Travel Tips
Best Spots to See Autumn Colours in New Zealand
From the famous golden poplars of Arrowtown to the vineyard reds of Marlborough, here are the best places to chase autumn colours on a NZ road trip.
The Nomado Team · 16 June 2026 · 9 min read
Photo: Vera & Jean-Christophe from Europe · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
When is autumn in NZ?
The Southern Hemisphere flips the calendar — autumn runs March through May, with peak colour usually in mid-April to early May in Central Otago.
1. Arrowtown — the icon (45 min from Queenstown) The historic gold-mining village is **the** autumn destination in NZ. Streets lined with golden willows, poplars and red oaks. The **Arrowtown Autumn Festival** runs late April. Park up, walk the Bush Creek track and have lunch at La Rumbla.
2. Wanaka (1 hr from Queenstown via the Crown Range) **That Wanaka Tree** ringed by gold and red around mid-April. Walk the lakefront at sunrise for the postcard shot.
3. Queenstown Gardens & the Kelvin Heights peninsula Walk the Queenstown Gardens at golden hour for stunning lake-and-foliage compositions. Drive the Kelvin Heights road for The Remarkables backdrop.
4. Central Otago wine country (Bannockburn, Gibbston) Vineyards turning red and gold against schist hills. Combine with a few cellar doors — Felton Road, Mount Edward, Mt Difficulty.
5. Hawkes Bay (3 hr from Wellington) North Island's wine country puts on a brilliant autumn show through April. Stay in art-deco Napier and tour the cellar doors of Hastings.
6. Christchurch — Hagley Park & the Botanic Gardens Massive English oaks and chestnuts in central Christchurch turn fiery red. The [Christchurch depot](/locations/christchurch) is a 10-minute drive away.
7. Akaroa & Banks Peninsula (90 min from Christchurch) European-planted oaks and beech turn the volcanic harbour town golden. Easy day or overnight trip.
A 7-day autumn-chasing road trip from Christchurch
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Christchurch — Hagley Park + Botanic Gardens |
| 2 | Drive to Tekapo (3 hr) — lakeshore willows |
| 3 | Tekapo → Wanaka (3 hr) via Lindis Pass |
| 4 | Wanaka — That Wanaka Tree at sunrise, Roy's Peak |
| 5 | Wanaka → Arrowtown (45 min) — full day exploring |
| 6 | Central Otago wine country |
| 7 | Drive back to Christchurch via Lindis (or extend with Catlins) |
What car & gear
Autumn mornings are crisp — pack layers. A mid-size SUV is ideal for the Lindis and Crown Range. Photographers, see our NZ photographer's guide.
Plan more
Get a Christchurch autumn rental — best value in April–May.
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