Taking Advantage of Off-Peak Travel in New Zealand

Whether it’s for Maori culture, food and wine, outdoor adventures, or seeing incredibly diverse landscapes, there are many reasons to travel to New Zealand. Visiting during shoulder season can make choosing New Zealand as your destination even more attractive.

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Save Some Money

Shoulder season – April to May and September to October – provides a great opportunity to travel to New Zealand at a much lower cost than high season. Airfare is often reduced or on sale and tour operators, hotels, lodges and bed & breakfasts offer special rates. And you can often play a round of golf at a world-class course for less than you would expect. Rates are frequently discounted by up to 25% and some special packages offer you the opportunity to book travel, accommodation and tours together to save even more.

Avoid the Crowds

Not only do hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to New Zealand in the high season – November to March – but Kiwis also love to vacation in their own backyard. This can make some of the popular regions very crowded during the summer months. By visiting during the shoulder season, you are likely able to get reservations in some great restaurants, have your pick of hotels or B&Bs and make last-minute decisions about which activity to enjoy without worrying that it will be sold out.

Interact with the Locals

For those interested in New Zealand’s wine, microbreweries or coffee culture, shoulder season could mean that the wine or beer maker or head roaster has time to chat with you at their cellar door, pub or coffee shop. Kiwis are passionate about what they do and having a conversation with one of them could easily be one of the highlights of your visit.

Weather

Visiting during shoulder season, you could experience the beautiful weather of summer or feel the fresh chill of autumn or the first bursts of spring arriving. Depending on where you are, you might even get to experience the final or first snowfall of winter. Many lodges, hotels and B&Bs, along with some restaurants and pubs, have wood-burning fireplaces – and a little chill in the air means that you can sit in front of one with a glass of excellent New Zealand wine. No matter when you travel to New Zealand, you are sure to have an excellent time – but during shoulder season, it could be even better and cost you less!