Summer

Summer

Summer in New Zealand means sizzling barbecues and salads, sauvignon blanc, swimming at the beach, and long lazy days at the bach or crib - Kiwi for a holiday home.

Christmas is celebrated in shorts and T-shirt style, as the bright crimson blooms of the pohutukawa - New Zealand's native Christmas tree - line the coasts with festive colour.

From December to February, New Zealand is alive with the sound of crickets, and not just the insect variety. As soon as the weather warms up, Kiwis vacate the cities and head to baches, campgrounds and holiday resorts up and down the country.

Outdoor events
New Zealand celebrates at this time of year and there's a party to suit just about everyone.

Summer is the season for outdoor food and wine events. The famous Wine Marlborough Festival - in northern South Island - is a wine connoisseur's dream, while the effervescent 'Rhythm and Vines' music festival - in the Eastland city of Gisborne - hums with a chic bohemian feel.

Iconic Kiwi bands travel the country on their summer pilgrimages to coastal towns and lakeside villages. Cultural festivals like Te Matatini - the national kapa haka traditional Maori performance competitions - and the Pacifika Festival celebrate the arts, and New Zealand's unique tapestry of cultures.

For those with a sense of adventure, New Zealand's doors are thrown wide open. Land, sea, sky and mountains are teeming with activities for all ages and abilities, from extreme adventure to total relaxation. Summer is the perfect time to try river surfing, gliding and scuba diving or, for those who like their feet firmly on the ground, a hike in thousands of acres of National Parks.

There are many beautiful beach campsites in the Abel Tasman National Park. The Department of Conservation issues camping passes that allow sea kayakers to choose any camp that catches their eye. Each camp site has basic facilities, which may include a water supply, fireplaces and toilets. Not all campsites have fireplaces, so campers are wise to bring a cooking stove. Photo credit: Graham Charles   This superb stretch of sand at Matauri Bay in Northland is a peaceful beach for swimming and snorkelling. It's also a popular surfing venue in an easterly swell. The view from the ridge above the bay looks out at panoramic views over the headland and to the Cavalli Islands, a great spot for diving. Photo credit: Destination Northland		Wanganui’s sweeping beaches have a wild and rugged ‘West Coast' beauty, with black iron sands often strewn with driftwood. Castlecliff & Kai Iwi beaches are attractive swimming beaches. There are children’s playground’s at both beaches making them very popular spots for summer family picnics. Popular walks along the coast; Castlecliff to Kai Iwi Beach (2 – 3 hours) and Kai Iwi beach to the Okehu Stream (2 hours). Tides must be checked as cliffs can only be passed when the tide is low.   Away from the hustle of downtown Auckland, the Waitemata Harbour offers blue skies and open spaces for the solo yachtsman. Or enjoy the harbour on one of the many chartered yachts or ferries available year round.