Where to Visit in Spring in New Zealand
It would be a crime not to hit the roads of New Zealand in spring! Drive past the fields of cute lambs leaping and bounding. Spring means time for docking lambs’ tails in New Zealand so there are lots of WWOOFing opportunities on farms. Also, if you get the opportunity to walk through some gardens in spring, take it!
On the more adventurous side of things, spring is an awesome time to do white water rafting. In the South Island, the mountains’ snow starts to melt filling the rivers with epic rapids!
Oh, and by the way, spring in New Zealand is during September, November and December. For more information on the seasons, head to What is the Weather Like in New Zealand?
1. Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is so magically beautiful that it doesn’t even look real! By late spring the lupins flower, and with the backdrop of the Southern Alps and the super blue lake, it is a photographer’s dream. The night’s sky here is perfect for stargazing. Read more on that here: 5 Stargazing Site in New Zealand.
© Pixabay2. Rotorua
The only canopy tour in New Zealand’s native forest is here in Rotorua. When new vegetation starts appearing is the best time to swing and zipline through the forest. What’s more, if it’s still a little chilly, warm up in one of the many geothermal hot pools in the area.
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Hamilton
The blossoming Hamilton Gardens are best seen in spring. Stroll through 5 country-themed displays of what have been award-winning gardens! For more things to do in Hamilton, check out The Complete Guide to Hamilton.
© NZPocketGuide.com4. Kaikoura
Looking for spring festivals? With some of the best dolphin swimming and whale watching, it comes to no surprise that Kaikoura has a Seafest. Try some of that famous crayfish in the cuisine tent. There are live music acts playing on a stage shaped like a ship throughout the two-day festival in October. Festival-goers are commonly known to dress up as fish (amongst other fancy dress).
© NZPocketGuide.com5. Rangitata River
Getting the snowmelt from the Southern Alps, now is the time to ride the rapids on the Rangitata River, Canterbury. This is New Zealand’s only full-time grade 5 river. Find out more at 7 Places to Go White Water Rafting in New Zealand.
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Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
