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Where & when to go in New Zealand
North Island
Best times to go:
The seasons are pretty much the reverse of the UK. It is their summer when it’s our winter, our spring when it’s their Autumn etc..The peak months for travelling in the North Island are Nov through to March, where you should find, clear skies, warmish weather (its never roasting in NZ), and as warm as you are going to get, Pacific Ocean.
The New Zealand winter in the North Island brings you less busy everything, better value hotels, rugby on every corner and skiing. Plus some wetter weather but generally no worse than the UK so you could be lucky and have the trip of a lifetime at a snip of the usual cost. Whenever you go, you will have a fabulous time and long lasting memories.
Where to go:
The North Island is an adventure in itself. Nooks and crannies, wide open spaces and some of the most scenic driving routes you will ever see. The Bay of Islands and Ninety Mile Beach are in the North and must be visited (time pending). Auckland is a cool, thriving city with all the cosmopolitan feel you would expect with an eclectic mix of cultures and people. Coramandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Napier, Lake Taupo and Wellington are all places to visit. Infact there are so many spots to see that it just depends what time you have to see them.
South Island
Best times to go:
Like the North Island, the weather is the opposite to the UK and the peak time to be travelling through New Zealand is Nov through to March. April and May can also be really nice months with fewer tourists around. The same goes for October which is a great month to consider touring as the peak season prices haven’t yet kicked in. It can rain in the South Island like you have never seen before and June Jul Aug Sep can be wet. Milford Sound region is always wet and I don’t know anyone who has been there on a clear day. That’s not really true but be prepared for a shower.
The South Island is ski heaven with Queenstown being the hub to most ski groups. The snow is great and the conditions and views are exceptional. Great facilities abound.
Where to go:
This list would be far easier if it said where not to go. Infact it would be blank. From Picton at the top to Stewart Island in the very south, you are spoiled for choice. Everywhere is, in a word, unmissable and that is no exaggeration. Glaciers on one side at Franz Josef, Whales on the other at Kaikoura plus whopping great peaks in the middle, this place offers more diverse views per minute of your time than anywhere else in the world. We can even take you further South as INvercragill is the gateway to Antarctica. Miss out the South Island and you will regret forever.
New Zealand Travel Guide
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