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Born in the Southwest, raised in the Northwest, I have called the South Pacific home for over 30 years. I founded J2 Travels in the late 1990s to share our knowledge with other like minded travelers – remembering always, that the joy is in the journey. I currently live on Maui, I'm endorsed by IATA, and am a member of the Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand Tourism Boards.


Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand

Explore > Travel Planning Articles > Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand

Date published:
2023-05-07


Michael Cottam  

About the author, Michael Cottam


Founder of Visual Itineraries, Michael lives in Bend, Oregon. He's an avid traveler, scuba diver, photographer, and a private pilot, and also the founder of Bright Yonder, which offers marketing tools to travel agents. He's been to Fiji, Thailand, Vietnam, Seychelles, Kenya, France, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica, Turks & Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Mexico, and the major islands in French Polynesia. He's been in Rotary for 23 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club. Here's his LinkedIn and Pinterest.


When's the best time of year to visit New Zealand?

The best time of year to visit New Zealand depends on what you're going for. If you're a skier, ski season starts in early June and runs through late October. If you're looking to enjoy hiking, camping, swimming, etc., their summer runs from December through February.

Lake Hawea, South Island of New Zealand, from the mountains between Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Te Waonui Forest Retreat


Te Waonui Forest Retreat 5 nights from 3,330 per person
Te Waonui Forest RetreatCreating a luxury hotel retreat in Franz Josef on New Zealand's South island was an opportunity for the Scenic Hotel Group to do something truly unique. We named this very special luxury hotel of ours, the Te Waonui Forest Retreat, and invite you to share a unique eco-retreat experience in the heart of the rainforest.

Te Waonui Forest Retreat is at the cutting edge of sustainable, luxury hotel accommodation. Great care has been taken to not only respect and preserve the environment around the property, but to celebrate and embrace the rainforest within the hotel design.

Every aspect of this luxury hotel has been crafted to an impeccable standard. Comfort is a top priority, with luxuriously appointed rooms featuring soft woollen underlays and plush down and wool duvets. The energy efficient rooms in the hotel feature double-glazing and deluxe soundproofing technology. In the appropriately named Canopy Restaurant guests can enjoy sumptuous meals with the freshest West Coast and South Island produce presented in a five-course degustation menu.

Our commitment to service includes attentive front office staff, valet parking, 24-hour reception and more.

Throughout the hotel you will find eco-friendly features such as natural lighting, soft timbered detailing, natural colour schemes and recycled local materials that make Te Waonui feel at one with its surroundings. Furniture and fixings include natural wool carpets, organic cotton bedspreads and even possum skin cushioning.

Te Waonui Forest Retreat is a new and innovative venture for Scenic Hotel Group and raises the bar in luxury sustainable hotel accommodation in New Zealand.

The Scenic Hotel Group's other brands are Heartland Hotels and Scenic Hotels and Suites. The Scenic Hotel Group head office is in Christchurch in the South Island.
Learn more about Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Hair Dryer
Television
Telephone
Heating
In-room Internet Access
Ipod Docking Station
Ensuite Bathroom
Coffee & Tea Making Facilities
Iron and Ironing board
Refrigerator
Minibar
Air Conditioning





New Zealand's latitude ranges from about -37 degrees to -47 degrees, roughly equivalent to the area from San Francisco to Seattle in the northern hemisphere.

However, because most of the country is relatively close to the ocean, you don't find quite as much of a temperature range in general.

The weather can change pretty quickly, though, as cold fronts or tropical cyclones move across the region.

The southern island has a climate similar to that of Oregon, whereas the northern island is more sub-tropical. Rainfall levels are high, ranging from about 25 inches/year to 60 inches/year.

  Thick fog at Auckland Airport early one winter (June) morning
Thick fog at Auckland Airport early one June morning.

To compare all resorts in New Zealand, click here.

See our complete list of travel specials for New Zealand.


 
TRAVEL SPECIAL: Wharekauhau Country Estate


Wharekauhau Country Estate 5 nights from 4,400 per person
Wharekauhau Country Estate
Learn more about Wharekauhau Country Estate

Hair Dryer
Television
DVD Player
Telephone
Safety Deposit Box (In Room)
Full Kitchen
Heating
In-room Internet Access
Ensuite Bathroom
Kitchenette
Coffee & Tea Making Facilities
Ensuite Bathroom with Separate Shower
Iron and Ironing board
Overhead Fans
Refrigerator
Minibar
Air Conditioning
Patio/Balcony
Washer/Dryer






Typical airfares from LAX




Airfares vary by season, but also day of week, and are definitely affected by holidays. The chart above shows the typical minimum and maximum fares for a economy class ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland, NZ (AKL), by month.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Kingsgate Hotel Greymouth


Kingsgate Hotel Greymouth 5 nights from 640 per person
Kingsgate Hotel GreymouthSituated right in the centre of the town, Kingsgate Hotel Greymouth is perfectly located for easy access to the West Coast's spectacular scenic attractions. A 3 Star Plus Qualmark rated hotel, Kingsgate Hotel provides ideal accommodation and facilities for holiday makers, team building events and conferences alike. Visiting the wild and beautiful West Coast of the South Island is like stepping back in time to New Zealand the way it used to be - an unspoilt landscape, slower pace and a welcome that's genuinely warm and heartfelt. At the historic Kingsgate Hotel Greymouth, you'll get all those things along with the service and comfort you'd expect from an international hotel.
Learn more about Kingsgate Hotel Greymouth

Free parking
Free WiFi
Non-smoking
Bar
24/7 front desk










Rainbow over Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown
Rainbow over Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown harbor.
 

