Category Travel

Because it’s the ski season prices for accommodation and activities in the most popular tourist towns are inflated. Daylight hours are also short with sunrise around 8 am and the sun setting before 5 pm so there’s less time to pack your day with activities. June usually marks the beginning of the ski season, although exact dates depend on conditions. Kiwis who don’t like skiing tend to vacation in the tropical Pacific Islands during winter. This means there’s more room for international visitors who wish to visit. New Zealand is an island nation with a lot of rain.

In fact, countless people come here specifically in winter to ski and snowboard, as Queenstown is a renowned winter destination. Ski and snowboard season runs from late June to mid-October, depending on snow levels. Regarding accommodations, once again, Summer months are the peak season. You have both international tourists and locals traveling around New Zealand. Book as soon as you can if you plan to travel during this period. In autumn, New Zealand enjoys some of the most settled weather of the whole year.

This is completely different from the seasons in Europe, North America, etc. New Zealand ranges from a sub-tropical climate to a sub-Antarctic one , so to it’s important to know how the weather will affect your plans and the kinds of experiences you want to have. April in New Zealand is the prime month for viewing the changing of the leaves. Tourism also dies down significantly after the Easter holiday so accommodation may be easier to come by.

New Zealand is made up of the North Island of New Zealand and the South Island of New Zealand, which are both completely surrounded by water. If you’re a wine lover, then Western Australia is the destination for you. The diversity of local flavours is abundant in the many wineries scattered throughout the country.

Trip Types

If you plan to spend the night in a DOC hut, you will need a light sleeping bag. Inclement weather conditions may require you to bring extra layers. The diverse coastline offers everything, from lazy days to epic adventures. NZ kids are back at school and the “sauv the fridge; this is high summer. There is no shortage of festivals and sporting events to choose from.

Auckland’s average high temperature is 18 degrees Celsius and its average low temperature is 11 degrees Celsius. This means the trails are safe to walk again and you can book nights at the comfortable Department of Conservation huts. In Queenstown, the average high temperature is 13degC and the average low is 2degC. Although November is technically still spring, it shifts towards summery conditions.

We’ll be discussing the pros and cons for each season of New Zealand to help you choose the best time of year to visit. Covering all seven continents, The world your way shows you how you can see the world with us. It features trip ideas from our specialists alongside hand-picked stays and experiences, and introduces our approach to creating meaningful travel experiences. The country’s rugged beauty, varied landscapes and stunning views make it an amazing destination to visit any time of the year.

Follow the poled route from South Crater to Red Crater. South Crater is not a real crater but a basin that may have been glacially carved, and has since filled with sediment from the surrounding ridges. An explosion pit is located in the southeast corner of the crater. It was formed approximately 14,000 years ago.

Toilets are also available at the crossing at Ketetahi. This includes walking downhill, which presents its own set of challenges. Read more about Alpine Crossing here. Generally this is not a good idea as the hike will take longer and you’ll have an extra 360 metres of climbing. At that time the criteria for cultural World Heritage sites stipulated that there be some tangible evidence of cultural use of the site e.g. a temple, habitation, etc. The Tongariro Crossing, a spiritual and cultural landmark in New Zealand, is designated as a World Heritage site. This status recognises both the Maori significance of the natural wonder and its unique volcanic features.

You can choose to take a different route if you are not comfortable with the risk. Parking is limited near the access points to this track. From the beginning of Labour weekend in October to 30 April, parking restrictions will be in place at road-ends. Start at 8am ensure you leave enough daylight hours but pack a headtorch just in case. The Ketetahi Hut is a 26-bunk hut located on the Tongariro Northern Circuit in the Turangi/Taupo area.

• Then, you will descend on a volcanic rock scree path to the vibrant Emerald Lakes, also known as Ngarotopounamu or greenstone-hued Lakes.
• Tens of thousands of people hike it every year and it is deservedly rated as one of the best day hikes not just in New Zealand, but in the world.
• Our guides are friendly, qualified, and ready to lead you on one of New Zealand’s most popular 1-day walks.
• This includes loose scoria, ancient lava flows and beech forest.
• It is less protected than other options, but the department states on its website that it can be “a great alternative during periods of bad weather”.

Instead, we found ourselves hiding behind boulders as hail, rain and high winds threatened to cause us to fall down the mountain. The fog was so thick that we couldn’t see beyond the faces of those in front of us. Although they look like alpine lakes they are actually explosions craters craters that are filled with water. The striking colour of greenstone-hued lakes is due to their high mineral content. There are There are many stunning sights and spectacular landscapes along the route, but the Emerald Lakes, also known as crater lakes, are the most photographed.

Don’t underestimate alpine environments, they are subject to severe weather conditions – please check the weather conditions with i-SITE staff. Winter conditions can make the track slippery and treacherous. It is highly recommended that you go on a guided tour with qualified operators like Tongariro Guided Walks or Adrift Tongariroor Adventure Outdoors. In 1993, Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes.