Month-by-Month Guide to the Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

Where to Visit in New Zealand and When

Let’s be honest, New Zealand can be enjoyed year-round. However, if we have to be picky, there are a few destinations that are just that little bit better during some months than others. So when you’re planning your New Zealand travel itinerary, keep these destinations in mind with our month-by-month guide to the best places to visit in New Zealand!

You’ll notice that New Zealand has different seasons to what you experience in the Northern Hemisphere. In New Zealand, the seasons are summer (December, January and February), autumn (March, April and May), winter (June, July and August) and spring (September, October and November). Find out more about The New Zealand Seasons and Climate and When is the Best Time to Visit New Zealand?

New Zealand Month-by-Month

Click on the month you are coming to New Zealand to see what there is to do, what the weather is like, and what prices to expect.

January – Northland

Northland is famous for having the warmest weather in the whole of New Zealand so take full advantage of this in summer! Explore the amazing Bay of Islands, packed with water activities, visit the northernmost point of New Zealand at the Cape Reinga Lighthouse, and enjoy an awesome road trip along the coast.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Northland

Paihia for its wealth of water activities and boat trips in the Bay of Islands
Cape Reinga Lighthouse with awesome views from the northernmost point of New Zealand
Nighty Mile Beach to do sandboarding on the sand dunes (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri are among some of the most majestic waterfalls in the country
Poor Knights Islands are a top diving location (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)!

For more Northland inspiration, see our Northland destination category.

February – Hawke’s Bay

Summer is by far the best time to visit the Hawke’s Bay region of the North Island. Not only does the region’s main city, Napier, host the unmissable Art Deco Festival on the streets of it’s Art Deco style buildings, but the whole coastline is also lined with amazing beaches best experienced when it’s “beach weather”.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Hawke’s Bay

The Art Deco Festival in Napier (usually around mid-February)
Cape Kidnappers to see amazing coastal landscape and the world’s largest mainland gannet colony (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Waimarama Beach (see more Hawke’s Bay beaches here)
Lake Waikaremoana to do one of the New Zealand Great Walks
Hawke’s Bay Wine Trail – visit all the wineries around Napier and Hastings

Find out more things to do in Hawke’s Bay in our 10 Hawke’s Bay Must-Dos.

Month-by-Month Guide to the Best Places to Visit in New Zealand

March – Gisborne

As the days start to get a little cooler, a good place to still get some consistently good weather is in the Gisborne region of the North Island. It’s also the best time to see the Eastwoodhill Arboretum as the autumn colours start to emerge in the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere! Gisborne is also a great New Zealand destination for road tripping by campervan!

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Gisborne

Eastwoodhill Arboretum for their autumn colours!
The Rere Rockslide and Rere Falls – slide down the world’s longest natural waterslide
East Cape Lighthouse to watch the sunrise at the easternmost point of New Zealand
Relax with a glass of wine at the Gisborne Wine Centre or one of the surrounding vineyards
Walk the longest pier in New Zealand, Tolaga Bay Wharf

Find out more to do in Gisborne in our 10 Must-Dos in Gisborne

April – Milford Sound

April is considered the shoulder season in New Zealand meaning that you often feel like you have the whole country to yourself. Take advantage of this by visiting one of the most popular tourist attractions in New Zealand during it’s quietest time. What’s more, the unpredictable weather means you could see Milford Sound in the sun or dramatic waterfalls under the rain. It’s win-win!

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Milford Sound

Take a kayak tour or boat cruise in the majestic fiord of Milford Sound
Take on one of the many walks in the wild Fiordland forest
Go scuba diving to see black coral
Walk to one of the many stunning Fiordland lakes like Lake Gunn or Lake Marion
Enjoy an epic road trip down the Milford Road.

For more things to do in Milford Sound, see Guide to Milford Sound and the Milford Road.

May – Wellington

The weather might be starting to turn to sh*t, but New Zealand’s cultural and political capital is the best place to spend this time between autumn and winter. Packed with lots of indoor activities, Wellington has the Weta Workshop for movie buffs, the Te Papa Museum to learn more about New Zealand, and not to mention all the eateries and bars to enjoy the Kiwi city lifestyle.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Wellington

Te Papa Museum is the national museum of New Zealand free entry!
Take a tour around the Weta Workshop to see how The Lord of the Rings and other movies were made (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Try the local cuisine by following our guide in Cheap Eats in Wellington
On a good day, walk around the huge Wellington Botanic Garden
Check out the Wellington nightlife.

For more Wellington inspiration, see 10 Wellington Must-Dos.

June – Rotorua

As New Zealand starts to plunge into winter, nowhere looks better than the steaming geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. All the steaming lakes, bubbling mud pools, geysers and vibrant formations are much more emphasised in cooler weather.

