8 Reasons Autumn Is The Perfect Time To Visit New Zealand

New Zealand is one of those places that are blessed with distinct seasonal changes. Autumn in all its beauty is, by far, one of the best times to visit this scenic Pacific nation. Come along on a journey with us as we venture into 8 reasons why the autumn months (March until June) are perfect for your travels.

The beautiful colours

You don’t need to be a landscape photographer to appreciate the breathtaking backdrop that comes alive in autumn. Brilliant hues of yellow, red, gold, and orange glisten against the bright blue skies to create a picture-perfect scenery. If you really want to immerse yourself in those wonderful colours, the Hawke’s Bay and Central Otago regions are the best places to visit – though anywhere in New Zealand will expose you to leafy wonders.

Mild temperatures

Stargazing aplenty

Autumn’s clear night skies make it the ideal time for stargazing. Head along to Lake Tekapo or Aoraki/Mount Cook to get a glimpse of the Southern Cross and the twinkling skylines. If you get lucky, you might even catch an Aurora Australis (a.k.a the Southern Lights) during your visit.

Autumn is orca and whale-watching season

Here’s one for travellers who are keen to check out Wellington and its environs. Autumn is when the whales and orcas visit New Zealand’s snazzy capital city. You can watch them from the city’s waterfront, or you can get a little closer to these awesome creatures by catching a ferry to Eastbourne or Picton. If you’re eager for a South Island expedition, Kaikoura is also highly renowned for its whale-watching tours.

It’s a great time to see the native bird life too

Yellow-eyed penguins in Canterbury and Otago. Curious kea along the Milford Track. Weka, tui and kokako across various North and South Island locations. Wherever you visit in autumn, you’ll get to see New Zealand’s awesome bird and wildlife from up close. Many of the local hikes will expose you to the country’s diverse ecosystem, or you can make your way onto a predator-free spot like Wellington’s Somes/Matiu Island or Mou Waho Island near Wanaka.

There are plenty of quirky events to keep you busy

New Zealand’s charm and character are enhanced by a handful of annual events during the temperate season. Arrowtown’s Autumn Festival celebrates the area’s remarkable foliage, while Balloons Over Waikato has been entertaining the crowds with its colourful displays for 18 years and counting. If you’re feeling adventurous, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is always interesting – you’ll get to taste local staples like whitebait fritters as well as curious morsels like huhu grubs (which, in case you’re wondering, is a type of beetle).

It’s one of the best times of the year for hiking and cycling

Since it’s not too hot, not too cold, autumn is just right for trekking or hopping on a bike. Marlborough Sounds’ Queen Charlotte Track is quite popular in both cases – and, after getting your heart racing, you can reward yourself with a trip to the local vineyards. Cycle tracks and mountain biking trails are plentiful in all New Zealand cities. Keen hikers should definitely give one of the nine Great Walks a shot – alternatively, explore any of the hiking must-dos around the sites you want to visit.

Salt water fishing is also at its best in the early autumn months

March to May is the best time to dangle a line off New Zealand’s coasts. All you need to do is find a charter boat to explore your horizons. The catch of the day will depend on your location: Fiordland is where you’ll find different species of shark and tuna, Marlborough Sounds is a good spot for snagging some snapper and kingfish, the Bay of Islands is home to kingfish, marlin, and kahawhai, and most New Zealand coastlines are filled with terakihi.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.