New Zealand October Holidays

Exploring New Zealand out of high season is like walking into a chocolate factory all by yourself. It is brimming with natural jewels and cultural hidden highlights made even more special when discovered without the crowds. That is what makes New Zealand October holidays so special – they are slap bang in the middle of shoulder-season. Post-rugby and pre-cricket, sport fans might be twiddling their thumbs, but a trip to Kaikoura on South Island is an awesome place to get the adrenaline pumping with cycling tours, water sports and even dolphin watching day trips. Animal and bird afficionados will thrive in New Zealand in October, as birds are at their most active during the spring. An afternoon spent at a native bird sanctuary or even just a ramble along the coast at Miranda, the focal point of the seabird coast, where everything from wrybills and branded dotterels to godwits and sandpipers gather and nest. For a hiking hit, head to the world-famed Tongariro Crossing where you will encounter unfathomably vast mountains dotted with ancient lava flows and volcanic steam vents billowing boiling hot air, as well as postcard-perfect views out across the national park. When you are tired of the great outdoors, Wellington is a great pit-stop for a pint or two as Oktoberfest hits the country in a swathe of beer and bratwurst.