Autumn Leaf Peeping in New Zealand
As the New Zealand summer ebbs away, the tourist high season comes to a close and busy crowds disperse. The days become crisper but still clear and sunny, and the golden autumn hues make for spectacular scenery.
It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the changing landscapes and for stunning photo opportunities.
‘Leaf-peeping’ prospects are plentiful!
New Zealand’s best ‘Fall’ foliage can be seen April-May, but we don’t really call it Fall over here, just Autumn.
You won’t see the variety or mass of colour that’s usual in North-East America or the United Kingdom, but what is spectacular is the contrasting endless sky, sweeping land and burnt autumn palette.
The weather is still settled and warm enough to enjoy the scenery on a tramp or bike ride.
Interestingly, trees displaying their colour at this time of year are not New Zealand natives, which are evergreen. Those with the best displays are trees introduced by European settlers for decoration, shelter, food or controlling erosion.
Both islands have regions where the autumnal shows are best but it is in the South Island where colours are far more abundant and varied.
The further South you go, the earlier the colours may ‘peak’. Colours may also become vibrant, or ‘set’, at higher elevations earlier than low lying areas.
So if leaf-peeping is your thing, plan your trip to visit the most southern areas first.
There’s plenty of great spots, but here are some top picks:
Arrowtown – where history meets nature
If you’re only visiting one spot to leaf-peep, make this it! Here you’ll find the richest and most abundant foliage there is to see.
Arrowtown is a quaint historic village and one of New Zealand’s treasures. Just visit the website and scroll through the images and you will see why it is such a beautiful place to visit in autumn.
With a gold rush past and set in a valley near some of the South Island’s top snow spots it is surrounded by breath-taking scenery and also comes with plenty of things to see and do.
It is also extremely popular, especially around the Arrowtown Autumn Festival in late April.
This is the town’s highlight of the year, with a full and eclectic schedule of activities: street parade, market day, vintage car procession, busking, scarecrow competition, duck race, music, photo and art exhibitions, beautiful wine, craft beer and lots, lots more – a real community festival!
In and around Arrowtown there are also plenty of places to see beautiful autumnal vistas. Lake Hayes, Speargrass Flat, the Shotover Valley and Dalefield are all stunning as the season turns from summer to winter.
Wonderful Wanaka and the hues of autumn
Wanaka has become an increasingly popular place to visit over the winter season where people come for the snow at Treble Cone and Cardrona Ski Fields.
But before it turns white, golden colours, with the occasional splash of red, can be enjoyed along the shores of the Lake Wanaka that are generously dotted with poplars.
With the vibrant reflections of the trees and the mountainous backdrop beyond, the scenery really is breath-taking.
To make the most of it you can walk or cycle around the lake (or at least part of it depending on how fit you are!). There are also more challenging treks in the hills and mountains around.
Mountain biking is very popular with a huge variety of tracks that will always leave you refreshed and invigorated. The clear water of the lake is inviting for kayaking, paddle boarding or even jet boating into the Mount Aspiring National Park.
And if your pocket allows it, a scenic flight from Wanaka airport is always a spectacular option.
Wanaka is the world’s first protected lifestyle reserve – living life to the full is important here so it’s definitely worth a visit.
The wide angle views of Central Otago
Made famous by the paintings of Grahame Sydney, as well as for its wine, fruit and backdrop to the occasional movie, Central Otago is the place for wide angle views and lots of space.
Awe inspiring at any time of the year, in autumn it comes into its own.
Lake Dunstan through to Alexandra is particularly stunning but you will also be spoilt for choice around Roxburgh, Ophir and Naseby.
Cycling is a popular pursuit in Otago with the Central Otago Rail Trail providing some of the best cross country biking in the country. Open all year, thousands peddle along the off-road route that follows the course of an old railway line.
Going south from Alexandra there is also the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail along the mighty Clutha Mata-au River and travelling through country steeped in history of moa hunters, Chinese gold miners and of course, railways.
With small towns along the way serving up southern hospitality, exciting off-trail adventures, as well as gold-mining history, you will be spoilt for things to do.
One of the best views around of leafy colour is from the top of the Clyde Dam, New Zealand’s largest concrete gravity dam, 100 metres high and almost 500 metres long.
Christchurch, the garden City
A Garden City is always going to show-off its autumnal colours and Christchurch is among the best.
Walking around is easy, as it’s flat, with some of the best walks being in Hagley Park and the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, founded in 1863 with the planting of an English oak. Just west of downtown, these two areas are at the heart of the rejuvenating centre of the City.
This is also a great place to have fun with leaves whether it’s just walking through them and kicking as you go to hear the rustle or even having a leaf fight with your friends and family!
The list of trees here is internationally flavoured with sycamore, lime, ash and oak, all creating beautiful colours as the seasons change.
More recently, the notoriety of Christchurch has been the aftermath of the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. However, the trees and parks have changed little and provide tranquillity from the bustling vibrant rebirth of the City Centre – an urban sanctuary at its best.
Marlborough – heading north but still in the South Island
As one of New Zealand’s premier wine growing regions, especially famous for Sauvignon Blanc, the colours change in April and May as the vine harvesting comes to a close.
It’s also after the prime tourist season so while it’s less busy, the weather is settled with crisp mornings and warm days but there’s still buzz in the region.
Marlborough is a place to enjoy the finer things in life especially the food and wine at one of the region’s many vineyards. There are 151 wineries and 581 grape growers in Marlborough, so don’t expect to visit all of them, but trying one or two is always a good idea!
North Island leaf peeping – later in the season
Leaf peeping is definitely more a South Island attraction but in the warmer north there are still places where you can enjoy the changing colours.
Among those to see great colour is Taranaki, with its rich volcanic soils and abundant gardens. Hawke’s Bay is renowned for its vineyards and orchards, all of which are in harvest season and changing along with the temperatures.
Cambridge in the Waikato has great avenues of trees through its centre akin to its namesake in the northern hemisphere and if you are in Auckland, the Domain and Auckland Botanical Gardens are great places for a wander.
Driving and the changing colours of New Zealand
Wherever you are travelling, autumn is a time when the roads are not as busy and with the sun lower in the sky, the light is different – it’s almost seems clearer with a different radiance.
Even where it’s green, there is gold in the light as the sun descends towards setting. Shadows extend, colours change and then they disappear for another day.
Driving at this time of the year presents different challenges.
Due to shorter days sunstrike is more common simply because the sun is rising and setting at times when people are driving early in the morning or late in the day.
Sun strike is when the sun’s rays hit your windscreen at a low angle and shine right into your eyes.
So if sun strike is possible keep extra distance between you and the car in front as you don’t know what that driver will do, slow down and, if needed, pull over where it’s safe and wait until the sun’s position changes.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has more advice about sunstrike.
Another issue is dim light especially at the beginning and end of the day, and in areas of trees. It is very easy for the colour of a car to blend into the background, when the light is low, so turn on your dipped headlights – it’s better to be seen.
Wherever you are heading enjoy New Zealand as it slows down after summer, the hospitality on offer and beautiful autumn places to explore.
Remember, we drive on the left, please drive safely but most of all, have fun!