New Zealand in Autumn: 15 Best Things To Do & Where To Go

Trying to pick the best time for your New Zealand trip, to get the best of it all? Autumn is certainly a happy middle ground, with fine weather, but not too much heat to be unbearable.

Autumn is not peak season in New Zealand in the same way that summer is, and nor is it the time to come if you are after some time up on the slopes, but it offers so much in the way of outdoor activity opportunities, with its cool, but generally fine, weather. It is personally my favourite time of year for New Zealand travel, made even more special by the autumn colours in the South that will take your breath away.

While our native trees are not deciduous and do not change colour in the autumn, there are some particular regions in the country that are renowned for their beauty when their deciduous tree populations don their autumn colours, and those regions are a must visit at this time of year.

There are several lists out there collating the best autumn activities in New Zealand, and while they are full of good suggestions, they are frequently full of year-round suggestions, or activities that are good any time that the weather is fine. While any fine weather activity is a good autumn activity, I have tried to focus on activities that are only available in the autumn, or best enjoyed in autumn specifically, for whatever reason.

This means my recommendations are influenced by the seasons, and this means they lean toward things in the natural world: outdoor activities, or trees or fruit. If you couple these up with any other year-round suggestions you may have received, you are in for one awesome autumn break!

New Zealand In Autumn

Hang on, so when is our New Zealand autumn? Our autumn months are March, April and May. March is often still warm enough for swimming, and April and May tend to be idyllic for those golden autumn leaves. Our schools and universities have a two week holiday typically in April, and it is often brought forward or held off in order for it to coincide with Easter. Often, Easter lands in mid April, and when it does, people like to make the most of the public holidays and link them up with our public holiday on April 25th, ANZAC Day (Australia New Zealand Army Corps), for one big long stretch. ANZAC day is memorialised nationwide and focuses our attention back on our soldiers who fought for us in the world wars. It is observed on the same day every year, whereas Easter moves around.

Some of my best New Zealand trips have been in the autumn, particularly cycling and hiking trips, when the days are still long enough and sunny enough to enjoy being outdoors, but cool enough to not work up as much of a sweat as in summer. Many of our vineyards still operate their cellar doors, and as the weather cools and the vines turn orange, it can be a magical time to stop for a tasting.

What Is The Weather Like In New Zealand In Autumn?

Frequently autumn enjoys long, sunny spells with brisk, cooler mornings and evenings. It is often quite stable weather with little rain and a really pleasant time to travel.

The weather here is obviously never a guarantee, and some regions are less stable than others, eg Auckland, which can get quite a mix of weather patterns at any time of year! However, in my opinion, autumn is the most stable time of year and when we get those longer spells of good weather without interruption.

We’re in the southern hemisphere, so warmer climates are in the north, and colder climates are in the south.

Spring varies a lot area to area, and month to month. For example, March, which is the beginning of autumn, in a southern region like Otago, can range from 17°C to 21°C, (which is 62°F to 70°F) , whereas later on, in May, a southern region like Otago can drop to somewhere between 2°C and 12°C, (which is 36°F and 54°F).

Up north, in places like Auckland or Northland, March can range from 15°C to 23°C (59°F to 73°F), whereas by May, a northern region like Auckland tends to have dropped to between 10°C and 18°C, (which is 50°F to 64°F).

15 Best Things To Do In New Zealand In Autumn

Autumn is a gorgeous time in New Zealand. Here are the 15 of the best ways to really get amongst all that autumn offers:

1. Eat and drink your way around one of our many wine and food festivals

New Zealanders love their food and wine – as evidenced by the number of food and wine festivals hosted around the country annually! Particularly notable ones are the Hawkes Bay Food and Wine Classic, held in the autumn, the North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival, the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival, the Bay of Plenty Flavours Of Plenty Festival, and the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival.

Oysters from Bluff are famous and quite exceptional, so going to a festival dedicated to them is a sure way to experience the best of Southland cuisine, and the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival us sure to be a fun few days of trying foods you might otherwise have never sampled!

