I love autumn in New Zealand.
The green hues of summer are replaced by brilliant shades of red, gold and yellow. You can walk through a blanket of fallen leaves and hear that satisfying crunch underfoot. Mushrooms spring up out of the ground seemingly overnight, and the air is crisp and cool.
I lived in New Zealand for 7 years, and I never got tired of strolling down streets lined with gold each year when autumn rolled around.
As a bonus, autumn is shoulder season, so prices for flights and accommodation are likely to be low.
This guide covers everything you need to know to plan an epic autumn trip to New Zealand – when to go, what to see, and where to see it (including my favorite lookouts and secret spots!).
Shall we begin?
When is the best time to experience autumn in New Zealand?
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, autumn in New Zealand technically runs from March to May.
However, if you want to see autumn leaves at their best, you should plan to arrive in April. The specific time for the best colors varies by the year and location, but generally mid to late April would be a safe bet.
Do all the trees turn color?
No.
Most of the native trees in New Zealand are evergreen, and don’t change color in the fall or lose their leaves.
However, there are a lot of non-native trees as well – poplars, willows, cherry trees, maples, oaks. These trees are deciduous, and their leaves turn into beautiful colors in the fall. Set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s vast landscapes, the effect is truly spectacular.
Generally, most of the autumn foliage that you will see in New Zealand will be golden, yellow, and orange. You won’t see entire landscapes ablaze with red like you do in the United States or Canada. There are a few trees that do turn red, but there aren’t usually many of them in one place.
The notable exception is Arrowtown, whose hills are covered in a patchwork quilt of red and gold in the autumn.
What is the weather like in the autumn?
It depends entirely on which part of New Zealand you go to.
The daily temperature range varies from 13 – 20 C in Auckland in the North Island, to 4 – 18 C in Queenstown in the South Island.
Rainfall in New Zealand doesn’t change much throughout the year, but it varies a lot by location. The West Coast of the South Island gets a lot of rainfall, and the East Coast of the South Island gets the least rainfall. The North Island is subtropical and gets more rainfall in the winter.
In my opinion, autumn and spring are the best months of the year for outdoor activities in New Zealand. Many of the hikes are exposed and have no shade, so I find the heat a bit overwhelming in the summer. There are also fewer tourists in the autumn and spring, so the popular walks will be less crowded.
Should you go to the North Island or the South Island?
If your goal is to see autumn colors, I’d say the South Island for sure. Specifically, central and eastern South Island.
The North Island has a couple of autumn hotspots like Hawkes Bay and Waikato, but they are few in number and disconnected. Most of the North Island doesn’t get particularly colorful in the autumn.
In the South Island, all of the best spots are interconnected on the eastern side of the alps. A short road trip will take you to all of them!
The west coast of the South Island primarily has native plants, so it’s not the place for autumn foliage.
Where are the best places for viewing autumn colors in New Zealand?
Arrowtown
When it comes to fall foliage, you can’t go past Arrowtown.
Seriously, if I had to choose one place in this entire post to visit in the autumn, I’d pick Arrowtown without hesitation.
The highlight is, of course, the forested hills surrounding it, clad in red and gold in the autumn.
There’s also the Arrowtown Autumn Festival, which typically runs on the last weekend of April. In 2025, that’s the 24th to 27th of April.
Here are some of the best viewpoints in and around Arrowtown:
- Buckingham St. This is the “main street” in Arrowtown, where all the shops are. You’ll see rows of historic buildings from the Gold Rush era, set against the magnificent backdrop of Arrowtown’s famed hills.
- Historic Police Camp. This heritage building is surrounded by beautiful trees, and is also a popular spot to start Tobin’s Track.
- Tobin’s Track. Tobin’s Track follows the Arrow River closely before crossing it and diverging into the summit trail. It’s a long track of 6.6 km, but it’s not a loop, so you don’t have to do the whole thing. The best views are from the section of track near the Historic Police Camp, to the point where it crosses the Arrow River near Wilcox Green (roughly 1 km). Besides being a lovely peaceful walk in the woods, it also takes you up close to the hills for great photos.
- The side streets close to the Arrow River. These are the most underrated photo spots in Arrowtown! Bedford St especially is lined with pretty trees, and runs parallel to the river. People live here, so please be respectful when taking photos.
- Arrowtown War Memorial Park. Another incredibly underrated spot. A short walk up the hill gives you panoramic views of Arrowtown, its forested hills, and the mountain range beyond.
Queenstown
Queenstown doesn’t have much in the way of autumn colors in the town itself, except for the Botanic Gardens. The surrounding areas, however, make up for that in spades.
The best places to see autumn colors in or near Queenstown are:
- Queenstown Botanic Gardens. While the Gardens itself doesn’t have a lot of deciduous trees, the walk around the Gardens peninsula gives you gorgeous views of Queenstown and the hills above.
- Arthurs Point Gorge Scenic Reserve. Especially the area near Edith Cavell Bridge, which crosses the Shotover River. There are a couple of short walks that you can do there, but even if you don’t have time, just park near the bridge and go to the lookout. The golden trees paint a striking contrast against the deep blue of the glacial river.
- Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge. The theme of “lots of trees on cliffs near sparkling glacial river” continues here. Take a side trip to Gibbston Valley Winery for wine tasting.
- Lake Hayes Estate. This one’s not even an official spot, but the views over Lake Hayes and the autumnal countryside are surreal. Once you arrive, take Sicilian Ln (or Jean Robbins Dr, I can’t remember which) up the hill. It’s a narrow and rough road, but it’s a very short way to the top. The last time we were there we saw a lot of ongoing construction, so it’s possible that this might eventually turn into a private road. Catch it while you can!
So, here’s my suggested itinerary for Queenstown and Arrowtown in the autumn.
Most people visit Arrowtown as a day trip from Queenstown, since there isn’t much accommodation in Arrowtown. That’s what we did as well.
If you do this, I’d recommend taking Highway 6 from Queenstown to Arrowtown, stopping by Lake Hayes along the way, and doing the additional side trip to Kawarau Gorge if desired.
Then when returning to Queenstown from Arrowtown, take Malaghans Rd instead of the highway, for picturesque autumn views on the road. This will also take you past the Arthurs Point Gorge viewpoint.
That allows you to see everything in my list above, without spending too much additional time. Score!
Planning a trip to Queenstown? Check out my comprehensive guide!
Lake Tekapo
The Lake Tekapo foreshore is gorgeous in every season, and autumn is no exception.
Near the famed Church of the Good Shepherd, the shores are lined with beautiful golden trees reflected by the calm, still waters of the lake.
Take Domain Rd starting from near Four Square Tekapo (which has pretty steep prices, by the way, because it’s the only supermarket in the area). Head east towards Tekapo River.
There’s a pretty grove of poplars near the boat ramp, and you also get phenomenal shots of the Church from that location.
Cross the river at McLaren footbridge, then carry on down Pioneer Dr past the church. The crowds fall away, and you can enjoy the lake in solitude.
This is my favorite spot in all of Lake Tekapo. Look how clear and blue the water is!
By the way, Kohan Restaurant nearby serves amazing bento featuring some of the freshest salmon sashimi I’ve ever had. The area near Lake Tekapo is home to several freshwater salmon farms, which supply the restaurant.
If you’re in the mood for even more salmon, check out Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop, which is a 30 minute drive away.
Christchurch
This isn’t one that you commonly hear of, but Christchurch is beautiful in the autumn.
Hagley Park, Mona Vale, the Botanic Gardens, and the banks of the Avon River through the city are teeming with colors.
And as a bonus, Christchurch is the only place in New Zealand where I’ve consistently seen these characteristic white-spotted red toadstools! They spring up out of the ground when autumn arrives, and they always seem to be near certain trees.
Here, the best autumn spots form a convenient line for you to walk through. Once you reach the end, you can take a bus back via Riccarton Ave.
- Mona Vale Garden Park. Mona Vale is a small garden built around a historic homestead that punches way above its weight. It has a rose garden, a fountain, deciduous trees, and lots of toadstools. The toadstool photo above was taken from just next to the Mona Vale carpark.
- Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens. Where Mona Vale ends, Hagley Park begins, and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens are on the other side of the park. I’ve spent many a happy afternoon strolling the many paths that lead through the Botanic Gardens, and they are spectacular in the autumn – Christchurch isn’t called the “Garden City” for nothing!
- Boat Shed Cafe on the Avon River. Brunch with a view! This is also where you can go punting on the Avon, or hire a kayak or canoe to glide down the river.
