THE SEASONAL GUIDE TO BOOKING A NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY
Spring (September–November)
Spring is when New Zealand’s scenery is at its
most vibrant: there is snow on the peaks, alpine flowers are in bloom and
the sky is an azure time-lapse delight of
scudding clouds. This is the season to crack a “Great Walk” such as the Milford Track, which suffers from its own popularity in peak season. If you prefer to experience
your scenery sitting down, opt for a Fiordland cruise as the waterfalls are
at full power. The cycle-and-sauvignon trails of Hawke’s Bay
are also at their flower-lined best.
Summer
(December–February) New Zealand’s skinny geography means you are never far from a cooling swim as respite from the surprisingly fierce sun. Northland in particular boasts empty stretches of
white sand as well as yachties’ playground the Bay of Islands. If you want
the shade of a tree, the country’s biggest are to be found in the Waipoua Forest. On the South Island, Abel Tasman Park can be experienced on a
kayak tour while the marine-life wonders of Porpoise Bay, far south in
the Catlins, are more easily enjoyed in summer.
Autumn (March–May)
The golden season is best experienced down south, where the crisp climate draws spectacular colour from deciduous trees. The worst of the peak-season
crowds have left Queenstown and Wanaka while the vineyards turn the whole of Marlborough gold. The stable weather
also provides idyllic conditions for cruising the Sounds or walking the
Queen Charlotte Track.
(June–August) Winter is a winner across much of the Land of the Long White Cloud – and it’s surprisingly warm when the sun comes out. The Southern Alps are at their Lord of the Rings snow-covered best and a multitude of commercial and club ski facilities are open. Below sea level, the Poor Knights Islands – offering the best subtropical diving in the world – enjoy their best conditions with visibility in excess of 30m. The water temperature is around 16C – that is about the same as in Cornwall
in mid-summer.
Bryn Reade
Diving off the Poor Knights Islands is best in winter
Abel Tasman is the sunniest place in New Zealand