There are still more food and wine festivals nationwide to look into; definitely get yourself along to one to enjoy one of the things New Zealand does best.

➡️ xx

2. Attend the Arrowtown Autumn Festival

What’s more appropriate for an autumn holiday than attending an autumn festival? Arrowtown, a little gold mining historic town just out of Queenstown, is famous for its golden hues in the autumn and is a fitting place for the annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival. Next year’s is held 15-19 April, 2026, and it will actually be the 4oth one, so extra special!

Expect spectacular scenery, with all the autumnal trees that line the river and the town, and expect amazing food and wine pairings. There’s muscial performances, circus acts, comedy skits, dancing, food stalls, a parade, an art exhibition, a market, a quiz, and lots of other community led events that make up the programme.

Most of the programme is free entry, which is awesome. Over 20,000 people attend, so it’s quite a big event for a little town!

➡️ xx

3. Walk the shores of Lake Wānaka, lined with golden poplar trees

Lake Wanaka is a beautiful spot in autumn, as is much of the Queenstown-Lakes District (which encompasses the towns of Queenstown and Arrowtown, mentioned above, as well as settlements further up Lake Wakatipu).

Lake Wanaka’s shorelines are lined with poplar trees, and they all turn a brilliant shade of gold in the autumn, so a walk by the lake is a fabulous activity to stop for.

The Outlet Track is a good, flat track for seeing autumn colours as the Clutha River and Lake Wanaka link up. The whole thing is 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) so give yourself three to four hours – return.

The Beacon Point Walk takes you between Beacon Point and Bremner Bay around the lake, and is a flat, easy, 5 kilometre (3 mile) easy hour return trip.

You’ll also spot that famous Wanaka Tree, growing up out of the surface of the lake, now so frequently visited and photographed by visitors from all over the world.

➡️ xx

4. Admire the changing colours in our many orchards and vineyards

New Zealand has orchards and vineyards aplenty, with high concentrations of them in the Hawkes Bay region, Marlborough region, Wairarapa district and Central Otago district – Hawkes Bay and Central Otago in particular, for our orchards. They are our best fruit growing areas.

The orchards turn beautiful shades of red and orange in the autumn, so I’d really recommend a drive through. In Central Otago, anywhere from Cromwell to Alexandra, down to Roxburgh is sure to delight, and in Hawkes Bay, probably the Esk Valley is a great spot to start.

➡️ xx

5. Stop in at a cellar door for some wine tasting amongst the golden vines

Summer is great for visiting our vineyards and cellar doors and enjoying a cold rosé, but autumn is a close second, as the vines turn orange and a warming red starts to sound most appealing.

It’s enough to just visit a cellar door in autumn for some wine tasting or a drink, and to head out afterward and walk amongst the gorgeous coloured vines in order to appreciate the beauty of autumn in these regions, but if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you might like to rent a bike and take on the cycle trails that link our vineyards – there’s nearly always a cycle trail in these areas, and I can say for sure that there are some great vineyard trails in Queenstown, Central Otago, Hawkes Bay, the Wairarapa and Marlborough.

The beauty of cycling these trails is that you can visit multiple vineyards, not have to worry about who is sober driving, and appreciate the colours and the crisp air from your bike.

➡️ xx

6. Sample something new at the famous Hokitika Wildfoods Festival

The Hokitika Wildfoods Festival, mentioned briefly above, is a standout festival from other food and wine festivals, because of the variety of cuisine on offer here to try. Next year’s will be held on 14 March, 2026.

It’s a huge event for the little West Coast town of Hokitika, and a great time to visit, along with the 7,000 other odd festival goers.

Wild food really is wild, and some of the delicacies served up require quite a bit of open mindedness and courage! Think worm sushi, huhu grubs, and all sorts of animal body parts prepared in all sorts of ways. However, pickier eaters still will find plenty of options that cater to all taste preferences. (Think waffles, whitebait – yum! – and coffee!)