Most of New Zealand averages over 2000 hours of sunshine a year.

This, plus the fact that there's very little air pollution, means that the UV rays are quite strong in the summer months.

Seasons in New Zealand

Spring September to November
Summer December to February
Fall March to May
Winter July to August


TRAVEL SPECIAL: Bay of Coves


Bay of Coves 5 nights from 2,245 per person
Bay of CovesDiscover a new kind of five star luxury lodge in the Marlborough Sounds …
It’s surprisingly easy to find yourself a world away.

And, even arriving becomes part of the destination. Enjoy the all-too-brief journey from the ‘mainland’, by water or air, through some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.

Our luxurious retreat is a sanctuary in every sense, surrounded by the timeless beauty of Nature herself in the Marlborough Sounds. A place to relax, escape the everyday and discover the exceptional.

Immerse yourself in our pristine natural setting, with bush that extends down to the very water’s edge of our secluded bay. Internationally-renowned walking tracks and adventure cruises await you on our doorstep. And, with our world-class chefs close at hand, we are dedicated to a unique experience that is unforgettably yours.
Learn more about Bay of Coves

Hair Dryer
Television
Telephone
Safety Deposit Box (In Room)
Heating
In-room Internet Access
Ensuite Bathroom
Kitchenette
Coffee & Tea Making Facilities
Ensuite Bathroom with Separate Shower
Iron and Ironing board
Refrigerator
Minibar
Patio/Balcony








 

Ski Season in New Zealand

Ski season in New Zealand starts in early June and runs through late October.

The best-known ski areas are near Queenstown and the incredible Remarkables mountains and Lake Wanaka.

This area is noted for spectacular scenery, a wide variety of terrain and types of trails, and popular resorts.

On the North Island, there's the Whakapapa and Turoa ski areas, perched on the active volcano of Mt Ruapehu.

  Helicopter against the backdrop of the Remarkables, near Queenstown
Helicopter against the backdrop of the Remarkables, near Queenstown.


TRAVEL SPECIAL: Kamana Lakehouse


Kamana Lakehouse 5 nights from 1,075 per person
Kamana LakehouseKia ora and welcome to Kamana Lakehouse, a high altitude, inspiring place of elegant comfort, and the perfect setting to immerse yourself in iconic views.
Our story is about Queenstown.

It is about lakeside holidays,winter sports, great food and soaking tubs.
It’s about keeping it real, slowing down, and stopping to talk to strangers.
It’s about trying new things, taking in the views, skis on snow and the water.
It’s about bikes, beautiful walks and fireworks during Winter Festival.
It’s about living in paradise every day.
It’s about you, living your best life.
Learn more about Kamana Lakehouse

Free parking
Free WiFi
Non-smoking
Air conditioning
24/7 front desk
Laundry facilities





Looking down on Queenstown from the top of the Skyline gondola
Looking down on Queenstown from the top of the Skyline gondola.
 

New Zealand Wine-Tasting

The country has become very well-known for its wines, especially its sauvignon blancs and pinot noirs.

Wine tastings are available in tourist areas throughout the year.

Harvest time for the vineyards typically starts in February, with some late-harvest types being picked as late as June in the Otago area.

Queenstown Wine Trail offers sight-seeing and wine-tasting year-round, visiting many of the premier vineyards and wineries in the Otago/Queenstown region.



Hunting and Hiking in New Zealand

Really, the weather extremes are not so extreme--it's a pleasant place to hike and explore the outdoors year-round.

Hunting is popular, especially for the incredible red stag--one of 7 types of deer introduced to New Zealand about 150 years ago by European settlers (who failed to consider the fact that New Zealand has no predators other than a small hawk).

Deer hunting season is officially from February through September, however, the rut (when the biggest stags are available) is during the rut, from late March through late April.

  Stalking red stag at Glen Dene Station, on the shores of Lake Hawea, South Island
Stalking red stag at Glen Dene Station, on the shores of Lake Hawea, South Island.


TRAVEL SPECIAL: Kauri Cliff


Kauri Cliff 5 nights from 7,440 per person
Kauri CliffLocated on 6,000 acres near Matauri Bay, The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs is Northland's premier luxury vacation destination.

The Lodge affords spectacular 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy exquisite Pacific Rim cuisine prepared by our talented chefs whilst taking in stunning panoramic views of Cape Brett and the offshore Cavalli Islands from the verandas, lounge, card and dining rooms.

Offering 22 guest suites, and a two Bedroom Owner’s Cottage. Every suite offers its own private porch, bedroom with sitting area and open fireplace, walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite. The cottages are nestled in a native forest overlooking the golf course and the Pacific Ocean.

Fish, dive or discover New Zealand’s pristine shorelines, play your best ever round on our world-class golf course or indulge in a therapeutic treatment at our full service luxury spa . Kauri Cliffs is just a 45 minute flight from Auckland and offers a range of facilities that accommodate all luxury vacation requirements.
Learn more about Kauri Cliff

Free breakfast
Free parking
Pool
Free WiFi
Gym
Non-smoking






 


How we work with you to plan the perfect trip:

  • We'll talk with you to find out what you're looking for, what you like/don't like, etc.
  • We'll use our first-hand knowledge of the destination to pick out a handful of resorts we think you'd like
  • We'll create a custom mini website for you, with photos, videos, maps, etc. of the resorts we are recommending
  • We'll follow up with you to help you make your decision
  • We'll go to work with our suppliers to get you the best deal available on what you've decided on.

Map of Hotels and Resorts in New Zealand






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