Top 5 Places to Visit in Autumn in New Zealand

Why Visit New Zealand in Autumn?

Autumn is a great time to travel in New Zealand, with beautiful colours, warm spells and no crowds. To help you plan your dream autumn getaway, we’ve rounded up our top 5 places to visit in autumn in New Zealand. Looking for more inspiration? Contact us at Everything New Zealand for your very own customised autumn itinerary. 

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a historic gold rush village in New Zealand’s South Island, just a 20 minute drive from Queenstown. From April to May, this beautiful town becomes a destination in itself, widely known for its autumn colours. The trees in Arrowtown and its surrounding region exhibit stunning displays of oranges and reds, making it the picture-perfect place to visit for an autumn holiday. It is so picturesque that the town hosts an Arrowtown Autumn Festival every year in April.

Things to do in Arrowtown in autumn:

Whether you are staying for a holiday or just visiting for the day, you won’t be short of things to do in autumn in Arrowtown. This quaint South Island town is a walker’s heaven, with many popular hiking and cycling trails starting from the town centre. You can also discover Arrowtown’s rich history at the restored Chinese Settlement, featuring vibrant colours in autumn, or step back in time at the fascinating Lakes District Museum. For a fleeting taste of Arrowtown in autumn, there are several Queenstown activities that feature this beautiful town, including the Valley of the Vines self-guided cycling tour and the Twilight Wine & Craft Beer Tour with Altitude Tours.

Queenstown

Queenstown closely follows its neighbour, Arrowtown, when it comes to exquisite autumn colours. This time of year, the lakefront and surrounding hills are tinged with gold, providing the perfect backdrop for Queenstown outdoor activities. As the adventure capital of the world, there are plenty of things to do in autumn in Queenstown, from bungy jumping to putting your feet up at Onsen Hot Pools. This tourist hub is also a great base for visiting Milford Sound and other day trip destinations.

Things to do in Queenstown in autumn:

The most popular autumn Queenstown activities are those exploring Lake Wakatipu and its rivers, as well as taking to the skies for panoramic views across Queenstown’s mountains and lakes. Jet boating with KJET combines thrilling 360 degree spins with beautiful autumn scenery on the banks of the Kawarau and Shotover River. If you’re feeling brave, take on the 43 metre Kawarau Bridge Bungy and the autumnal oranges and reds in your bungy photos will make it worthwhile (we promise!). For less adrenaline and more sightseeing, the TSS Earnslaw Cruise or Pilot’s Choice helicopter flight are both fantastic options for experiencing Queenstown in autumn. Don’t miss the short walk through Queenstown Gardens or the mirror-like reflections at Lake Hayes - both beautiful in autumn.

Hawkes Bay

On the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Hawkes Bay is well known for its wineries, beaches and scenery. From March to May, the annual grape harvest in Hawkes Bay coincides with the beautiful New Zealand autumn colours on display at each vineyard. Winemaking season is the best time to do a Hawkes Bay wine tour, as you can experience the harvest in action, take pictures of vines swathed in red and gold hues, as well as taste the produce (of course!).

Things to do in Hawkes Bay in autumn:

Although Hawkes Bay’s famous long sunny days begin to shorten at this time of year, there are still lots of wonderful things to do in autumn. Discover some of the best vineyards in Hawkes Bay on a small group wine tour, including a visit to the oldest winery in New Zealand. If you would rather explore the vineyards by bike, you can take to the winding cycling trails of Hawkes Bay on a self guided cycling wine tour. Whatever the season, Hawkes Bay always delivers incredible scenery, from art deco style buildings to beautiful beaches such as Mahia Peninsula.

Fiordland National Park

Beautiful all year round, Fiordland National Park is arguably its finest in the quiet autumn month of May. Around this time, there aren’t many tourists around to make the trip to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, which leaves you with this incredible scenery all to yourself. Experience autumn in New Zealand by exploring Milford or Doubtful Sound on a day cruise, scenic flight or guided kayaking tour. To fully immerse yourself in the wilderness, there are also overnight cruise options which are perfect for a couples getaway or weekend trip.

Things to do in Fiordland National Park in autumn:

Fiordland National Park is such a fantastic place to visit in autumn that it’s well worth spending more than a day there. If you are heading to Milford Sound, make sure to stop in Te Anau on the way, maybe even for a quick jet boat ride with Fiordland Jet. Between Te Anau and Milford Sound, driving the Milford Road itself is a highlight, winding between mountains with giant waterfalls to reach the fiord. Here, you can venture onto the water to enjoy views of Mitre Peak and even more waterfalls with a kayaking tour or on a Milford Sound Day Cruise. For a special overnight adventure, Doubtful Sound currently offers a 2 Night Cruise leaving from Manapouri in the autumn months, which is truly a once in a lifetime experience. If you don’t have time to drive to Fiordland National Park, there are plenty of scenic flight or coach options departing from Queenstown or Wanaka.

Lake Tekapo

Autumn is a great time to visit Lake Tekapo and the wider Mackenzie Country. As the seasons change, contrasting snow-capped mountains, autumnal fields and reflective lakes put on an impressive display in Twizel, Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. This area is also home to the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the best places to stargaze in the world and often its clearest in autumn and winter.

Things to do in Lake Tekapo in autumn:

There are several evening stargazing options in Tekapo, such as a nighttime soak and stargazing tour at Tekapo Springs or using powerful telescopes on the Dark Sky Project’s Summit Experience. Tekapo Springs is also a fantastic place to visit in autumn with the opening of its ice skating rink. If you are planning to spend a few days in the Mackenzie Country, a visit to Aoraki Mount Cook is a must-do. Take that famous picture on the Mount Cook Road and beat the winter crowds to a Mount Cook Heli Hike. 

Start Planning Your Autumn Getaway

Ready to make the most of autumn in New Zealand? Start planning your trip with the local tour and activity experts at Everything New Zealand. Phone, email or Live Chat with us today! Contact us >>