➡️ xx

7. Jump on a bike and explore some of our beautiful trails

Autumn is a fabulous time to go cycling, with its generally fine, but cooler weather, allowing you to cycle in more comfort. While New Zealand offers 10 Great Walks of New Zealand for avid hikers, for cyclists we have a network of the 22 Great Rides of New Zealand – all fantastic multi-day cycles that are worth completing in full, or spending just a day or two on.

These trails are dotted all over the country and offer some of our best landscapes. They’re all graded so that you know what you are getting yourself into, and most have local outfitters who will rent you the bikes and gear if you are needing to do so.

I’m tempted to single out Otago region for its cycling, just because its growing number of cycle trails and the interlinking of them all means soon you will be able to cycle across the entire region. At the moment, Queenstown alone has several beautiful trails, jointly considered as one of the Great Rides – The Great Queenstown Ride – when really it comprises a few different legs, each unique and solid day ride options, but if you venture further inland, there’s also an abundance of trails through the Central Otago district, through rocky terrain and old gold mining country.

➡️ xx

8. Head out on a hike on one of our many fantastic tracks

Okay, if hiking is of more appeal than cycling – whether that’s day walks or multi-day treks – we have you covered also! Like I mentioned, autumn is a great time to head out for a wilderness fix, because it’s cooled down, it’s a more comfortable temperature to walk in, but the weather is generally still stable and beautiful.

New Zealand is known for its 10 Great Walks of New Zealand – they’re just a starting point, we have many many more walks, but having done them all, I would thoroughly recommend them. They have earned their status as Great Walks for the great diversity of landscapes they showcase, their walkability, and the natural beauty you are sure to encounter. They’re really well maintained by the Department of Conservation, so while they are a little more expensive than our backcountry trails, you’ll notice the difference for sure; the facilities have a little more going for them.

These trails are really just the tip of the iceberg, and regardless of whether you are in our national parks or out of them, we have an abundance of trails for all levels. Even our cities have fantastic regional parks, often showcasing the most beautiful parts of the city, so they are great full-day and half-day options, too.

➡️ xx

9. Attend the Little River Pumpkin Festival

Little River is a small settlement out on the Banks Peninsula, which juts out the South Island’s east coast, about halfway down, if looking at a map of the entire country. The peninsula is particularly beautiful but more commonly visited for its French settlement, Akaroa.

Little River is not too far away and a good day trip out from the city of Christchurch. Every year, they hold the Little River Pumpkin Festival, which is actually a fundraiser for the local school, but all are welcome to partake in the games, the competitions, sample some pumpkin pie, admire the giant pumpkins, or just take in the live entertainment and atmosphere.

Go home with a full stomach, a box of pumpkin pie, and some giant pumpkin seedlings so that you can grow your own!

➡️ xx

10. Jetboat up the Kawarau Gorge

My next autumn suggestion is another way to experience the gorgeous autumn colours in Otago at this time of year, but specifically in the Kawarau Gorge, just out of Queenstown, and what better way to admire the gorge than to take a thrilling jet boat ride up the river?

There’s a few operators running rides from Queenstown and Cromwell up and down the gorge and you are in for a truly amazing experience if you have never been jet boating before! There’s a lot of spins and manoeuvres it’s true, but time in between those to look up and admire the colours on both banks of the river. 

➡️ xx

11. Pick your own bunch of dahlias

Autumn may not offer quite as much in the flower world as spring and summer, but it is the time of year for dahlias to bloom – my favourite, so a pick your own experience makes the autumn list!

Franklin Farm, in the north of Auckland city, offers a PYO season for zinnias and dahlias when their sunflowers are over for the year, and Summergarden Daylilies and Dahlias are now doing a PYO for their dahlias up in Whangarei, in Northland region (March is the recommended time to go).

In Canterbury, you can pick dahlias at the After Hours Stylist on the outskirts of Christchurch, and Bloom Flower Farm now operates a PYO season in Rolleston, Christchurch, too. Picking can take place January-March in a lot of these places, so if you’re here for the autumn, consider it an early autumn activity.

