When to Visit

When to Visit

This is the part of New Zealand that gets cold with a capital C in winter, so if you're coming for warm weather, stay away between May and November. For skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports, this is the time to come. From July through September you can be assured of snow around Queenstown and Wanaka, where the ski scene is very lively and ushered in by the Queenstown Winter Festival. In the height of summer -- from January to March -- both resort towns are crowded with Kiwi holiday makers. To avoid the crowds, hold off until March or April, when the leaves start turning. If you're planning on hiking one of the major trails, such as the Milford Track, summer or early autumn are the best times (you'll need to book ahead). This is also the best time to visit Fiordland National Park. Fiordland is soaked with rain year-round (it's the wettest place in the country), so there's little use trying to avoid the rainy season.