Best Time to Visit New Zealand

The best time to visit New Zealand is during summer (December to March). New Zealand, the country which hosts people for celebrations throughout the year, is the land of heartening Māori Culture and of landscapes you must have seen as a cover on your notebooks. It has something to offer whenever you visit this land which is full of artistic landscapes. You can experience world-class festivals and celebrations such as Art-Deco, WOMAD, and Rhythm and Vines. In New Zealand.

There are four seasons in New Zealand, and each has something special to offer to the travellers.

Spring & Summer

• Time Period: September to February
• Temperature Range: 18 to 32 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall: 72 mm

Most of the seasons in New Zealand are ideal for vacationing, and each season has something unique to offer. If you book your flights for the month of spring or summer, you will be able to witness the spring bloom and summer sun; additionally, there will be an abundance of adventures waiting ahead of you. New Zealand is known as the world's adventure capital, and you will see that it lives up to the title earned when you visit this land full of wonders.

Here are a few activities you can enjoy and some of the best places to visit in New Zealand in summer and spring:

1. Go Kayaking at Cathedral Cove

2. Take a Boat Ride through the Marlborough Sounds

3. Try Bungee Jumping at Queenstown

4. Experience a relaxing day at Abel Tasman National Park

5. Go Hiking & Trekking on Fox and Franz Josef

6. Learn about the inspiring Maori Culture

7. Relive your Lord of the Rings Experience at Hobbiton

Autumn & Winter

• Time Period: December to August
• Temperature Range: 15 to 21 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall: 69 mm

A lot of travellers find autumn to be the preferable time to visit New Zealand. The weather is cooler than the summer but not freezing cold like the winter. Hence, this time is great to spend a fortune on the countless winter activities that New Zealand has to offer. Also, you can click pictures of all the charm and vibrancy New Zealand has to offer in its full bloom.

1. Do not miss skiing and snowboarding

2. Head to Kaikoura for Whale Watching

3. Take a break from the winter chills at Hot Springs

4. Enjoy a drink at the local wineries

5. Have the coolest experience of checking out the glow worms

6. Visit the Zoos to witness the exotic wildlife of New Zealand

7. Dedicate a day to visit revived Christchurch

Rainy Season

• Time Period: June to August
• Temperature Range: 10 to 16 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall: 131 mm

The best and not-so-best time to visit New Zealand depends on your preferred activities and the places you plan to visit. However, most travellers recommend avoiding visiting New Zealand between June and August. June is considered to be the wettest month in New Zealand, with an average precipitation of approximately 150 mm.

The weather is cold and wet in New Zealand from the months of June to August.  Due to this harsh weather condition, many outdoor activities are shut down, which the country is famous for.

However, other adventures and activities will be available to you, such as skiing and snowboarding, and you can also take a tour around some of the most scenic places. You will also find that flights are much cheaper during this time but do not expect the same for the accommodation.

If you are on a budget and want to have a short New Zealand trip, you can consider the off-season to visit this country. The off-season lasts from June to October. During this time, you will encounter fewer travellers as this country experiences heavy rain. Most of the tourists avoid travelling during this season as a lot of activities are shut down. However, most of the major tourist attractions remain open throughout the year.

If you are someone who wishes to enjoy city life in New Zealand amidst the chilling rain and are currently on a tight budget, you can consider visiting New Zealand during the months of July and August.

Now that you know the best times to visit New Zealand and the seasons to avoid, consider going through the following pointers before you book your New Zealand tour package.

• Natives have a very different accent, which can sometimes confuse travellers. Learn some basic accent rules, such as "i" sounds more like "uh", and "e" sounds like an "i".
• It is okay to roam around barefoot in New Zealand.
• You should always be prepared for any type of weather during a single day while in New Zealand.
• The ozone layer is much thinner in New Zealand when compared to other countries. So, even if you feel like the sun is not hot enough, you should take necessary precautions to protect yourself from those harmful UV radiations.
• New Zealand is known as the Shaky Isles, and that is for a reason. This country tends to experience a lot of volcanic and tectonic activities.
• Make sure you visit the clearest lake in the world, the Blue Lake. It has been declared so by New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
• Filmmakers for Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia and many more fantasy movies just couldn't resist choosing New Zealand for their films over and over. So, it will not be surprising if you feel like you have seen this place somewhere on TV once every few miles.
• Kiwis are not a native to New Zealand. It has its origin in China and was primarily known as Chinese Gooseberries. However, it was the Americans who made New Zealand famous for kiwis.

Here are a few tips that will ensure a safe and enriching experience for you in New Zealand:

• Make sure you are up to date with the latest travel guidelines, especially if you are visiting for the first time after Covid-19.
• Check what you can carry and get rid of before you visit New Zealand, as this country has strict declaration guidelines to protect its ecosystem.
• Get accustomed to i-SITE. Every city in New Zealand has their own i-SITE, which includes all the brochures, maps and necessary details about the place you are going to visit.
• Consider booking in advance if you are travelling in the summer, spring and autumn seasons.
• Since most flights land in Auckland, tourists primarily travel from South to North. But you can take a detour and travel from Queenstown or Christchurch way back to the north to avoid the crowd.
• Pack your bags considering all kinds of seasons as you might get to experience all four in one day.
• The only types of IDs that are accepted in New Zealand are your passport, a New Zealand Driving Licence and the Hospitality New Zealand 18+ card. If you want to keep your passport in a locker, you might consider getting an 18+ card for local purposes.
•  If you are making your payments in cash, make sure to know how the system of Swedish rounding works. It is a cash rounding method which is prevalent in NZ. For card payments, New Zealanders use EFTPOS.
• Be aware of the road rules in New Zealand.
• Stay safe from the sand-fly bites.

English is spoken widely all over New Zealand, but there are some local phrases and words that might confuse travellers. To make your travel experience easier and more fun, look at this list of phrases you should know before travelling to New Zealand: 

• Well, there it is, or there you have it - Bob's your uncle
• Cooler or insulated portable bin - Chillybin
• Resident of West Coast, South Island - Coaster
• Quite sick or ill - Crook
• A corner shop - Dairy
• Comedian or joker - Dag
• Electronic Fund Transfer at the Point of Sale  - EFTPOS
• Hooligans, usually referred to one's driving style - Hoon
• just another friggin Aucklander - JAFA

Now that you know the best time to visit New Zealand, the travel guidelines and restrictions, don’t wait and get your tickets booked. But before that, you should consider getting travel insurance. Travel insurance will provide you with financial coverage for loss of your luggage and passport, flight cancellation and medical emergencies.