Auckland also has Apollo Farm, and the greater Wellington region has both Lavender Magic and Greytown Honey out in the Wairarapa. Just out of Hamilton city is Tomtit Flower Farm, with the PYO season extending into April, and Blicks Blooms down in Marlborough. Tasman region has Gina’s Garden, Hawkes Bay region has Little Lifestyle Flower Farm, and Otago region has Little Flowers NZ near Queenstown.

The end of summer doesn’t have to mark the end of pretty, wholesome activities like this, so make a point of gathering some late season beauties at the start of autumn!

➡️ xx

12. Get your hands on some of our feijoas

New Zealand’s obsession with feijoas can be a bit of a foreign thing to overseas visitors sometimes – this sour, green fruit originated in South America and can be found here and there around the globe, but the way we locals go crazy for them every autumn is pretty unique to our part of the world.

Some would say the flavour is a blend between strawberry, guava and pineapple, but that probably still doesn’t do justice to the pure deliciousness that is this fruit. They are around in April and May and are a very nostalgic thing for many expats, as it is pretty rare to find someone who does not like them. Eating them every year is a real throwback to childhood autumns spent climbing the feijoa tree in the backyard, and every autumn season since then.

North of Auckland is Quinta Feijoas, north of Wellington is Penray Gardens, and north of Christchurch is CJs Nursery – all have offered PYO feijoa experiences in prior seasons, but it’s not a commonly found activity, although there would be high demand, for sure.

At the very least, I would recommend getting amongst feijoa season in some way during your time in New Zealand – get hold of some fresh ones from a supermarket or farmer’s market, or track down one of my favourite drinks – the HomeGrown brand of chilled juice, Feijoa Frenzy, in the chilled drink section at supermarkets (the bottle is white with a green lid). A-mazing.

In some souvenir shops you might find freeze dried feijoa, or feijoa jam, and this makes an awesome keepsake or gift from your time here.

➡️ xx

13. Enjoy some of our New Zealand apples

What could be more autumnal than apples? And New Zealand does apples well! So, when in New Zealand, you’ve got to get amongst apple season.

If you’re after the PYO experience, you’d be limited to Windmill Orchard in the north of Auckland, otherwise, if you’re here on a working holiday, you are sure to be able to find a job picking apples at one of our many apple orchards during the autumn months.

Arguably the best base for you would be the Hawkes Bay region, New Zealand’s fruit bowl, and the Apple Capital of New Zealand, a title owing to the sheer amount of apples grown in the area. Zeffer Cidery is somewhere I can wholeheartedly recommend for an apple cider tasting paddle, located not far from Napier, the main hub of the region, and McCashins Brewery is a great stopping spot in Nelson, Tasman region, where they produce apple cider and where you can go on a tour and have a tasting.

➡️ xx

14. Explore the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere

I’m referring to the Eastwoodhill Aboretum, a 135 hectare property in Gisborne on the East Cape of the North Island – the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere! Being non-natives, they are largely deciduous trees, so need I even paint a picture for you of how beautiful all the autumn colours look if you’re visiting at this time of year?

They have over 2300 species of trees, so a driven tour through the aboretum is recommended to maximise what you can see with your time here. If on foot, they have six walking routes marked out, all just a couple of kilometres long and ranging from three quarters of an hour to three hours. It’s $18NZD 🇳🇿 ($10USD 🇺🇸) entry, and $40NZD 🇳🇿 ($23USD 🇺🇸) per person to be driven around, which is what we did in the summer of 2009.

Accommodation is available too, if you would like to see all those beautiful colours at sunset and then again at sunrise.

➡️ xx

15. Observe ANZAC day and attend a memorial service or parade

ANZAC Day, which stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps, is a public holiday nationwide, which is held in honour of the army troops from both countries that lost their lives in one of the WW1 battles – and is now used to remember all soldiers from both world wars who lost their lives fighting for us, so a very significant part of our history, indeed.

