The act of viewing photographs of New Zealand in the fall has a certain allure (March, April, and May). With the rich orange and brown colors covering the terrain, some locations, in particular, feel like traveling through a fantastical land. Even though New Zealand is stunning all year round, autumn is a particularly unique time to walk in the woods or enjoy a vineyard view.
1. Wanaka
Do you realize how difficult it is to pick just one photo to adequately depict how stunning Wanaka is in the fall? They all seem to be so good! Wanaka is a fantastic option if you’re looking for autumnal hues while visiting New Zealand. If you’re a working vacationer looking for ski season employment, the fall is a great time to go mountain biking in Wanaka and start getting ready for the winter sports season.
2. Hawke’s Bay
The colors in the tree-lined streets, in the crisp vineyards, and along the ocean are quite lovely. During the wine-making season, autumn is a fantastic time to visit the numerous vineyards and cellar doors of the Hawke’s Bay region.
3. Mackenzie District (Canterbury)
The Mackenzie neighborhood in Canterbury is bustling all year long, but autumn is its busiest season. The autumn seed heads are being devoured by swarms of birds. Not bad either are the seasonal contrasts with the snow-capped mountains behind the orange crops.
4. Gisborne
Autumn’s undiscovered jewel is close to Gisborne. Eastwoodhill is an arboretum (tree park) with the largest assortment of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, as you might imagine, this is the best site for rolling in the golden leaves.
5. Marlborough
The Queen Charlotte Trail in the Marlborough Sounds is best enjoyed in the fall. The absence of other people gives the impression that it is just you and a tranquil environment. Since Marlborough is the top wine-producing region, the endless rows of vineyards are a lovely sight.
6. Lake Tekapo
The gift that keeps on giving is Lake Tekapo. It doesn’t matter what time of year you go here; it is truly beautiful. Ranging from the vivid and colorful lupins in the spring to the turquoise waters in the summer to the magnificent yellow trees that border the lakeside in the fall.
Tekapo, which is surrounded by the Southern Mountains, exudes peace at this time of year, and the reflected waters brilliantly highlight the changing colors of the leaves.
7. Central Otago
Taking a drive out to Alexandra and Roxburgh is something we highly recommend doing if you’re in the Queenstown/Arrowtown region. The gorgeous colors of orange you witnessed in and around Arrowtown continue on into the Central Otago region as you go past Arrowtown on winding, tree-lined roads. The vineyards are another option.
One of New Zealand’s top wine-producing regions, Central Otago is well-known for its delectable pint noir. Around April, the vines begin to change color, greatly enhancing the region’s pallet of hues. You may get some amazing views of the area down towards Clyde and Alexandra by driving up to the Clyde Dam overlook.
8. Christchurch
The Garden City of Christchurch is the last location on our list. Christchurch has plenty of trees, as you might expect from a place known as the “Garden City,” and they are all situated in lovely gardens and parks. A trip to Hagley Park, located in the center of Christchurch, is essential.
The city has a pretty great atmosphere because of the city’s lovely autumnal trees. The Antigua Boatsheds, where the River Avon is bordered by trees, is another great place to attempt some punting. Another must-see location is the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch.
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