The ideal time to visit New Zealand

Traveling to Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand) is a great option year-round, though your experience will differ based on the season you select.

In summer, embrace the adventure of New Zealand's Great Walks and revel in the finest music festivals. Autumn offers a budget-friendly opportunity for RV trips, while winter combines thrilling snow sports with vibrant city life. Spring welcomes a host of delectable festivals celebrating local beer, wine, and seafood.

Here’s our comprehensive guide on the best times to explore New Zealand.

From December to February, enjoy optimal conditions for outdoor adventures and lively festivals.

Summer in New Zealand brings bustling beaches, generally pleasant hiking weather (locally known as 'tramping'), and relaxing cricket matches. Festival highlights include Gisborne’s Rhythm & Vines and Wānaka’s Rhythm & Alps, both showcasing DJ and dance music over several days. February sees Napier come alive with an Art Deco celebration, while Splore draws crowds for three days of Burning Man-inspired art, music, and dance. The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival emphasizes exquisite dining and drinking experiences. It’s essential to book in advance for popular festivals to secure tickets and accommodation.

Summer school holidays from mid-December to early February drive up accommodation prices at hotels, motels, and holiday parks. Booking ahead is crucial, especially during the busy Christmas and New Year period when popular North Island beach spots like Tauranga’s Mt Maunganui and Whitianga fill up with Kiwi families and holidaymakers. Waitangi Day, New Zealand’s national holiday, is celebrated on February 6.

If you're eager to see the vibrant wild lupin flowers flooding your social media, visit between December and February for the best views around Central Otago and the Mackenzie Country. Be aware that some areas in the South Island, especially around Lake Tekapo, are working to control the spread of this invasive species.

From March to May, expect a surge in festivals and excellent opportunities for budget-friendly road trips.

As New Zealand transitions from late summer to autumn in the southern hemisphere, the period from March to May offers cool yet enjoyable weather, with ocean temperatures remaining warm enough for swimming and water sports—particularly on North Island beaches during March and April.

With generally settled and drier conditions across most regions, this is an ideal time to explore Aotearoa. With fewer Kiwis traveling—except during the Easter school break—visitors can find better accommodation deals and shorter queues at key attractions. There’s also less traffic for road trips from Auckland to the Bay of Islands and the Coromandel Peninsula, as well as for motorhome journeys along the South Island's most popular routes.

March hosts popular festivals like WOMAD NZ, an annual celebration of global music in New Plymouth, and the quirky Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika, where you can taste local delicacies like beer, venison, and eel, as well as more adventurous dishes such as lamb’s testicles and fried locusts. Also in March, Auckland’s Pasifika festival showcases lively music and dance from Pacific Island communities, accompanied by cuisine from Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and the Cook Islands.

The ideal period for urban getaways and snow activities is from June to August.

Popular summer hotspots like Golden Bay, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Bay of Islands experience a significant drop in visitors during the cooler months of June to August, with many tourist businesses closing for winter. This is not the best time for many of New Zealand’s Great Walks due to challenging and often hazardous conditions on alpine tracks in the South Island and Tongariro National Park. However, it’s typically a great time to enjoy the Abel Tasman Coast Track, so bundle up for chilly mornings but anticipate clear skies later on.

The snow sports season kicks off around this time, particularly in Queenstown and Wānaka in the South Island. Be sure to book accommodation early, especially during the school holidays in July. Skiing in New Zealand is increasingly favored by Australian families, so check their school holiday dates as well.

In New Zealand's cities, shorter days and longer nights shift the focus to indoor activities. In August, Wellington comes alive with Beervana, a craft beer and culinary festival, while the historic town of Oamaru hosts the quirky Steampunk festival in June. Auckland's winter highlights include Elemental, an annual arts and culinary festival in July and August, and Restaurant Month, offering discounted dining at some of the city's finest restaurants.

First celebrated as a national public holiday in 2022, Matariki marks the Māori New Year. The specific date fluctuates according to the lunar calendar, but it typically falls around a Friday holiday weekend in late June or early July. Matariki events and cultural festivities are growing in popularity across New Zealand.

Winter presents an excellent opportunity to explore New Zealand’s officially recognized Dark Sky Sanctuaries, benefiting from clearer skies and longer nights. Aotea/Great Barrier Island near Auckland and the Mackenzie Country in the South Island are favored spots for stargazing.

From September to November, expect the best conditions for hiking and savoring food festivals.

From September to November, spring rain showers are common, so be sure to bring a lightweight waterproof jacket. This shoulder season in New Zealand typically offers more affordable accommodation, though a two-week school holiday in September can affect hotel and motel pricing.

The snow sports season wraps up around early October, making October and November a great time to explore Queenstown or Wānaka, especially for mountain biking in cooler temperatures. The Great Walks hiking season begins in late October and runs until April. Reservations for trail access and hut stays can be made on the Department of Conservation (DOC) website, typically starting in May. It's crucial to book early for popular trails like the Milford, Routeburn, and Kepler Tracks.

Spring festivals such as Crayfest Kaikōura celebrate the beloved crayfish alongside local wines and craft beers. This season is also ideal for whale watching in Kaikōura. Additionally, Toast Martinborough draws Wellington residents over the Remutaka Range for a one-day November festival celebrating pinot noir, food, and music.