Spring

The Southern Alps glisten with fresh spring snow, and the buzz of enthusiastic spring skiers is unmistakable. Bigger than the Swiss, French and Austrian Alps combined, the Southern Alps stretch 2000 metres high across the South Island.

The start of spring coincides with the beginning of the whitebait season on the West Coast. South Islanders and tourists flock to river entrances with nets to collect the translucent, thin inch-long whitebait.

In spring, New Zealand's vast mountains are usually more accessible for hikers, with receding snow, longer daylight hours, and warmer conditions.

Spring in New Zealand is a season of colour, new life, new harvests of food and wine and exciting arts and cultural events.