New Zealand Forum Tripadvisor (2025)

FAQs

What is the best time to tour New Zealand? ›

The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of December to March. Expect long, bright, sunny days and temperatures between 61°F and 75°F. It's an ideal time to visit the lovely beaches or enjoy the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking.

Driving is by far the easiest way to see New Zealand. City hopping by public transport is excellent in some countries (and New Zealand does have plenty of buses) but driving allows you to truly get off the beaten track and explore at your own pace.

New Zealand is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. With its snow-capped mountains, ancient glaciers, rolling hills, and copious amounts of wine, it's a destination unlike all others.

How long does it take to travel New Zealand? New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see most of the country's highlights in two weeks. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.

Off season:

Traveling is cheaper during July and August and visitors can likely find cheap flights to New Zealand during this time. Average winter temperatures are 50-59 degrees (F).

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays and some great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin.

While both islands have beautiful beaches, the North Island has more traditional white-sand beaches that are perfect for swimming. The South Island is where you'll find the Southern Alps, which includes glaciers and the country's largest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook.

Choosing the right flights and transport in New Zealand

It's a good idea to book your air travel as far in advance as you can. Typically long-haul flight schedules are released 11 months in advance, however, Silver Travel Advisor can often secure your flights earlier than this with advanced registration.

Which is the best month to visit New Zealand? ›

The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of December to March, which bring long, bright and sunny days and temperatures of 16°C to 24°C. They're ideal for visiting the lovely beaches or enjoying the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking.

New Zealand is a relatively safe travel destination but we are not crime free. It is important you take the same precautions to look after yourself and your possessions as you would at home. Here is some specific information to help make your stay in our country safe and enjoyable.

While winter in the Northern Hemisphere, January and February, in the high season, are the perfect summer months in which to visit New Zealand's North and South islands. The warm weather is ideal for visiting the many beaches or sailing the waters in search of playful dolphins.

Over the northern and central areas of New Zealand more rainfall falls in winter than in summer, whereas for much of the southern part of New Zealand, winter is the season of least rainfall.

The busiest times of the year for tourism in New Zealand are the summer months of December to February. The summer season peaks from Boxing Day on December 26 for about three weeks — when many New Zealanders take their holidays. Easter and school holidays can also be very busy.

Summer Is Generally the Best Time to Cruise to New Zealand

For warmer weather and some sunshine, December through February is the best time to visit New Zealand. Average summer temperatures range from 21 to 25°C (70-75°F) and present a perfect opportunity to escape the European or North American winter.