ANZAC Day is remembered in all New Zealand towns and cities often with an ANZAC parade and/or service, so no matter where you are staying, there is sure to be something scheduled for April 25th.

In Auckland city, in the domain outside the Auckland Museum (which is officially named the Auckland War Memorial Museum), there is a particularly large commemorative service held each year that attracts huge numbers, 15,000 people most recently. Wellington and Christchurch cities also host very large ones.

Around this time of year you will see ANZAC biscuits around – a truly iconic biscuit made from rolled oats and golden syrup that was made in wartime. Don’t let your New Zealand autumn roll by without sampling some of these, and do try and get along to an ANZAC Day remembrance service or parade, whether that’s mid-morning or you are able to brave the cold for the ones held at dawn.

➡️ xx

Best Places To Go In New Zealand In Autumn

Many of the activities in this list can be enjoyed in several parts of the country. Still others point to just one spot that you must add to your list. These are my recommendations of places to hit up if you are visiting New Zealand in autumn and want to make the most of what makes the season special here.

📍 Auckland

Auckland is a top spot for basing yourself if you are visiting New Zealand in autumn. This is because from Auckland, you have easy access to Waiheke Island, one of our wine regions, for some cellar door experiences and relishing the golden hue of the vineyards, and you are also in a great location for attending one of the biggest ANZAC Day services in the country. You have the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park for hitting the trails for some beautiful day hikes, and you can head up to Apollo Farm or Franklin Farm for some flower picking.

On the northern edge of Auckland you also have the option to PYO feijoas and PYO apples – they’re really not far apart so make a day of it – and also ensure you enjoy the autumn colours of the trees in the likes of Auckland Domain or Cornwall Park.

Budget Option: Frienz Backpackers Hostel
Frienz Backpackers Hostel is centrally located in Auckland and is a comfortable and fun hostel. They have an outdoor area up on the roof, a wide range of rooms, from shared to private, and a courtyard where guests can spend time, too. Room prices do vary but they average at approximately $60NZD 🇳🇿 ($36USD 🇺🇸), sometimes costing up to $20NZD 🇳🇿 ($12USD 🇺🇸) more, or less.

Mid-Range Option: Quest Carlaw Park
For the mid-range traveller, consider Quest Carlaw Park, which is quite central, and a good one if you have vehicle access, as it’s not quite so manic as driving around in the very central part of the CBD. It’s still in a great location and is comfortable and quiet. A night’s stay will cost around $140NZD 🇳🇿 ($83USD 🇺🇸).

Luxury Option: The Hilton
Going all out? Stay at the Hilton. It’s 5 stars and sits out on the wharf in downtown Auckland over the water, making for fabulous views oozing comfort and luxury. Enjoy the bar, the restaurant, the pool and the buffet breakfasts. You will never want to leave. Rates vary a lot across different platforms but expect to pay between $250NZD
🇳🇿 ($148USD 🇺🇸) and $450NZD 🇳🇿 ($267USD 🇺🇸) a night.

📍 The East Cape & Hawkes Bay

Head east in the autumn, out to Gisborne and the East Cape, and further south to the fruitbowl of New Zealand, to make the best use of your time in New Zealand during these months.

Just a little way out of Gisborne is the Eastwoodhill Aboretum, the autumn colours in which are just stunning, and you also have your pick of great cycles in the Hawkes Bay region, particularly the Hawkes Bay Winery Ride, one of the 22 Great Rides of New Zealand through what is the country’s only Great Wine Capital of the World.

When here, you simply must stop at some cellar doors to see the golden grapevines and enjoy some of our best wines – you have such an abundance of vineyards to pick from, and on your travels, stop in at Zeffer Cidery, too, to taste and see why this is New Zealand’s Apple Capital – an apple cider tasting panel is a fresh and fun variation to your wine tastings.

Time your visit with the Hawkes Bay Food and Wine Classic Festival and you won’t be sorry, and head to Little Lifestyle Flower Farm in the early autumn for some flower picking – PYO dahlia sessions are the perfect way to enjoy the last of the warm weather.

