Summer is frequently promoted as the ideal season for travel when it comes to tourism. After all, the one thing we all hope for when we go on vacation is good weather! But, in the instance of New Zealand, we often advise against doing so. This post will explain why autumn is the best time to visit New Zealand.
1. In New Zealand, the autumn is much more sedate.
The majority of travelers believe that the summer months will be bustling with other travelers. However, a lot of people are unaware that Christmas and the lengthy school holidays in New Zealand coincided with the summer season. Visitors from the northern hemisphere frequently fail to recognize the connection since they are accustomed to associating school breaks with the months of June through September.
This implies that many locals will be taking vacations around this period as well, frequently bringing their families along. In fact, many New Zealand offices were closed entirely from the 16–17th of December—when schools normally stop—until the middle or end of January!
As a result, popular tourist destinations will be much more crowded, there will be more traffic on the highways, and lodging will sell out very quickly. In fact, you may need to reserve lodging up to a year in advance for more crowded destinations like Queenstown and Fiordland. This might not be a big deal for some travelers. But throughout the summer, it will be much harder if you genuinely desire to escape the rush of everyday life while traveling.
When you travel to New Zealand in the fall, you can avoid the local traffic caused by tourists from New Zealand and other countries. We can attest that it gives you a much more tranquil holiday because we personally experienced it on the West Coast.
2. In New Zealand, the autumn is substantially more affordable.
Most people are aware that peak season means “expensive” when it comes to lodging and travel. You already know that you’ll need to be much more prepared when making lodging reservations throughout the summer.
You’ll probably also pay more as a result, though. Keep in mind that increasing demand always results in higher prices! This is especially true for companies like Airbnb, whose popularity has surged in New Zealand. As a result, airfares are more expensive.
In contrast, New Zealand’s seasonal price spikes begin to decline along with visitor numbers in the autumn. It is true that “shoulder seasons” now enjoy more popularity. Tourism New Zealand, which promotes vacationing during these seasons to relieve the strain on the country’s infrastructure during the summer, is largely to blame for this. Travel remains significantly less expensive, though, starting in March.
3. The autumnal weather is still wonderful.
The proverb “four seasons in a day” might have applied to New Zealand. Many visitors are shocked by how unpredictable the weather can be! Any type of weather system can be hurled at you at any time because you live in a small island nation with coastlines and mountains that are close to one another.
This could indicate ferocious southerly weather systems that sneak up from Antarctica and bring the South Island severe squalls, and temperature decreases. It’s not unusual for a day to start out sunny and 30 degrees and end up being pelting rain and 6 degrees! But traveling in the summer doesn’t necessarily guarantee ideal weather.
In many circumstances, autumn in New Zealand is really a pleasant season. Of course, the mornings and evenings will probably be cooler at this time of year. But places like the West Coast are also drier. You will also avoid the frequently oppressive summer humidity on the North Island. The best part is that you’ll still have sunny days!
Unbelievably, the picture at the top was taken in April. The extra layer of clothing I’m wearing is the only sign that its autumn. It’s actually a lot more fun now if you want to engage in any outside recreational activities like biking or hiking while you’re here.
Exercise is undoubtedly difficult in the summer heat. The UV levels in New Zealand are among the highest in the world due to the country’s powerful sun. In the fall, this eases off a bit, making sunstroke much less likely to occur.
4. Awe-inspiring sights are available in the autumn.
New Zealand is not the only country where the changing of the seasons is an amazing sight. Self-drive trips in New Zealand are so much fun when the golden and red hues of Autumn are present. In Canterbury and Otago, the areas with the greatest concentration of deciduous trees, you’ll find the most beautiful autumnal scenery. Also, you’ll be there right when the southern Alps get their first snowfall!
This typically occurs in late April or early May, and the resulting images are stunning. The majority of New Zealand’s mountains don’t retain any snow during the summer since they aren’t particularly tall. October is the ideal time to travel to New Zealand if you really want to see the snowy landscapes shown in the country’s travel advertisements.
