visit just make sure to know the basic rules of the road and be extra cautious at first. The national park is a must-see for outdoor. 7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 61. The Catlins. Find out how to get to New Zealand and how to book your trip. Temperature. Before travelling to New Zealand, you need to make sure your passport is valid for at least three months longer. Mount Cook National Park. While it is a great city to visit during the day, it gets even better by night. For millennia, Māori have been the tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. But don’t let that stop you – it is still totally possible to explore New Zealand on a budget. 15 Days. Cost of accommodations in New Zealand is slightly cheaper than Australia, and for that reason, and the higher cost of getting around in Australia, New Zealand wins this round. Queenstown sunset (Photo: Mantas Volungevicius via Flickr / CC BY 2. Stewart Island. Australian temporary residents are not eligible for this visa. Māori culture. Get official travel information, maps, itineraries, best time to travel & things to do to help you plan your next holiday to New Zealand. The Catlins, a hidden gem on the often-missed East Coast of New Zealand's South Island, is actually full of amazing spots to visit. Latest update: This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand. It’s natural you might want to visit Australia and New Zealand in one go: they’re. American citizens may use their eTA to stay in New Zealand for up to 3 months at a time. Antigen tests. Loic Lagarde / Getty Images. New Zealand. Loaded with natural and man made marvels, the places to visit in New Zealand are magnificent and dramatic setting the country apart. New Zealand is set to remove most remaining Covid rules, giving the green light for restriction-free travel. On this budget, you can stay in a hostel dorm, take public transportation to get around, limit your drinking, do free hikes, visit the odd paid site (like museums), and cook your own meals. m. It's peak tourism season, and schools are closed until the end of the month. 1. This New Zealand Road Trip itinerary is designed for a month of travel, however it can be extended or shortened of course depending on how much time you have available! I’d. Explore Milford Sound. Most of the island is forested and undeveloped with over 80 per cent of the island is set aside as the Rakiura National Park, giving. For millennia, Māori have been the tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Explore the North Island Explore the South Island Visit cities and towns Discover other islands you can visit Popular places Things to see and do in New Zealand Diverse scenery and unique culture mean there is a wide range of things to see and do while travelling around New Zealand. If you’re looking to ski, the. JUN- AUG 15oC. 1. With rugged coastlines, dense forests, and pristine beaches, it is an incredibly scenic place full of epic waterfalls. The Bay of Islands is one of the best places to go in New Zealand for fishing, sailing, and other watersports. 10. Itinerary #1: Highlights of New Zealand - Queenstown to Auckland. The Hawke's Bay is one of New. Visitors to the area can soak in the warm, geothermal pools at Wairakei Terraces, fish for trout in the lake's waters, or cycle along the trail that follows the edges of the lake. Some spring temperature averages in key population centers are: Bay of Islands: 67 degrees Fahrenheit high/48 degrees Fahrenheit low. Near the city centre, enjoy the fresh air at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, or. Welcome to New Zealand. International visitor arrivals in 2023 in New Zealand are expected to reach 4. Munro Beach. Cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown follow suit, with photo-worthy scenery and a laid-back vibe. Auckland, New Zealand is a must-visit destination this summer, from the FIFA Women's World Cup to its signature attractions. Autumn in New Zealand starts in March and ends in May with temperatures on the south Island varying from average lows of 10°C (50°F) to highs of 20°C (68°F) early in the season. The summer months bring plenty of sunny skies and warm temperatures to the North Island and South Island. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. The Wellington and Te Papa museums are solid options for some educational (but fun) activities when you need a break from New Zealand's unpredictable weather. Economy: $1,772. This is with the exception of Australian residents. You can visit New Zealand as a genuine tourist for up to 9 months in an 18-month period. It truly is a dream winter destination and you definitely don’t have to be into snow sports! We’re covering all the pros of a winter visit as well as the cons, so you can make an informed decision about whether. Hot Water Beach. At a glance: Fly over the glaciers in the morning, visit the kiwi center and then drive up to artsy Hokitika. Your passport has to be valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure date, and if required, have a valid New Zealand visa. Locals place a high value on getting children outside to enjoy nature, and with so much of it close to the city it’s easy to have a great, active day out without much effort or expense. New Zealand has a diverse landscape with snow-covered mountains and minimal light pollution. New Zealand South Island. At New Zealand border control, you. Subsequently, there have been over 50 visits. Roy’s Peak, Wanaka. The center of the North Island, near Taupō and Rotorua, contains one of the most active geothermal areas in the world. Then they go to New Zealand. New Zealand’s first lighthouse, situated on the edge of Lower Hutt. ~Nelson Lakes Park, Enjoying Lake Rotoiti~. 1. 4-3. 1. By 100% Pure New Zealand. Australia vs. Nature crafted New Zealand with the surreal beauty of a movie set. Forever remembered for its "The Lord of the Rings" legacy, New Zealand’s landscapes are deserving of their big screen fame—think lush rolling hills, volcano-sculpted moonscapes, UNESCO-listed glaciers, and white-sand. Home to one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Abel Tasman National Park is a wonderful option either for a day trip from Nelson or for a longer stay. Go sightseeing in Christchurch, soak in Hanmer Springs, go whale watching, and take a scenic ferry from Picton over to Wellington, home to museums and parliamentary features. ; Join a boat tour departing from Paihia; a dolphin safari, a visit to the Hole in the Rock, the Cream Trip (which takes it all in) or dive one of the most famous dive sites in the country; the Rainbow Warrior. The long, warm summers are ideal for spending at one of the country's many great beaches.