Budget Option: Archie’s Bunker
Located in Napier, the affordable Archie’s Bunker has shared rooms and has private rooms – with the rates for the shared room being as low as $30NZD 🇳🇿 ($18USD 🇺🇸)! You can also arrange pick up and drop off to and from Hawkes Bay airport with them, plus, they host fun events and social mixers where you can meet other backpackers.

Mid-Range Option: Quality Inn Napier
Quality Inn is provides a good accommodation option for the mid-range traveller, as it has onsite parking for those with vehicles, it is in a great location, offers free wifi, and has pool facilities, too. They also have some studio options, and a two bedroom apartment they offer, plus conference spaces. A night at Quality Inn will cost around the $150NZD 🇳🇿 ($89USD 🇺🇸) per night mark.

Luxury Option: The Manse Luxury Lodge
To really take it up a notch, consider a stay at The Manse. It is an old colonial home, which has now been turned five-star luxury accommodation, but is not too far from Napier. It’s rural setting means awesome views over the vineyards and hills, and those staying there can enjoy themselves in the pool, the library, the gardens or their own gorgeous suites. The Manse offers a range of activities as well as exquisite wine and delicious food. The River View Suite costs $1550NZD 🇳🇿 ($919USD 🇺🇸) per night.

📍 Banks Peninsula

Banks Peninsula is a specific part of the Canterbury region, jutting out off the eastern coast of the South Island from Christchurch city. Basing yourself here not only gives you good access to Christchurch, where I’d recommend attending the major ANZAC Day service and the North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival, and enjoying the autumn foliage in the many parks of New Zealand’s Garden Capital, but also to the settlements of Akaroa and Little River.

We particularly loved Akaroa in the autumn (in May) because of how gorgeous the trees were in and around town, and Little River is the host of the annual Little River Pumpkin Festival, so a great autumnal activity to pop into your itinerary.

Waipara in North Canterbury is also wine country, so a great spot to venture north to in search of some cellar doors and cosy glasses of wine.

Christchurch is also New Zealand’s cycling capital so where better to get some time on the trails in? And both After Hours Stylist Flower Farm and Bloom Flower Farm are near enough to go and pick yourself a beautiful bunch of dahlias. Head to CJs Nursery for a pick your own feijoa experience and, whatever you end up doing, soak in Canterbury’s gorgeous autumn weather – nearly always crisp, clear, stable – one of the best parts of our childhood trips to Christchurch that we did most years.

Budget Option: Akaroa Top 10 Holiday Park
Get out of the city and base yourself out at Akaroa to immerse yourself in the beauty of the peninsula. While the Top 10 Holiday Park has lots of options for accommodation, catering to all budgets, the particularly budget-savvy traveller may prefer an unpowered, grassy tent site, for just $45NZD 🇳🇿 ($26USD 🇺🇸) per night. Top 10 is a franchise of holiday parks throughout the country and are well known and an established kiwi brand. Even as a camper you will still be able to access the heated swimming pool (until mid April), the unlimited wifi, the games room, the television room, the kitchen and the laundry facilities, so great value for money.

Mid-Range Option: La Rochelle Motel
Being a French settlement, expect lots of French names! La Rochelle is a walkable distance from the township but still feels secluded and peaceful, with a stream on the property. Their comfortable rooms have kettles, microwaves, hotplates and crockery for your convenience, and shared laundry facilities, so a very good option for the mid-range traveller, indeed. Room prices sit around the $137NZD 🇳🇿 ($80USD 🇺🇸) mark.

Luxury Option: Akaroa Cottages – Heritage Collection
We had a beautiful stay here in May of 2011. These quiet, country cottages are a set of ten so excellent for extended family retreats – which ours was. Laundry service is on offer here, and it’s near the golf course and some rooms have spa baths. It’s not far to walk down to town but its up on the hillside which means beautiful views of the Akaroa Harbour. You’ll spend upward of $207NZD 🇳🇿 ($120USD 🇺🇸) here per night but will love the serenity and beauty of the property.