5 Places in Rotorua You Can’t Miss

Any of the many geothermal parks to see the earth in action!
One of the many captivating Maori cultural performances
The Skyline Gondola for the seriously fun Luge rides (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
One of these 5 Free Natural Hot Pools in Rotorua
Walk or mountain bike through the Redwoods forest

There’s so much to do in Rotorua, just see 20 Awesome Places to Visit in Rotorua.

July – Queenstown

In the thick of winter, be sure to check out the adventure capital, Queenstown! There are four ski fields within an hour’s drive of the town. Plus, most of its adventure activities can be done even at this time of year. You’ll find that Queenstown is definitely the most lively New Zealand town in winter.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Queenstown

The Remarkables ski field is one of the closest ski fields to Queenstown with the best mountain views
The Kawarau Bungy is the first commercial bungy jumping location in the world (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)!
Glenorchy for an awesome road trip with great mountain scenery
Take on the terrifying Canyon Swing (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Keep warm in the Onsen Hot Pools (on Viator and Tripadvisor)

For more Queenstown inspiration, see 10 Queenstown Must-Dos.

August – Methven

For more winter sports fun, don’t miss Methven in the Canterbury region of the South Island. This small town comes alive in winter with the opening of the Mt Hutt Ski Field. Plus, with lots of walking trails, you’ll find plenty more things to do if you don’t want to strap on a pair of skis.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Methven

Ski at the Mt Hutt Ski Field
The Rakaia Gorge for stunning walks and jet boat rides
Washpen Falls for waterfalls, views and a lagoon with a rowing boat
The Mt Hutt Forest for a sheltered walk at the base of Mt Hutt
Paradiso Cinema to cosy up with a movie on a cold winter’s night.

Check out more things to do in 5 Methven Must-Dos.

September – Hamilton

Spring is here and a great time to visit the most famous gardens in New Zealand, the Hamilton Gardens! The Hamilton Gardens is free-entry and packed with stunning themed gardens that will come into bloom during September. Hamilton also makes a great base for exploring the wider Waikato region, such as the surf town of Raglan or even the glowworm caves of Waitomo!

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Hamilton

The Hamilton Gardens for their amazing blooming spring flowers
Waitomo caves to do caving and see glowworms
Raglan to catch some waves before the busy summer season
Zealong Tea Estate to taste tea in New Zealand’s only tea plantation
Hobbiton to see how The Lord of Rings was made (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)

For more things to do in Hamilton, check out the 10 Hamilton Must-Dos.

October – Taupo & Tongariro

Just as the winter has passed and before the summer crowds make their way to New Zealand, Taupo and Tongariro are the best places to visit in October. Walk the most popular day hike in New Zealand, the Tongariro Crossing while there are still remains of snow on the volcano-tops among the volcanic vents and Emerald Lake. It’s also a great time to try out the adventure activities that Taupo has to offer.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Taupo & Tongariro

Hike the Tongariro Crossing for its amazing volcano views
Kayak or take a boat trip to the Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo
Skydive over New Zealand’s largest lake (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
See the impressive Huka Falls
Bathe in the natural hot spring at Spa Park

For more Taupo inspiration, see 10 Taupo Must-Dos.

November – Aoraki Mt Cook

Marvel in the majestic mountain landscape in the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park in the South Island! During the last month of spring, the mountain village in the heart of Southern Alps comes alive again for sensation walks, glacier heli-hikes, scenic flights and so much more!

5 Places You Can’t Miss in Aoraki Mt Cook

The Hooker Valley Walk or one of the other 5 Aoraki Mt Cook Must-Dos
Take a scenic flight around New Zealand’s highest mountains and longest glaciers (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Do a glacier heli-hike on the Tasman Glacier (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Take a boat tour around the Tasman Glacier Lake among giant icebergs
Stargaze in the middle of an International Dark Sky Reserve.

For more things to do in Mt Cook, see 5 Aoraki Mt Cook Must-Dos.

December – Bay of Plenty

While Christmastime means snow for much of the Northern Hemisphere, it means summer has just begun in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a great time to explore the coast of the Bay of Plenty region in the North Island, especially at the pohutukawa trees (the New Zealand Christmas tree) starts to blossom red flowers.

5 Places You Can’t Miss in the Bay of Plenty

Kayak in Whakatane to the wildlife sanctuary of Whale Island or along the pohutukawa-lined coast of Ohope
Walk on New Zealand’s only active marine volcano at White Island [Update: White Island tours have been suspended until further notice.]
Bike the Motu Trails at Opotiki
Climb The Mount at Mt Maunganui in Tauranga
Go on a dolphin swimming tour from Tauranga (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)

For more Bay of Plenty inspiration, see the Bay of Plenty destination category.

More About Which Month to Visit New Zealand

Plus, have you planned your route around New Zealand yet? Check out the following itineraries for the best road trip routes!

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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