Perfect Timing
So you think New Zealand shines as a summer destination? - wait until you see what autumn offers. The sky’s even bluer, the air clearer, the countryside more picturesque and the long list of festivals and functions is enough to lure every visitor to every region.
Film crews and photographers are already in the know - this is the best time to visit. New Zealand is renowned for exquisite light at this time of the year and autumn is undoubtedly the prime time to capture the country on camera. If you’re a walker then get moving - there’s no better time to enjoy a tramp or trek in comfortable temperatures and when the countryside is a kaleidoscope of colour. Walking, cycling, riding, driving, camping - how ever you go, getting around is a breeze now school and university is in session and Kiwis are back at work after their annual holidays.
Indian summer/ Kiwi autumn
New Zealand has experienced the best summer in nearly a decade and forecasters are predicting the warm temperatures and light winds will continue into May. While farmers are praying for rain to end the drought, others are celebrating the Indian summer and making the most of longer days with the extension of daylight saving. This year clocks don’t go back until April 6.
For visitors there’s much to enjoy. The water is still warm, the fruit trees are groaning with ripe produce, the grapes are plump and sweet and there’s a calendar of events to satisfy every taste. Wine enthusiasts will be raising their glasses in glee. New Zealand wineries are in for a bumper season, with this year’s grape harvest expected to produce record-volume crops and a high quality vintage. The grape harvest continues until mid-May.
Colours and calm
While there’s an obvious change in temperature from the sub-tropical north to the expansive south, it also follows that the further south you go, the stronger the hues. Lakes are intensely blue, trees golden and fiery red, mountains sport their first sprinkling of snow and there’s an air of calm. And apart from what nature has to offer, there’s an Autumn calendar of events throughout the country that covers the broadest spectrum. Whether it’s a festival of colour to feast the eyes or a food and wine experience to tempt the palate, music and art, sports and adventure, comedy and camaraderie - this is the season of plenty in New Zealand and a prime time to visit.
For further information and a full list of events throughout March to May, please visit the website listed in links below.
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