📍 The West Coast

The West Coast is a good place to base yourself at this time of year too – quite a wet region, so be prepared, but if there was ever a time to chance good weather here, I think it would be early autumn.

Make it a trip in March if you are eager to get along to the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival and sample something new – set apart from your classic food and wine festival, this one is quite unique, renowned, and incredibly popular.

The West Coast is also a great spot for hitting the trails – whether that be hiking or cycling. You have the West Coast Wilderness Trail and the Old Ghost Road, and the Paparoa Track, which is one of our 10 Great Walks of New Zealand but can also be completed by bike (I’ve walked it and would love to return to cycle it).

Another of our Great Walks is the Heaphy Track – admittedly the longest of our 10 Great Walks, but largely flat, and enjoyed immensely by all in our group in the autumn of 2019. This one is a great way of exploring the top left corner of the South Island, parts of which there is no road access at all – quite the wilderness adventure.

Budget Option: Hokitika Holiday Park
Hokitika Holiday Park is an affordable place to stay in Hokitika – so that you are right where the action is for the Wildfoods Festival (book very much in advance if you are going that weekend!). The best part about the pricing is that you pay per room – so you can split that cost with the rest of your party.

Five can share a standard family cabin for $92NZD 🇳🇿 ($53USD 🇺🇸), or four can share a tourist bunk cabin for $65NZD 🇳🇿 ($38USD 🇺🇸) – they have lots and lots of cheap options. They are very comfortable spaces and the park has a shared kitchen, laundry and bathroom, as well as wifi and heating.

Mid-Range Option: Jade Court Motel
For the traveller after a little more comfort, look no further than Jade Court Motel. Expect to pay $150NZD 🇳🇿 ($88USD 🇺🇸) a night in return for proximity to town, kitchen facilities and wifi. The rooms are comfortable and some have spa baths, just to make your holiday feel a little more like a holiday.

Luxury Option: Rimu Lodge
Rimu Lodge is your one stop shop for a luxury stay in Hokitika. It’s a ten minute drive out of town, which puts you up by the river in a peaceful, secluded spot. Guests enjoy the seclusion, the breakfast, and the activity packages on offer. Rooms cost between $590NZD 🇳🇿 ($344USD 🇺🇸) and $630NZD 🇳🇿 ($368USD 🇺🇸) for a stay in this slice of paradise.

📍 Otago Region: Central Otago & Queenstown-Lakes Districts

Personally, I think Otago has a lot going for it year-round, but I would specifically recommend it in the autumn months because of the immensely beautiful autumn colours. Base yourself in Queenstown, Wanaka or Central Otago and you won’t be disappointed.

The poplar trees that adorn the shores of Lake Wanaka are particularly gorgeous at this time of year, as are the banks of the Kawarau Gorge – definitely a great excuse to take a jet boat ride up the gorge!

Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago District have an absolute abundance of cycle trails – Queenstown alone has five or six stunning legs that you can do, standalone, or all together, and heading east only opens up more options!

There are fantastic walking options if you’ve based yourself in Queenstown as you will be able to take your pick of beautiful day walks or head up to Te Anau with a shuttle company for any of the Milford Track, Kepler Track or Routeburn Track – three of the 10 Great Walks of New Zealand. The Routeburn Track is particularly accessible for a day walk as one of the trailheads is just a bit north of the lake, so you can go in and out on a loop trip.

I am definitely also recommending Otago for its vineyards and orchards, all of which go a lovely shade of gold at this time of year. Queenstown’s main wine region is the Gibbston Valley but even east, further inland toward Central Otago are countless vineyards that will gladly host you for a glass, a meal, or a tasting.

Arrowtown also hosts the Arrowtown Autumn Festival each year and I can’t think of a better time to schedule your visit to the region!

Budget Option: Nomads Queenstown Hostel
I can personally recommend Nomads, having stayed there in 2020. This hostel has a great location as many other hostels are further up the hill and involve an uphill walk back from downtown, but Nomads is down at the level of the lake, off to the side where some of the other restaurants are, so its an easy walk back. The staff are always eager to help you book things to do and are really friendly.

