If you travel to the South Island between mid- and late April, you will undoubtedly see the breathtaking fall foliage. Here are New Zealand’s South Island’s top spots to visit in the fall.
1. Twizel
Because there are almost too many spots to list, Twizel deserves its own page because, in my opinion, it is the center of Mackenzie Valley’s autumn color. Here are some options for you to consider:
- Lake Ruataniwha
- Loch Cameron
- Wairepo Arm
- Kellands Ponds
- Glen Lyon Road
- Lake Poaka
2. Lake Alexandrina
There are several jetties with trees lined up along the lakefront at the south end, where you may choose from a variety of compositions. It feels like you’ve traveled back in time fifty years thanks to the lake’s quaint, basic baches or cribs as they are known down south.
You can actually take pictures here at sunrise or sunset for a distinct look because it’s nearly oriented north.
3. Wanaka & Glendhu Bay
If you haven’t seen pictures of Wanaka in the fall, you must be living under a rock. You don’t have to include the Wanaka tree in the photo, while it can also make for a lovely composition. The poplar trees that border the lakefront all turn a spectacular color.
Glendhu Bay, which is always a lot quieter there and has some great sites for composition, is something I’d suggest if you want to travel a little farther. These spots include driving further past the bay and looking back towards Roy’s Peak.
4. Cromwell Orchards
With all of the stone fruit trees’ leaves changing to a variety of colors in the fall, the entire Cromwell region is really attractive. Jackson Orchards is among the best places to observe this in large numbers. There are rows of trees pointing in the direction of the Pisa range, and if you’re lucky enough in the afternoon, you might even see a sunstar peeking through a crack.
5. Kawerau Gorge
Mid-afternoon is a beautiful time to travel through Kawerau Gorge since the light is catching on the poplar trees, but some areas of the gorge are still in shadow. If you want to go to Cromwell, it makes sense to travel in this direction, so you might as well take your time and stop for pictures along the route.
6. Speargrass Flat
It’s also worthwhile to explore the roads in the region between Queenstown and Arrowtown. There are numerous colorful tree-lined drives and distant views of the mountains covered in poplars that can be photographed.
Just keep in mind that driveways are on private property, so you shouldn’t just stroll up them while you’re shooting. Instead, you should stand by the roadside unless you have express permission to go farther.
7. Arrowtown
Like peas and carrots, Arrowtown and autumn go together (good old Forrest Gump reference). Every fall, Arrowtown hosts a five-day festival (usually around 20-25 April). You can go then if you don’t mind the crowds, but if you do, try to visit a little earlier or later.
One of the most well-known autumn compositions in New Zealand is undoubtedly the old policeman’s cottage, but you can also get beautiful photos by simply strolling down the riverside paths.
There are many additional areas near Mackenzie and the Queenstown Lakes region that are worth visiting in the fall that are not featured here, so once you are in the area, it pays to just drive around and see what places catch your eye.
The time of day and the weather have a significant impact on how you perceive any given scene. Therefore, if you have lots of time, it is worthwhile to visit a spot more than once at various times of the day.
- Do you know Why Should You Visit New Zealand in Autumn?