Mid-Range Option: Sherwood Queenstown
I stayed here in 2021 and loved it – the hot pool most of all! A studio for two people costs typically between $200NZD 🇳🇿 ($117USD 🇺🇸) and $300NZD 🇳🇿 ($176USD 🇺🇸) per night, but autumn is considered off-peak season so this may be in your favour!

The Sherwood is up on the Frankton Arm, further away from the lake than other downtown options, so it means a 10 minute drive – if you have a vehicle – from the main hub of Queenstown. But it’s also located right along the bus route, being opposite Goldfield Heights Bus Stop, and this is an easy and cheap way of getting around.

Luxury Option: Peppers Beacon
Queenstown does luxury well – especially at Peppers Beacon. It is ride on the shores of the lake and so boasts luxury lakeside views, and it is a very easy, short walk along the waterfront to get to all the main restaurants. A suite goes for $300NZD 🇳🇿 ($176USD 🇺🇸) or more for one night – somewhere you will want to stay for more than one, for sure!

Visiting New Zealand: FAQs

And that is how I would recommend you spend your time in New Zealand during the autumn! Here are some frequently asked questions about this time of year:

What should you wear during autumn in New Zealand?

Autumn can really range – March is right on the heels of summer, whereas May is on the brink of winter, so best to be prepared for a bit of everything! Generally it is a good idea to have some merino layers with you; even if you don’t need to layer up, a merino layer is a great standalone base.

Take knitwear and have jumpers and cardigans, and pack a warmer coat if you are visiting later in the season. Still pack a raincoat, as you never know if it will rain or not, and ensure you have active wear and good footwear for any outdoor activities planned. Don’t neglect cooler layers as physical activities on a warm day in early autumn definitely still warrant the likes of more of a summery wardrobe.

When does autumn start and finish in New Zealand?

Autumn officially begins in March and ends in May, so the opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. It means that we have a couple of public holidays in April with Easter meaning New Zealanders get Good Friday and Easter Monday off, and ANZAC Day on April 25th sometimes following only a few days later. On the years that this happens, many New Zealanders will head away as you can get away with taking only a few days of leave in the middle but scoring a decent amount of time off, paid.

Schools have a two week holiday break in April which normally spans both Easter and ANZAC Day.

Is it cold during autumn in New Zealand?

Autumn can feel brisk, or crisp, especially further south, in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. It really gets more noticeable in April and May and so it is important to pack for a wide temperature range so you don’t find yourself overheating or freezing!

In Auckland, the temperature tends to do a big drop at the start of May where the cool, crisp days often give way to colder, sometimes wetter weather. This drop normally happens in the the first week of May – but that is just my lived-experience. Every year is different, especially as the world is increasingly affected by climate change and seasonal patterns get harder to predict.

Is New Zealand worth visiting during autumn?

Yes, I would heartily recommend a trip to New Zealand in autumn! Although our native bush does not change colour with the seasons, there are many areas of the country where the trees do dress up for the autumn and heading to these areas, like Canterbury or Otago, or any city gardens, makes for a really beautiful experience.

Autumn in New Zealand is a great, mild time of year for outdoor activities, and a time for things we do well – wine, apples, feijoas and food festivals. Find New Zealanders eating feijoas, hot cross buns (in anticipation of Easter), and ANZAC biscuits, season-long.

Surely this list is enough to sell you on an autumn trip to New Zealand! If you know where to go and what not to miss, it really is a season that makes for a wonderful kiwi experience.

It’s a time I often travel domestically – it tends to be our favourite time to go hiking, cycling and was always the time we’d meet up with extended family in my childhood to celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries that occurred at this time of year. It’s also a great time to travel domestically for locals with the time off many of us get in April. As such, many of my best New Zealand travel experiences have occurred during the autumn months, so call me a little biased, (and it is my favourite season) .. but can you see why?